¹⁹ Therefore, it is ^(A)my judgment that we do not cause trouble for those from the Gentiles who are turning to God, ²⁰ but that we write to them that they abstain from ^[a](B)things contaminated by idols, from ^(C)acts of sexual immorality, from ^(D)what has been ^[b]strangled, and from blood. ²¹ For ^(E)from ancient generations Moses has those who preach him in every city, since ^[c]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 who was called Barsabbas, and ^(H)Silas, leading men among ^(I)the brothers, ²³ and they ^[d]sent this letter with them:

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

Second Missionary Journey

³⁶ After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return and visit the brothers and sisters 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 was of the opinion that they should not take along with them this man who had ^(AP)deserted them ^[n]in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. ³⁹ Now it turned into 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 after being ^(AT)entrusted by the brothers 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 person is to remain in that ^[a]state in which he was called.

²¹ Were you called as a slave? Do not let it concern you. But if you are also able to become free, take advantage of that. ²² For the one who was called in the Lord as a slave, is ^(E)the Lord’s freed person; likewise the one who was called as free, is ^(F)Christ’s slave. ^23 (G)You were bought for a price; do not become slaves of people. ²⁴ Brothers and sisters, ^(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 am offering direction as one who ^[b](J)by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy. ²⁶ I think, then, that this is good in view of the ^[c]present ^(K)distress, that ^(L)it is good for a man ^[d]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 people as yourselves will have ^[e]trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you. ²⁹ But this I say, brothers, ^(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 present 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 I say this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but ^[f]to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.

³⁶ But if anyone thinks that he is acting dishonorably toward his virgin, if she is ^[g]past her youth and it ought to be so, let him do what he wishes, he is not sinning; let ^[h]them marry. ³⁷ But the one who stands firm in his heart, ^[i]if he is not under constraint, but has authority ^[j]over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin, he will do well. ³⁸ So then, both the one who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and the one 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 ^[k]dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only ^(R)in the Lord. ⁴⁰ But ^(S)in my opinion she is ^[l]happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.