Acts 15:16-26

16 After this, I'm coming back; I'll rebuild David's ruined house; I'll put all the pieces together again; I'll make it look like new
17 So outsiders who seek will find, so they'll have a place to come to, All the pagan peoples included in what I'm doing.
18 It's no afterthought; he's always known he would do this.
19 "So here is my decision: We're not going to unnecessarily burden non-Jewish people who turn to the Master.
20 We'll write them a letter and tell them, 'Be careful to not get involved in activities connected with idols, to guard the morality of sex and marriage, to not serve food offensive to Jewish Christians - blood, for instance.'
21 This is basic wisdom from Moses, preached and honored for centuries now in city after city as we have met and kept the Sabbath."
22 Everyone agreed: apostles, leaders, all the people. They picked Judas (nicknamed Barsabbas) and Silas - they both carried considerable weight in the church - and sent them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas
23 with this letter: From the apostles and leaders, your friends, to our friends in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Hello!
24 We heard that some men from our church went to you and said things that confused and upset you. Mind you, they had no authority from us; we didn't send them.
25 We have agreed unanimously to pick representatives and send them to you with our good friends Barnabas and Paul.
26 We picked men we knew you could trust, Judas and Silas - they've looked death in the face time and again for the sake of our Master Jesus Christ.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.