Acts 15:23-41

23and this letter along with them: “The emissaries and the elders, your brothers, To the Gentile brothers of Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings!

24Since we have heard that some from among us have troubled you with words disturbing to your souls, although we gave them no such authorization,

25it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul—

26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

27We therefore have sent to you Judah and Silas, who themselves will report to you the same things by word of mouth.

28It seemed good to the Ruach ha-Kodesh and to us not to place on you any greater burden than these essentials:

29that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. By keeping away from these things, you will do well. Shalom!”

30So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch; and when they had gathered the whole group together, they delivered the letter.

31The people read it and rejoiced over its encouragement.

32Judah and Silas, prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers and sisters with a long message and strengthened them.

33After spending some time there, they were sent off with shalom by the brothers and sisters to those who had sent them.

35But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord with many others.

36After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return and visit the brothers and sisters in every city where we have proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are.”

37Barnabas was planning to take along John, called Mark.

38But Paul was insisting that they shouldn’t take him along—the one who had deserted them in Pamphylia, not accompanying them in the work.

39A sharp disagreement took place, so that they split off from one another. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

40But Paul selected Silas and went out, being entrusted by the brothers and sisters to the gracious care of the Lord.

41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the communities.