Acts 15:23-41

23And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: 24Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 25It seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26Men that have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.1 28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29That ye abstain from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from immorality: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. 30So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: 31Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.2 32And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them . 33And after they had tarried there a time, they were sent away in peace from the brethren to the apostles. 34However it pleased Silas to abide there still. 35Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36And some days after Paul said to Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 37And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus; 40And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.