Acts 15:14-41

¹⁴Simon has told how God first graciously helped the Gentiles in order to take from them a people for his name.

¹⁵The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written,

¹⁶'After these things I will return, and I will build again the tent of David, which has fallen down; I will set up and restore its ruins again,

¹⁷so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, including all the Gentiles called by my name.'

¹⁸This is what the Lord says, who has done these things that have been known from ancient times.

¹⁹Therefore, my opinion is, that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God.

²⁰But we will write to them that they must keep away from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, and from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.

²¹For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from the ancient times and he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

²²Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, who were leaders of the church, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.

²³They wrote this: “From the apostles and elders, your brothers, to the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings!

²⁴We have heard that certain men have gone out from us, with no orders from us, and have disturbed you with teachings that upset your souls.

²⁵This being so, all of us have agreed to choose men and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

²⁶men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁷Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas, who will tell you the same thing themselves in their own words.

²⁸For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:

²⁹that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, blood, things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, it shall be well with you. Farewell.”

³⁰So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; after they gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.

³¹When they had read it, they rejoiced because of the encouragement.

³²Judas and Silas, also prophets, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.

³³After they had spent some time there, they were sent away in peace from the brothers to those who had sent them.

³⁵But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch along with many others, where they taught and proclaimed the word of the Lord.

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

³⁷Barnabas wanted to also take with them John who was called Mark.

³⁸But Paul thought it was not good to take Mark, who had left them in Pamphylia and did not go further with them in the work.

³⁹Then there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

⁴⁰But Paul chose Silas and left, after he was entrusted by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

⁴¹Then he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.