Acts 15:19–41

¹⁹“Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those gentiles who are turning to God, ²⁰but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from sexual immorality and from whatever has been strangled^d and from blood.^{* 21}For in every city, for generations past, Moses has had those who proclaim him, for he has been read aloud every Sabbath in the synagogues.”^*

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

²²Then the apostles and the elders, with the consent of the whole church, decided to choose men from among them and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers, ²³with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers and sisters of gentile origin in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. ²⁴Since we have heard that certain persons who have gone out from us, though with no instructions from us, have said things to disturb you and have unsettled your minds,^{e* 25}we have decided unanimously to choose men and send them to you, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{* 27}We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. ²⁸For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials: ²⁹that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled^f and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”^*

³⁰So they were sent off and went down to Antioch. When they gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. ³¹When they read it, they rejoiced at the exhortation. ³²Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers and sisters. ³³After they had been there for some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers and sisters to those who had sent them.^{g* 35}But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, and there, with many others, they taught and proclaimed the word of the Lord.

Paul and Barnabas Separate

³⁶After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Come, let us return and visit the brothers and sisters in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.”^{* 37}Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.^{* 38}But Paul decided not to take with them one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.^{* 39}The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. ⁴⁰But Paul chose Silas and set out, the brothers and sisters commending him to the grace of the Lord. ⁴¹He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.^*