New Testament in a Year
The Reply of the Church
22 Then the apostles, the elders, and the whole church decided to choose some of their men to send with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. These were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, who were leaders among the brothers. 23 They wrote this letter for them to deliver:[a]
“From:[b] The apostles and the elders, your brothers
To: Their gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.
Greetings. 24 We have heard that some men, coming from us without instructions from us, have said things to trouble you and have unsettled you.[c] 25 So we have unanimously decided to choose men and send them to you with our dear Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah.[d] 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas to tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any burden but these essential requirements: 29 to keep away from food sacrificed to idols, from blood,[e] from anything strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you avoid these things, you will do well. Goodbye.”
30 So the men were sent on their way and arrived in Antioch. They gathered the congregation together and delivered the letter. 31 When the people[f] read it, they were pleased with how the letter encouraged them. 32 Then Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, said a lot to encourage and strengthen the brothers. 33 After staying there for some time, they were sent back with a greeting[g] from the brothers to those who had sent them.[h] 35 Both Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch to teach and proclaim the word of the Lord, as did many others.
Paul and Barnabas Disagree
36 A few days later, Paul told Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they’re doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take along John, who was called Mark, 38 but Paul did not think it was right to take along the man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and who had not gone with them into the work. 39 The disagreement was so sharp that they parted ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, 40 while Paul chose Silas and left after the brothers had entrusted him to the grace of the Lord.[i] 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia and strengthened the churches.
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.