Then some men came to Antioch from Judea and began teaching the non-Jewish believers: "You cannot be saved if you are not circumcised as Moses taught us."
Paul and Barnabas were against this teaching and argued with these men about it. So the group decided to send Paul, Barnabas, and some others to Jerusalem to talk more about this with the apostles and elders.
The church helped them get ready to leave on their trip. The men went through the countries of Phoenicia and Samaria, where they told all about how the non- Jewish people had turned to the true God. This made all the believers very happy.
When the men arrived in Jerusalem, the apostles, the elders, and the whole church welcomed them. Paul, Barnabas, and the others told about all that God had done with them.
Some of the believers in Jerusalem had belonged to the Pharisees. They stood up and said, "The non-Jewish believers must be circumcised. We must tell them to obey the Law of Moses!"
After a long debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "My brothers, I am sure you remember what happened in the early days. God chose me from among you to tell the Good News to those who are not Jewish. It was from me that they heard the Good News and believed.
God knows everyone, even their thoughts, and he accepted these non- Jewish people. He showed this to us by giving them the Holy Spirit the same as he did to us.
So now, why are you putting a heavy burden around the necks of the non-Jewish followers? Are you trying to make God angry? We and our fathers were not able to carry that burden.
Then the whole group became quiet. They listened while Paul and Barnabas told about all the miraculous signs and wonders that God had done through them among the non-Jewish people.
'I will return after this. I will build David's house again. It has fallen down. I will build again the parts of his house that have been pulled down. I will make his house new.
Then the rest of the world will look for the Lord God— all those of other nations who are my people too. The Lord said this. And he is the one who does all these things.'
Instead, we should write a letter to them and tell them: Don't eat food that has been given to idols. (This makes the food unclean.) Don't be involved in sexual sin. Don't eat meat from animals that have been strangled or any meat that still has the blood in it.
They should not do any of these things, because there are still men in every city who teach the Law of Moses. The words of Moses have been read in the synagogue every Sabbath day for many years."
The apostles, the elders, and the whole church wanted to send some men with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. The group decided to choose some of their own men. They chose Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were respected by the believers.
The group sent the letter with these men. The letter said: From the apostles and elders, your brothers. To all the non-Jewish brothers in the city of Antioch and in the countries of Syria and Cilicia. Dear Brothers:
Don't eat food that has been given to idols. Don't eat meat from animals that have been strangled or any meat that still has the blood in it. Don't be involved in sexual sin. If you stay away from these, you will do well. We say goodbye now.
After Judas and Silas stayed there for a while, they left. They received a blessing of peace from the believers. Then they went back to those who had sent them.
A few days later, Paul said to Barnabas, "We should go back to all the towns where we told people the message of the Lord. We should visit our brothers and sisters in God's family to see how they are doing."
But on their first trip John Mark did not continue with them in the work. He had left them at Pamphylia. So Paul did not think it was a good idea to take him this time.
Paul and Barnabas had a big argument about this. It was so bad that they separated and went different ways. Barnabas sailed to Cyprus and took Mark with him.