²³ Paul and Barnabas appointed elders^[a](A) for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting,^(B) committed them to the Lord,^(C) in whom they had put their trust.

² This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem^(A) to see the apostles and elders^(B) about this question.

⁴ When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.^(A)

⁶ The apostles and elders met to consider this question.

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:

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)

⁴ As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders^(A) in Jerusalem^(B) for the people to obey.^(C)

¹⁷ From Miletus,^(A) Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders^(B) of the church.

¹⁸ The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James,^(A) and all the elders^(B) were present.

¹⁷ The elders^(A) who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor,^(B) especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.