13 ¹ Now in the church at Antioch^(A) there were prophets^(B) and teachers:^(C) Barnabas,^(D) Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,^(E) Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod^(F) the tetrarch) and Saul. ² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,^(G) “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work^(H) to which I have called them.”^{(I) 3} So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them^(J) and sent them off.^(K)

On Cyprus

⁴ The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit,^(L) went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.^(M)

¹⁹ “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. ²⁰ Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols,^(A) from sexual immorality,^(B) from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.^{(C) 21} For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”^(D)

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

²² Then the apostles and elders,^(E) with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch^(F) with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas,^(G) men who were leaders among the believers. ²³ With them they sent the following letter:

³⁰ So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. ³¹ The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message.

²⁸ Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock^(A) of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.^(B) Be shepherds of the church of God,^[a](C) which he bought^(D) with his own blood.^[b](E)

Personal Greetings

16 I commend^(A) to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon^[a][b] of the church in Cenchreae.^(B)

⁹ For we are co-workers in God’s service;^(A) you are God’s field,^(B) God’s building.^(C)

¹⁶ Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple^(A) and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?^(B)

⁴ So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, ⁵ hand this man over^(A) to Satan^(B) for the destruction of the flesh,^[a][b] so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.^(C)

⁶ Your boasting is not good.^(D) Don’t you know that a little yeast^(E) leavens the whole batch of dough?^{(F) 7} Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.^(G)

¹³ God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”^[a](A)