¹⁵ Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience^(A) means salvation,^(B) just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.^(C)

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

²² Then the apostles and elders,^(A) with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch^(B) with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas,^(C) men who were leaders among the believers.

² This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem^(A) to see the apostles and elders^(B) about this question.

¹⁴ They all joined together constantly in prayer,^(A) along with the women^(B) and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.^(C)

³ With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account^(A) for you, most excellent^(B) Theophilus,^(C)

¹⁶ no longer as a slave,^(A) but better than a slave, as a dear brother.^(B) He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

⁹ He is coming with Onesimus,^(A) our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you.^(B) They will tell you everything that is happening here.

Final Greetings

⁷ Tychicus^(A) will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant^[a](B) in the Lord.