Acts 15:19–41

¹⁹Wherefore I judge, not to trouble those who from the nations turn to God; ²⁰but to write to them to abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood. ²¹For Moses, from generations of old, has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.

²²Then it seemed good to the apostles and to the elders, with the whole assembly, to send chosen men from among them with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch, Judas called Barsabas and Silas, leading men among the brethren, ²³having by their hand written thus: The apostles, and the elders, and the brethren, to the brethren who are from among the nations at Antioch, and in Syria and Cilicia, greeting: ²⁴Inasmuch as we have heard that some who went out from amongst us have troubled you by words, upsetting your souls, saying that ye must be circumcised and keep the law; to whom we gave no commandment; ²⁵it seemed good to us, having arrived at a common judgment, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶men who have given up their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves also will tell you by word of mouth the same things. ²⁸For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: ²⁹to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication; keeping yourselves from which ye will do well. Farewell. ³⁰They therefore, being let go, came to Antioch, and having gathered the multitude delivered to them the epistle. ³¹And having read it, they rejoiced at the consolation. ³²And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with much discourse, and strengthened them. ³³And having passed some time there, they were let go in peace from the brethren to those who sent them. ^{34 35}And Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and announcing the glad tidings, with many others also, of the word of the Lord.

³⁶But after certain days Paul said to Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city where we have announced the word of the Lord, and see how they are getting on. ³⁷And Barnabas proposed to take with them John also, called Mark; ³⁸but Paul thought it not well to take with them him who had abandoned them, going back from Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. ³⁹There arose therefore very warm feeling, so that they separated from one another; and Barnabas taking Mark sailed away to Cyprus; ⁴⁰but Paul having chosen Silas went forth, committed by the brethren to the grace of God. ⁴¹And he passed through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the assemblies.