Acts 15:27-39

²⁷So we are sending to you Judas and Silas who can verbally confirm what we're saying.

²⁸It seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any heavier burden than these important requirements.

²⁹You should avoid: anything sacrificed to idols; blood; meat from strangled animals; and sexual immorality. You will do well to observe these requirements. God bless you.”

³⁰The men were sent on their way to Antioch. When they arrived they called everybody together and delivered the letter.

³¹After they had read it, the people were so happy for the encouraging message.

³²Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, encouraged the brothers, explaining many things, and strengthening them.

³³After spending some time there they were sent back by the brothers with their blessing to the believers in Jerusalem.

³⁵But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of God along with many others.

³⁶Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let's go back and visit the believers in every town where we shared the word of the Lord, and see how they're doing.”

³⁷Barnabas planned to take along John Mark too.

³⁸But Paul didn't think it was a good idea to take him with them, since he'd left them in Pamphylia and hadn't continued working with them.

³⁹They had such a strong disagreement that they separated. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed to Cyprus.