लूका 12

1 हजारौं हजार मानिसहरू एकसाथ भेला भएका थिए। तिनीहरू यदि विघ्न थिए कि तिनीहरू एक अर्कालाई कुल्चन्थे। मानिसहरूलाई सम्बोधन गर्नु अघि येशूले उनका चेलाहरूलाई सम्बोधन गर्नु अघि येशूले उनका चेलाहरूलाई भन्नुभयो, “तिमीहरू फरिसीहरूको खमीरदेखि होशियार बस। मेरो भन्नुको अर्थ तिनीहरूको कपटीपनामा होशियारी बस।

2 प्रत्येक कुरो जो लुकाइएको छ त्यो बहिरिन्छ। प्रत्येक रहस्यका कुरा जान्न दिइनेछ।

3 ती वचनहरू जो तिमीले अन्धकारमा भनेकाछौ त्यो उज्यालोमा सुनिनेछ। तिमीले कोठाभित्र कानेखुसी गरेको कुरा घरको छानाबाट घोषणा गरिनेछ।”

4 त्यसपछि येशूले मानिसहरूलाई भन्नुभयो, “ तिमीहरूलाई भन्दछु, ए मेरा साथीहरू! मानिसहरूदेखि नडराऊ। मानिसहरूले शरीरको हत्या गर्न सक्छन्, तर त्यो भन्दा वेशी तिनीहरूले केही गर्न सक्तैन।

5 तर कोसित डराउनु पर्छ म तिमीहरूलाई बताउनेछु। तिमीहरू उहाँ एकसंग डराउनु पर्छ जससित मारे पछि नरकमा फयाँक्न सक्ने शक्ति छ। हो, उहाँ मात्र एक हुनुहुन्छ जससित तिमीहरू डराउनु पर्छ।

6 “पाँचवटा ससान चरचुरूङ्गीहरूको दाम दुइ पैसा मात्र पर्छ। तर परमेश्वरले ती मध्ये एउटा पनि भुल्नु हुँदैन।

7 हो, तिमीहरूको शिरमा कति केश छन् त्यो पनि परमेश्वरलाई थाहा छ। यसकारण नडराऊ। ती चराचुरूङ्गीहरू भन्दा तिमीहरू धेरै मूल्यवान् छौ।

8 “म तिमीहरूलाई भन्दछु, यदि कुनै मानिसले अरू मानिसहरूको सामुन्ने उसलाई मेरो हो भन्छ भने, म पनि त्यसरी परमेश्वरको दूतहरूको सामुन्ने भन्छु कि त्यो मानिस मेरो हो।

9 तर यदि कुनै मानिसले अरू मानिसहरूको सामने उसलाई मेरो होइन भने म त्यसलाई मेरो होइन भन्नेछु। यी सब म परमेश्वरका दुतहरूको अघि भन्नेछु।

10 “यदी कसैले मानिसको पुत्रको विरूद्धमा कुरा गरे त्यसलाई क्षमा हुनेछ। तर यदि कुनै मानिसले पवित्र आत्माको विरूद्ध निन्दा गरे त्यो क्षमा हुनेछैन।

11 “जब मानिसहरूले तिमीहरूलाई सभा घरहरुमा भएका शासक अनि अधिकारी अघि पार्छन भने आफ्नो बचाऊको निम्ति कसरी के भन्नु पर्ने त्यसमा हतास नहोऊ।

12 त्यस समय पवित्र आत्माले नै तिमीलाई तिमीले भन्न पर्ने कुराहरू सिकाउनु हुनेछ।”

13 भीडबाट एकजना मानसिले येशूलाई भने, “हे गुरु, हाम्रा पिता मर्नु भयो। आफ्नो पिताको धन-सम्पत्तिको मसंग अंश-बण्डा गर्नलाई मेरो दाज्युलाई भनिदिनु होस्।”

14 तर येशूले त्यलाई भन्नुभयो, “मैले तिमीहरूको बाबुको सम्पत्ति तिमीहरू दुइजना माझ वितरण गर्नु पर्छ भनेर मलाई कसले न्यायकर्ता बनायो?”

15 फेरि येशले तिहरूलाई भन्नुभयो, “होशियार होऊ अनि सबै प्रकारका स्वार्थीपनबाट आफूलाई जोगाऊ। कसैकोमा चाहिएको सम्पत्ति भन्दा वेशी हुनु सक्छ , तर त्यले उसलाई जीवन दिन सक्तैन।”

16 अनि उहाँले यस्तो एउटा दृष्टान्त भन्नुभयोः “कुनै समयमा एक जना धनी मानिस थियो। त्यसको जमीनमा असल अनि प्रशस्त अन्नाबाली उब्जन्थ्यो।

17 त्यो मानिस आफै सोच्दथ्यो, मैले के गर्ने मसित भएका यति प्रशस्त अन्न राख्ने ठाउँ नै छैन।

18 तब त्यस धनी मानसले भन्यो, म जान्दछु मैले के गर्नु पर्ने हो। म मेरा भकारीहरू भत्काउँछुर त्यसलाई अझ ठूलो पार्छु। ती नयाँ भकारीहरूमा म सबै अन्नहरू र अरू मेरा राम्रो चीजहरू राख्नेछु।

19 तब म आफैलाई भन्नेछु, मेरोमा प्रशस्त राम्रो राम्रो समानहरू छन्। आउने धेरै र्वषको लागी मैले थुपारेको छु। आरामसित बस, खाउ, पीउ अनि जीवनमा आनन्द मनाऊ।’

20 तर परमेश्वरले त्यस मानिसलाई भन्नुभयो, तिमी मूर्ख हौ, आज रातीनै तिमी मर्नेछौ। अनि तिमीले आफ्नै लागि तयार पारेका चीजहरू कसको हुनेछ?

