Acts 15

¹⁶‘After these things I will return.

I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen.

I will again build its ruins.

I will set it up ¹⁷that the rest of men may seek after the Lord;

all the Gentiles who are called by my name,

says the Lord, who does all these things.’

¹⁸“All of God’s works are known to him from eternity. ¹⁹Therefore my judgement is that we don’t trouble those from amongst the Gentiles who turn to God, ²⁰but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, 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 the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men amongst the brothers. ²³They wrote these things by their hand:

“The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings. ²⁴Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law,’ to whom we gave no commandment; ²⁵it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth. ²⁸For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things: ²⁹that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”

³⁰So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. ³¹When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement. ³²Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them. ³³After they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to the apostles. ³⁴³⁵But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

³⁶After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.” ³⁷Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also. ³⁸But Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do the work. ³⁹Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, ⁴⁰but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God. ⁴¹He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.