Acts 15:22-41

22Then it seemed good to 1the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to 2Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas who was called Barsabbas, and 3Silas, leading men among 4the brothers, 23and they 5sent this letter with them: “6The apostles and the brothers who are elders, to 7the brothers and sisters in 8Antioch, 9Syria, and 10Cilicia who are from the Gentiles: 11Greetings. 24Since we have heard that 12some 13of our number to whom we gave no instruction have 14confused you by their 15teaching, upsetting your souls, 2516it seemed good to us, having 17become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26men who have 1819risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27Therefore, we have sent 20Judas and 21Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28For 22it seemed good to 23the Holy Spirit and to 24us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29that you abstain from 25things sacrificed to idols, from 26blood, from 27things strangled, and from 28acts of sexual immorality; 29if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”

30So when they were sent away, 30they went down to Antioch; and after gathering the 31congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its 32encouragement. 3233Judas and 34Silas, also being 35prophets themselves, 36encouraged and strengthened 37the brothers and sisters with a lengthy message. 33After they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brothers and sisters 38in peace to those who had 39sent them out.40 35But 41Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and 42preaching 43the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return and visit the brothers and sisters in 44every city in which we proclaimed 45the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37Barnabas wanted to take 46John, called Mark, along with them also. 38But Paul was of the opinion that they should not take along with them this man who had 47deserted them 48in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39Now it turned into such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took 49Mark with him and sailed away to 50Cyprus. 40But Paul chose 51Silas, and left after being 52entrusted by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41And he was traveling through 53Syria and 54Cilicia, strengthening the churches.