32 Now Judas and Silas, themselves being (A)prophets also, (B)exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. 33 And after they had stayed there for a time, they were (C)sent back with greetings from the brethren to [a]the apostles.

34 [b]However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there. 35 (D)Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Division over John Mark

36 Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” 37 Now Barnabas [c]was determined to take with them (E)John called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them (F)the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. 39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to (G)Cyprus; 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, (H)being [d]commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, (I)strengthening the churches.

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

16 Then he came to (J)Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, (K)named Timothy, (L)the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he (M)took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the (N)decrees to keep, (O)which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. (P)So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 15:33 NU those who had sent them
  2. Acts 15:34 NU, M omit v. 34.
  3. Acts 15:37 resolved
  4. Acts 15:40 committed

32 Judas and Silas,(A) who themselves were prophets,(B) said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. 33 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace(C) to return to those who had sent them. [34] [a] 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached(D) the word of the Lord.(E)

Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas

36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns(F) where we preached the word of the Lord(G) and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark,(H) with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them(I) in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas(J) and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.(K) 41 He went through Syria(L) and Cilicia,(M) strengthening the churches.(N)

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

16 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra,(O) where a disciple named Timothy(P) lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer(Q) but whose father was a Greek. The believers(R) at Lystra and Iconium(S) spoke well of him. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.(T) As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders(U) in Jerusalem(V) for the people to obey.(W) So the churches were strengthened(X) in the faith and grew daily in numbers.(Y)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 15:34 Some manuscripts include here But Silas decided to remain there.