¹⁹Therefore I conclude we should not cause difficulty for those from among the Gentiles who turn to God, ²⁰but we should write a letter to them to abstain from the pollution of idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood. ²¹For Moses has those who proclaim him in every city from ancient generations, because he^* is read aloud in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

The Letter from the Council

²²Then it seemed best to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, to send men chosen from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas who was called Barsabbas and Silas, men who were leaders among the brothers—²³writing this letter^* to be delivered by them:^g

The apostles and the elders, brothers.

To the brothers who are from among the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

Greetings!

²⁴Because we have heard that some have gone out from among us—to whom we gave no orders—and^* have thrown you into confusion by words upsetting your minds,^h ²⁵it seemed best to us, having reached a unanimous decision,ⁱ and^* having chosen men, to send them^* to you together with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶men who have risked their lives on behalf of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, and they will report the same things by word of mouth. ²⁸For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us to place on you no greater burden except these necessary things: ²⁹that you abstain from food sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you^* keep yourselves from these things^j you will do well.

Farewell.

The Letter Is Delivered to Antioch

³⁰So when^* they were sent off, they came down to Antioch, and after^* calling together the community, they delivered the letter. ³¹And when they^* read it^* aloud, they rejoiced at the encouragement. ³²Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers by a long message. ³³And after^* spending some time, they were sent away in peace from the brothers to those who had sent them.^k ³⁵But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord with many others also.

Paul and Barnabas Disagree and Part Company

³⁶And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, “Come then, let us return and^* visit the brothers in every town in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.” ³⁷Now Barnabas wanted to take John who was called Mark along also, ³⁸but Paul held the opinion they should not take this one along, who departed from them in Pamphylia and did not accompany them in the work. ³⁹And a sharp disagreement took place, so that they separated from one another. And Barnabas took along Mark and^* sailed away to Cyprus, ⁴⁰but Paul chose Silas and^* departed, after^* being commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers. ⁴¹And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Read in Logos

Footnotes

*Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“is read aloud”) which is understood as causal
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
gLiterally “by their hand”
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“have gone out”) has been translated as a finite verb
hLiterally “souls”
iLiterally “having become of one mind”
*Here “and” is supplied in keeping with English style
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
*Here “if” is supplied as a component of the participle (“keep”) which is understood as conditional
jLiterally “which things”
*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were sent off”) which is understood as temporal
*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“calling together”) which is understood as temporal
*Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“read … aloud”) which is understood as temporal
*Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“spending”) which is understood as temporal
kA few later manuscripts add v. 34, “But Silas decided to stay there.”
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“return”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“took along”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“chose”) has been translated as a finite verb
*Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“being commended”) which is understood as temporal