A MESSAGE OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Passage: Acts 15:22-41

Key verse: 31

NIV

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

22 Then the apostles and elders,(A) with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch(B) with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas,(C) men who were leaders among the believers. 23 With them they sent the following letter:

The apostles and elders, your brothers,

To the Gentile believers in Antioch,(D) Syria(E) and Cilicia:(F)

Greetings.(G)

24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.(H) 25 So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26 men who have risked their lives(I) for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas(J) to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit(K) and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.(L) You will do well to avoid these things.

Farewell.

30 So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. 31 The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. 32 Judas and Silas,(M) who themselves were prophets,(N) said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. 33 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace(O) to return to those who had sent them. [34] [a] 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached(P) the word of the Lord.(Q)

Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas

36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns(R) where we preached the word of the Lord(S) and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark,(T) with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them(U) in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas(V) and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.(W) 41 He went through Syria(X) and Cilicia,(Y) strengthening the churches.(Z)

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Acts 15:34 Some manuscripts include here But Silas decided to remain there.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Council's Letter to Gentile Believers

22 Then it seemed good to (A)the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called (B)Barsabbas, and (C)Silas, leading men among (D)the brothers, 23 with the following letter: (E)“The brothers, both (F)the apostles and the elders, to the brothers[a] who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, (G)greetings. 24 Since we have heard that (H)some persons have gone out from us and (I)troubled you[b] with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come (J)to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our (K)beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 (L)men who have (M)risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent (N)Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good (O)to the Holy Spirit and (P)to us (Q)to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 (R)that you abstain from (S)what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves (T)prophets, encouraged and (U)strengthened (V)the brothers with many words. 33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off (W)in peace by (X)the brothers to those who had sent them.[c] 35 But (Y)Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Paul and Barnabas Separate

36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit (Z)the brothers (AA)in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them (AB)John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one (AC)who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose (AD)a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. (AE)Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, (AF)having been commended by (AG)the brothers to (AH)the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, (AI)strengthening the churches.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Acts 15:23 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 32, 33, 36
  2. Acts 15:24 Some manuscripts some persons from us have troubled you
  3. Acts 15:33 Some manuscripts insert verse 34: But it seemed good to Silas to remain there
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

To reinforce their message, the leaders of the church in Jerusalem accompanied Paul and Barnabas through the Gentile regions. They were unified in their message, which could be a great benefit to the Gentile believers. They showed support for the work of God through Paul and Barnabas—the work that bore fruit in the lives of their hearers. This letter and this journey of unity set the course of Christian history. When the people in Paul’s home church of Antioch heard the message, they received blessing and encouragement. The Antioch church would become a source of blessing for the Gentile ministry.

After this, Paul and Barnabas wanted to visit the Gentile churches where they had previously traveled. However, they disagreed quite sharply on whether to include Mark on this trip. Barnabas wanted to bring Mark, but Paul remembered that Mark had deserted them in the past. So, Barnabas and Mark went to Cyprus, while Paul visited Syria and Cilicia. The work of God continued through each of them.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be a source of blessing and encouragement in whatever I do.

One Word: Be a source of blessing