¹⁹ Therefore it is ^(A)my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, ²⁰ but that we write to them that they abstain from ^[a](B)things contaminated by idols and from ^(C)fornication and from ^(D)what is strangled and from blood. ²¹ For ^(E)Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since ^[b]he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

²² Then it seemed good to ^(F)the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to ^(G)Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas called Barsabbas, and ^(H)Silas, leading men among ^(I)the brethren, ²³ and they ^[c]sent this letter by them,

³⁰ So when they were sent away, ^(AC)they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the ^[h]congregation together, they delivered the letter. ³¹ When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its ^[i]encouragement. ^32 (AD)Judas and ^(AE)Silas, also being ^(AF)prophets themselves, ^[j]encouraged and strengthened ^(AG)the brethren with a lengthy message. ³³ After they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brethren ^(AH)in peace to those who had ^(AI)sent them out. ³⁴ [^[k]But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.] ³⁵ But ^(AJ)Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and ^(AK)preaching with many others also, ^(AL)the word of the Lord.

Second Missionary Journey

³⁶ After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brethren in ^(AM)every city in which we proclaimed ^(AN)the word of the Lord, and see how they are.” ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take ^(AO)John, called Mark, along with them also. ³⁸ But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had ^(AP)deserted them ^[l]in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. ³⁹ And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took ^(AQ)Mark with him and sailed away to ^(AR)Cyprus. ⁴⁰ But Paul chose ^(AS)Silas and left, being ^(AT)committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord. ⁴¹ And he was traveling through ^(AU)Syria and ^(AV)Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

¹⁸ Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? ^(A)He is not to be circumcised. ^19 (B)Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is ^(C)the keeping of the commandments of God. ^20 (D)Each man must remain in that ^[a]condition in which he was called.

²¹ Were you called while a slave? ^[b]Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather ^[c]do that. ²² For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is ^(E)the Lord’s freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is ^(F)Christ’s slave. ^23 (G)You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. ²⁴ Brethren, ^(H)each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.

²⁵ Now concerning virgins I have ^(I)no command of the Lord, but I give an opinion as one who ^[d](J)by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy. ²⁶ I think then that this is good in view of the ^[e]present ^(K)distress, that ^(L)it is good for a man ^[f]to remain as he is. ²⁷ Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. ²⁸ But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have ^[g]trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you. ²⁹ But this I say, brethren, ^(M)the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; ³⁰ and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; ³¹ and those who use the world, as though they did not ^(N)make full use of it; for ^(O)the form of this world is passing away.

³² But I want you to be free from concern. One who is ^(P)unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; ³³ but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, ³⁴ and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. ³⁵ This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but ^[h]to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.

³⁶ But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin daughter, if she is past her youth, and if it must be so, let him do what he wishes, he does not sin; let ^[i]her marry. ³⁷ But he who stands firm in his heart, ^[j]being under no constraint, but has authority ^[k]over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, he will do well. ³⁸ So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better.

^39 (Q)A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband ^[l]is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only ^(R)in the Lord. ⁴⁰ But ^(S)in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.