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The Reply of the Council

22 Then it pleased the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas called Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers. 23 They wrote this letter by their hand:

The apostles and the elders and the brothers,

To the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

Greetings.

24 Since we have heard that some of us, whom we did not commission, have gone out and have troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law,” 25 it seemed good to us, being assembled in unity, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will also speak to you, saying the same things. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to put on you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 Abstain from food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from strangled animals, and from blood. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.

Farewell.

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The Letter from the Council

22 Then it seemed best to the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, to send men chosen from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas who was called Barsabbas and Silas, men who were leaders among the brothers— 23 writing this letter[a] to be delivered by them:[b]

The apostles and the elders, brothers.

To the brothers who are from among the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

Greetings!

24 Because we have heard that some have gone out from among us—to whom we gave no orders—and[c] have thrown you into confusion by words upsetting your minds,[d] 25 it seemed best to us, having reached a unanimous decision,[e] and[f] having chosen men, to send them[g] to you together with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives on behalf of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, and they will report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us to place on you no greater burden except these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from food sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you[h] keep yourselves from these things[i] you will do well.

Farewell.

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Footnotes

  1. Acts 15:23 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  2. Acts 15:23 Literally “by their hand”
  3. Acts 15:24 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“have gone out”) has been translated as a finite verb
  4. Acts 15:24 Literally “souls”
  5. Acts 15:25 Literally “having become of one mind”
  6. Acts 15:25 Here “and” is supplied in keeping with English style
  7. Acts 15:25 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  8. Acts 15:29 Here “if” is supplied as a component of the participle (“keep”) which is understood as conditional
  9. Acts 15:29 Literally “which things”