Luke wrote “of the things fulfilled among us” paraphrased [ ] ref { } thots
Book of the Acts of the First Believers
22 - Then it seemed good to the apostles and elders, and the rest of the church, to choose men from among them and to send them back to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading ones among the believers. 23 And they sent with them the following letter: “The believers, the apostles and the elders of Jerusalem, to the believers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia, greetings! 24 We’ve heard some came to you as from us and have troubled you with their teachings, unsettling your minds. We didn’t send them, nor did we give them any such instruction.
25 So it has seemed good to us, having come to an agreement about the matter, to choose men and send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus. 27 Among them is Judas and Silas, who will tell you the same things as this letter.
28 It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit {Presence of God} and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you (non Hebrew believers) abstain from the things sacrificed to idols, from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”
30 And when they were sent on their way, they went down to Antioch, gathered the group [pléthos - company, multitude] together and delivered the letter. 31 And after it was read, they rejoiced at its encouragement. 32 Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the believers with many words. 33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace back to those who had sent them. 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the believers in every city where we proclaimed the teaching, and see how they’re doing.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John Mark. 38 But Paul disagreed because he had turned back from the work the first time. 39 And they disagreed so sharply that they separated. Barnabas and Mark sailed to Cyprus. 40 And then Silas joined Paul. After they were prayed for by the church, and given over to the grace of the Lord, 41 they began going through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches/believers. {As of yet there were no brick and mortar churches, the believers met mostly in one another’s homes.}
Next - 16:1-19
No comments:
Post a Comment