Acts 15:17-34

17 so that all other peoples may seek the Lord— even all the Gentiles over whom my name has been called. Thus says the Lord, who has been making these things

18 known from long ago.'

19 Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God,

20 but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled and from blood.

21 For in every city, for generations past, Moses has had those who proclaim him, for he has been read aloud every sabbath in the synagogues."

22 Then the apostles and the elders, with the consent of the whole church, decided to choose men from among their members and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers,

23 with the following letter: "The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the believers of Gentile origin in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.

24 Since we have heard that certain persons who have gone out from us, though with no instructions from us, have said things to disturb you and have unsettled your minds,

25 we have decided unanimously to choose representatives and send them to you, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.

28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials:

29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."

30 So they were sent off and went down to Antioch. When they gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.

31 When its members read it, they rejoiced at the exhortation.

32 Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers.

33 After they had been there for some time, they were sent off in peace by the believers to those who had sent them.

34

Footnotes

• [a]. Other ancient authorities read [things. +V18+WKnown to God from of old are all his works.']
• [b]. Other ancient authorities lack [and from whatever has been strangled]
• [c]. Gk [from among them]
• [d]. Gk [brothers]
• [e]. Other ancient authorities add [saying, "You must be circumcised and keep the law,']
• [f]. Gk [men]
• [g]. Other ancient authorities lack [and from what is strangled]
• [h]. Gk [When they]
• [i]. Gk [brothers]
• [j]. Gk [brothers]
• [k]. Other ancient authorities add verse 34, [But it seemed good to Silas to remain there]
• [l]. ther ancient authorities add [But it seemed good to Silas to remain there]