Saith the Lord, who does these things[17].
18Known to God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
19Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not those who from among the Gentiles are turning to God; 20but that we write to them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood. 21For Moses of old time has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.
22Then the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, resolved, having chosen men from themselves, to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren. 23And they wrote by them thus:
The apostles and the elders and the brethren, to the brethren from the Gentiles throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting: 24Forasmuch as we heard, that some who went out from us troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying that ye must be circumcised and keep the law[24], to whom we gave no commandment; 25it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to choose men and send them to you, with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26men who have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who will themselves also by word tell you the same things. 28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no further burden except these necessary things; 29that ye abstain from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, ye will do well. Farewell.
30They therefore, being dismissed, came to Antioch; and assembling the multitude they delivered the letter. 31And having read it, they rejoiced for the consolation. 32And Judas and Silas, also themselves being prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
33And having remained a while, they were dismissed with peace from the brethren to the apostles. 34But it pleased Silas to abide there still[34]. 35Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and publishing the glad tidings of the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36And some days after, Paul said to Barnabas: Let us return now, and visit the brethren in every city where we preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 37And Barnabas determined to take with them John, who was surnamed Mark. 38But Paul thought it proper not to take with them him who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39And there arose a sharp contention, so that they parted one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus. 40And Paul, having chosen Silas, went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
XVI. And he came down to Derbe and Lystra. And, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a believing Jewish woman, but whose father was a Greek; 2who was well reported of by the brethren in Lystra and Iconium. 3Him Paul wished to go forth with him, and took and circumcised him on account of the Jews who were in those places; for they all knew that his father was a Greek.