New Testament in a Year
22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided[a] to send men chosen from among them, Judas called Barsabbas and Silas,[b] leaders among the brothers, to Antioch[c] with Paul and Barnabas. 23 They sent this letter with them:[d]
From the apostles[e] and elders, your brothers,[f] to the Gentile brothers and sisters[g] in Antioch,[h] Syria,[i] and Cilicia, greetings! 24 Since we have heard that some have gone out from among us with no orders from us and have confused[j] you, upsetting[k] your minds[l] by what they said,[m] 25 we have unanimously[n] decided[o] to choose men to send to you along with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, 26 who[p] have risked their lives[q] for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.[r] 27 Therefore we are sending[s] Judas and Silas[t] who will tell you these things themselves in person.[u] 28 For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us[v] not to place any greater burden on you than these necessary rules:[w] 29 that you abstain from meat that has been sacrificed to idols[x] and from blood and from what has been strangled[y] and from sexual immorality.[z] If you keep yourselves from doing these things,[aa] you will do well. Farewell.[ab]
30 So when they were dismissed,[ac] they went down to Antioch,[ad] and after gathering the entire group[ae] together, they delivered the letter. 31 When they read it aloud,[af] the people[ag] rejoiced at its encouragement.[ah] 32 Both Judas and Silas, who were prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with a long speech.[ai] 33 After[aj] they had spent some time there,[ak] they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.[al] 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch,[am] teaching and proclaiming (along with many others)[an] the word of the Lord.[ao]
Paul and Barnabas Part Company
36 After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return[ap] and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord[aq] to see how they are doing.”[ar] 37 Barnabas wanted to bring John called Mark along with them too, 38 but Paul insisted[as] that they should not take along this one who had left them in Pamphylia[at] and had not accompanied them in the work. 39 They had[au] a sharp disagreement,[av] so that they parted company. Barnabas took along[aw] Mark and sailed away to Cyprus,[ax] 40 but Paul chose Silas and set out, commended[ay] to the grace of the Lord by the brothers and sisters.[az] 41 He passed through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening[ba] the churches.
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