Acts 15:19-29

¹⁹In my judgement, therefore, we should not add to the difficulties of those Gentiles who are turning to God,

²⁰but we should write to them to abstain from food that has been polluted by being sacrificed to idols, from impurity, from eating the flesh of strangled animals, and from blood.

²¹For in every town, for generations past, there have been those who preach Moses, read as he is in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

²²It was then decided by the apostles and the elders, with the assent of the whole church, to choose some of their number, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. Those chosen were Judas (called Barsabas) and Silas, who were leaders amongst the community.

²³They were bearers of the following letter — ‘The apostles, and the followers who are the church elders, send their greetings to the followers of the Lord of Gentile birth in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.

²⁴As we had heard that some of our number had upset you by their assertions, and unsettled your minds — without instructions from us —

²⁵We met and decided to choose certain men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul,

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

²⁷We are accordingly sending Judas and Silas, and they will tell you by word of mouth what we are now writing.

²⁸We have, therefore, decided, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to lay no further burden on you beyond these necessary conditions —

²⁹That you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating the flesh of strangled animals, and from impurity. If you guard yourselves against such things, it will be well with you. Farewell.’