Acts 15:23-41

23and they 1sent this letter with them: “2The apostles and the brothers who are elders, to 3the brothers and sisters in 4Antioch, 5Syria, and 6Cilicia who are from the Gentiles: 7Greetings. 24Since we have heard that 8some 9of our number to whom we gave no instruction have 10confused you by their 11teaching, upsetting your souls, 2512it seemed good to us, having 13become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26men who have 1415risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27Therefore, we have sent 16Judas and 17Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28For 18it seemed good to 19the Holy Spirit and to 20us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29that you abstain from 21things sacrificed to idols, from 22blood, from 23things strangled, and from 24acts of sexual immorality; 25if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”

30So when they were sent away, 26they went down to Antioch; and after gathering the 27congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its 28encouragement. 3229Judas and 30Silas, also being 31prophets themselves, 32encouraged and strengthened 33the brothers and sisters with a lengthy message. 33After they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brothers and sisters 34in peace to those who had 35sent them out.36 35But 37Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and 38preaching 39the 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 40every city in which we proclaimed 41the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37Barnabas wanted to take 42John, called Mark, along with them also. 38But Paul was of the opinion that they should not take along with them this man who had 43deserted them 44in 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 45Mark with him and sailed away to 46Cyprus. 40But Paul chose 47Silas, and left after being 48entrusted by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41And he was traveling through 49Syria and 50Cilicia, strengthening the churches.