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JULY 9
Proverbs 20:22–23 Antioch; and when they had gathered the mul-
titude together, they delivered the letter.
Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; 31
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Wait for the LORD, and He will save you. When they had read it, they rejoiced over its
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encouragement. Now Judas and Silas, them-
Diverse weights are an abomination to selves being prophets also, exhorted and
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the LORD, strengthened the brethren with many words.
And dishonest scales are not good. 33 And after they had stayed there for a time,
they were sent back with greetings from the
Acts 15:22–41
brethren to the apostles.
Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with However, it seemed good to Silas to remain
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the whole church, to send chosen men of their there. Paul and Barnabas also remained in
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own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of
namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and the Lord, with many others also.
Silas, leading men among the brethren. 36 Then after some days Paul said to
They wrote this letter by them: Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our
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brethren in every city where we have preached
The apostles, the elders, and the
brethren, the word of the Lord, and see how they are
doing.” Now Barnabas was determined to
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To the brethren who are of the take with them John called Mark. But Paul
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Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: insisted that they should not take with them
the one who had departed from them in
Greetings.
Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the
Since we have heard that some who work. Then the contention became so sharp
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went out from us have troubled you that they parted from one another. And so
with words, unsettling your souls, Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;
saying, “You must be circumcised and 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, being
keep the law”—to whom we gave no commended by the brethren to the grace of
such commandment— it seemed good God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia,
41
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to us, being assembled with one strengthening the churches.
accord, to send chosen men to you
with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
men who have risked their lives for
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the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15:36 see how they are doing. In addition to
We have therefore sent Judas and proclaiming the gospel,Paul also recognized his
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Silas, who will also report the same responsibility to mature the new believers in
things by word of mouth. For it their faith (Matt. 28:19,20; Eph. 4:12,13; Phil. 1:8;
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seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to Col. 1:28; 1 Thess. 2:17). So he planned his sec-
us, to lay upon you no greater burden ond missionary journey to retrace his first one.
than these necessary things: that you
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abstain from things offered to idols, 15:39 contention…parted. This was not an
from blood, from things strangled, and amicable parting—they were in sharp dis-
from sexual immorality. If you keep agreement regarding John Mark. The weight
yourselves from these, you will do well. of the evidence favors Paul’s decision, espe-
cially since he was an apostle of Jesus Christ.
Farewell.
That alone should have caused Barnabas to
So when they were sent off, they came to
30 submit to his authority. But they eventually
did reconcile (1 Cor. 9:6).
15:40 Silas. He was perfectly suited to be
Paul’s companion, since he was a prophet and
15:24 troubled…unsettling. “Troubled” is a could proclaim and teach the Word. Being a
different Greek word from the one in v. 19, Jew gave him access to the synagogues.
meaning “to deeply upset,” “to deeply dis- Because he was a Roman citizen (16:37), he
turb,”“to perplex,”or “to create fear.”The Greek enjoyed the same benefits and protection as
word for “unsettling” was used in extrabiblical Paul. His status as a respected leader in the
writings to speak of someone going bankrupt. Jerusalem fellowship helped to reinforce
Together these words aptly describe the Paul’s teaching that Gentile salvation was by
chaos caused by the Judaizers. grace alone through faith alone.
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