When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, to whom they told all that God had done through them.

Then the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, decided to choose some men from the group and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose two men who were highly respected by the believers, Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas,

"Claudius Lysias to His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.

I send greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in the service of Christ Jesus;

Greetings also to the church that meets in their house. Greetings to my dear friend Epaenetus, who was the first in the province of Asia to believe in Christ.

Greetings also to Andronicus and Junia, fellow Jews who were in prison with me; they are well known among the apostles, and they became Christians before I did.

Greetings also to Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ's service, and to Stachys, my dear friend.

Greetings to Herodion, a fellow Jew, and to the Christians in the family of Narcissus.

I send greetings to Rufus, that outstanding worker in the Lord's service, and to his mother, who has always treated me like a son.

Greetings to Philologus and Julia, to Nereus and his sister, to Olympas and to all of God's people who are with them.

From James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ: Greetings to all God's people scattered over the whole world.

May God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, give us grace, mercy, and peace; may they be ours in truth and love.

The children of your dear Sister send you their greetings.

I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk personally. (1:15) Peace be with you. All your friends send greetings. Greet all our friends personally.

When they heard this, they stopped their criticism and praised God, saying, "Then God has given to the Gentiles also the opportunity to repent and live!"

When they arrived in Antioch, they gathered the people of the church together and told them about all that God had done with them and how he had opened the way for the Gentiles to believe.

But as for the Gentiles who have become believers, we have sent them a letter telling them we decided that they must not eat any food that has been offered to idols, or any blood, or any animal that has been strangled, and that they must keep themselves from sexual immorality."

He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Paul stayed on with the believers in Corinth for many days, then left them and sailed off with Priscilla and Aquila for Syria. Before sailing from Cenchreae he had his head shaved because of a vow he had taken.

We came to where we could see Cyprus, and then sailed south of it on to Syria. We went ashore at Tyre, where the ship was going to unload its cargo.

Afterward I went to places in Syria and Cilicia.