The Council's Letter to Gentile Believers

²² Then it seemed good to ^(A)the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called ^(B)Barsabbas, and ^(C)Silas, leading men among ^(D)the brothers,

²⁵ it has seemed good to us, having come ^(A)to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our ^(B)beloved Barnabas and Paul, ^26 (C)men who have ^(D)risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷ We have therefore sent ^(E)Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.

³² And Judas and Silas, who were themselves ^(A)prophets, encouraged and ^(B)strengthened ^(C)the brothers with many words. ³³ And after they had spent some time, they were sent off ^(D)in peace by ^(E)the brothers to those who had sent them.^{[a] 35} But ^(F)Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Paul and Barnabas Separate

³⁶ And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit ^(G)the brothers ^(H)in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” ³⁷ Now Barnabas wanted to take with them ^(I)John called Mark. ³⁸ But Paul thought best not to take with them one ^(J)who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. ³⁹ And there arose ^(K)a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. ^(L)Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas and departed, ^(M)having been commended by ^(N)the brothers to ^(O)the grace of the Lord.

The Philippian Jailer Converted

^25 (A)About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, ²⁶ and suddenly ^(B)there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately ^(C)all the doors were opened, and ^(D)everyone's bonds were unfastened. ²⁷ When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and ^(E)was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” ²⁹ And the jailer^[a] called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he ^(F)fell down before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, ^(G)what must I do to be ^(H)saved?” ³¹ And they said, ^(I)“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you ^(J)and your household.” ³² And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. ³³ And he took them ^(K)the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he ^(L)was baptized at once, he and all his family. ³⁴ Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he ^(M)rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

¹³ But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, ^(A)agitating and stirring up the crowds. ¹⁴ Then the brothers ^(B)immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and ^(C)Timothy remained there. ^15 (D)Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as ^(E)Athens, and after receiving a command ^(F)for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.