The Letter to the Gentile Believers

22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. [They chose] Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, [two] leaders among the brothers, 23 [and sent them with] this letter:

The apostles and the elders, [your] brothers,

To the brothers among [the] Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:

Greetings.

24 It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization [and] unsettled you, troubling your minds by what [they] said.[fn] 25 [So] we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you [in person] the same things [we are writing].

28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you [with anything] beyond these essential requirements: 29 [You must] abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.

Farewell.