Acts 15:21-40

²¹For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him in the synagogues, where he is read every sabbath.

²²Then it pleased the apostles and ancients, with the whole church, to choose men of their own company, and to send to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas, who was surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren.

²³Writing by their hands: The apostles and ancients, brethren, to the brethren of the Gentiles that are at Antioch, and in Syria and Cilicia, greeting.

²⁴Forasmuch as we have heard, that some going out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment:

²⁵It hath seemed good to us, being assembled together, to choose out men, and to send them unto you, with our well beloved Barnabas and Paul:

²⁶Men that have given their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁷We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also will, by word of mouth, tell you the same things.

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

²⁹That you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which things keeping yourselves, you shall do well. Fare ye well.

³⁰They therefore being dismissed, went down to Antioch; and gathering together the multitude, delivered the epistle.

³¹Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

³²But Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, with many words comforted the brethren, and confirmed them.

³³And after they had spent some time there, they were let go with peace by the brethren, unto them that had sent them.

³⁴But it seemed good unto Silas to remain there; and Judas alone departed to Jerusalem.

³⁵And Paul and Barnabas continued at Antioch, teaching and preaching, with many others, the word of the Lord.

³⁶And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas: Let us return and visit our brethren in all the cities wherein we have preached the word of the Lord, to see how they do.

³⁷And Barnabas would have taken with them John also, that was surnamed Mark;

³⁸But Paul desired that he (as having departed from them out of Pamphylia, and not gone with them to the work) might not be received.

³⁹And there arose a dissension, so that they departed one from another; and Barnabas indeed taking Mark, sailed to Cyprus.

⁴⁰But Paul choosing Silas, departed, being delivered by the brethren to the grace of God.