The Letter to Gentile Believers

22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and to the elders, together with the whole church, to send men chosen from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas (called [fn]Barsabbas) and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23 and to send with them [fn]this letter they had written: “The [fn]apostles, elders, and brothers, to the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. 24 Since we have heard that certain [fn]men, whom we did not authorize, have gone out from us and troubled you with their words, unsettling your minds [fn]by saying that you must be circumcised and keep the law, 25 it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to [fn]send you men chosen from among us, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will tell you the same things in their own words. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no further burden than these essentials: 29 You must abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what has been strangled, and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell.”

30 So when these men had been sent off, they [fn]went to Antioch, and after gathering the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 When the people read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. 32 Then Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. 33 After spending some time there, they were sent off [fn]to the apostles in peace by the [fn]brothers. 35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching, along with many others, the good news of the word of the Lord.