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22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers.[a] 23 They wrote these things by their hand:

“The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings. 24 Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law,’ to whom we gave no commandment; 25 it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”

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Footnotes

  1. 15:22 The word for “brothers” here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”

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”