24. We have heard that some of our men have come to you and said things that trouble and upset you. But we did not tell them to do this!
25. We have all agreed to choose some men and send them to you. They will be with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul—
26. men who have given their lives to serve our Lord Jesus Christ.
27. So we have sent Judas and Silas with them. They will tell you the same things.
28. It has pleased the Holy Spirit that you should not have a heavy load to carry, and we agree. You need to do only these things:
29. Do not eat any food that has been offered to idols. Do not taste blood. Do not eat any animals that have been strangled. Do not take part in any kind of sexual sin. If you stay away from these things, you will do well.Good-bye.
30. So the men left Jerusalem and went to Antioch. There they gathered the church and gave them the letter.
31. When they read it, they were very happy because of the encouraging letter.
32. Judas and Silas were also prophets, who said many things to encourage the believers and make them stronger.
33. After some time Judas and Silas were sent off in peace by the believers. They went back to those who had sent them.
34. [But Silas decided to remain there.]
35. But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others preached the Good News and taught the people the message of the Lord.
36. After some time, Paul said to Barnabas, “We preached the message of the Lord in many towns. We should go back to all those towns to visit the believers and see how they are doing.”
37. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them too.
38. But John Mark had left them at Pamphylia; he did not continue with them in the work. So Paul did not think it was a good idea to take him.
39. Paul and Barnabas had a serious argument about this. They separated and went different ways. Barnabas sailed to Cyprus and took Mark with him.