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22 Then it seemed good to (A)the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them—Judas called Barsabbas, and (B)Silas, leading men among (C)the brothers—to send to (D)Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, 23 and they [a]sent this letter by them,

(E)The apostles and the brothers who are elders, to (F)the brothers in (G)Antioch and (H)Syria and (I)Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, (J)greetings.

24 Since we have heard that (K)some of us, to whom we gave no instruction, have gone out and (L)disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls,

25 (M)it seemed good to us, having [b]come to one accord, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 men who have [c](N)risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 Therefore we have sent (O)Judas and (P)Silas, and they themselves will report the same things by word of mouth.

28 For (Q)it seemed good to (R)the Holy Spirit and to (S)us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials:

29 that you abstain from (T)things sacrificed to idols and from (U)blood and from (V)things strangled and from (W)sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, you will do well. Farewell.”

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 15:23 Lit wrote by their hand
  2. Acts 15:25 Or met together
  3. Acts 15:26 Lit given over

Letter to the Gentile believers

22 The apostles and the elders, along with the entire church, agreed to send some delegates chosen from among themselves to Antioch, together with Paul and Barnabas. They selected Judas Barsabbas and Silas, who were leaders among the brothers and sisters. 23 They were to carry this letter:

The apostles and the elders, to the Gentile brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings! 24 We’ve heard that some of our number have disturbed you with unsettling words we didn’t authorize. 25 We reached a united decision to select some delegates and send them to you along with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul. 26 These people have devoted their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore, we are sending Judas and Silas. They will confirm what we have written. 28 The Holy Spirit has led us to the decision that no burden should be placed on you other than these essentials: 29 refuse food offered to idols, blood, the meat from strangled animals, and sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid such things. Farewell.

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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. 23 With them they sent the following letter:

The apostles and elders, your brothers,

To the Gentile believers in Antioch,(D) Syria(E) and Cilicia:(F)

Greetings.(G)

24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.(H) 25 So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26 men who have risked their lives(I) for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas(J) to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit(K) and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.(L) You will do well to avoid these things.

Farewell.

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