21 यसर्थ जसले आफ्नो निम्ति मात्र धन सम्पत्ती थुपार्छ त्यसले त्यो मानिसलाई के हुन्छ र परमेश्वरको अघि यस्ता मानिसहरु धनि होइनन्।”

22 येशूले आफ्ना चेलाहरूलाई भन्नुभयो, “यसकारण म तिमीरूलाई भन्दछु, बाँच्नका निम्ति खानेकुरा चाहिन्छ भन्ने विषयमा चिन्ता नगर। तिम्रो शरीरको विषयमा पनि चिन्ता नगर कि तिमी के लगाउँछौ?

23 खानेकुरा भन्दा जीवन धेरै मूल्यवान छ। अनि लुगाफाटा भन्दा शरीरको महत्व धेरै छ।

24 चराचुरूङ्गीहरूलाई हेर। तिनीहरू बीउ छर्दैनन् अनि वाली लाउँदैनन्। चराचुरूङ्गीहरूले भँण्डार अथवा भकारीहरूमा खानेकुरा थुपार्दैनन्। तर परमेश्वरले तिनीहरूलाई पेट भरी खुवाउँनुहुनेछ। अनि चराचुरुङ्गीहरू भन्दा तिमीहरू धेरै मूल्यवान हौ।

25 तिमीहरू कसैले चिन्ताद्वारा आफ्नो आयुमा केही समय थप्नसक्छ?

26 यदि तिमीहरू स-साना कुराहरू नै गर्न सक्दैनौ भने ठूलो विषयको किन फिक्री गर्छौ?

27 जंङ्गली फूलहरूलाई हेर। सोच, तिनीहरू कसरी उम्रन्छन्। तिनीहरू आफ्नै लागि केही गर्दैनन् न त वस्त्र नै बनाउँछन्। म तिमीहरूलाई भन्दछु कि सुलेमान जस्ता राजा आफ्नो समस्त वैभवको साथ पनि यी फूलहरूमा झैं एउटा वस्त्र पहिरिएको थिएन।

28 परमेश्वरले नै जमीनमा ती घाँसलाई वस्त्र लगाइदिनुहुन्छ, जुन आज यहाँ छ भोलि त्यसलाई आगोमा फालिन्छ। यसैले तिमीहरूले जान्नु पर्छ कि परमेश्वरले नै तिमीहरूलाई अझ धेरै राम्रो वस्त्र पहिराई दिनुहुनेछ। तिम्रो एकदमै थोरै विश्वास छ।

29 त्यसरी नै तिमीहरूले के खाऔंला अनि के पिऔल भनी चिन्ता नगर। यस विषयमा कुनै चिन्ता नगर।

30 संसारका सबै मानिसहरू यी चीजहरूको पछि लाग्छन् तर तिमीहरूका पिताले जान्दछन् कि तिमीहरूले यी सब चाहन्छौ।

31 यसकारण तिमीहरूले खोज्नु पर्ने मुख्य त परमेश्वरको राज्य नै हो। तब तिमीहरूलाई यी सबै बस्तुहरू पनि दिइनेछ।

32 “हे साना बगाल! नडराऊ! तिमीहरूका पिताले तिमीहरूलाई राज्य दिन चाहुनुहुन्छ।

33 आफ्नोमा भएका सबै सम्पत्ति बेचेर जसलाई चाहिन्छ तिनीहरूलाई पैसा देऊ। धन त यो संसारमा स्थायी रहँदैन। तर स्वर्गको भण्डार हासिल । त्यो भन्डार सँधैका लागी रहन्छ। स्वर्गमा तिम्रो भण्डार चोरहरुले चोर्न सक्तैन, न त किराहरुले नै नष्ट पार्न सक्छ।

34 तिम्रो हृदय त्यहीं हुनेछ जहाँ तिम्रो भण्डार हुनेछ।

35 “तयारी बस! वस्त्र लगाऊ अनि तिम्रो बत्ती उज्यालो होस्।

36 त्यो नोकरहरूले झैं व्यवहार गर जो विवाह भोजबाट फर्की आउने आफ्नो मालिकको लागि पर्खी रहेको हुन्छ। मालिक आउँछ अनि ढोका ढक्ढकाउँछ। नोकरले मालिकको निम्ति ढोका खोलिदिन्छ।

37 धन्य हुन ती नोकरहरू जो मालिक घर फर्कादाँ घरमा सर्तकता साथ बसेका हुन्छन्। म तिमीहरूलाई साँचो भन्छु, मालिक आफैं आफ्नो काम गर्दा लाउने लुगा लगाँउछ अनि उसको नोकरहरूलाई कुर्सीमा बस्न लाउँछ। त्यसपछि मालिक स्वयंले तिनीहरूलाई खाना बाँडिदिन्छ।

38 तर नोकरहरूले, सायद आफ्ना मालिकलाई मध्य-रात सम्म अथवा त्यसपछि पनि पर्खनु पर्ला। तर तिनीहरू खुशी हुन्छन् कारण तिनीहरूका मालिक आउँदा तिनलाई र्पखिरहेका पाउनेछन्।

39 यो कुरा सम्झी राखः घरका मालिकले कति बेला चोर आउँछ भन्ने कुरा चाल पायो भने उसले चोरलाई घर फोर्नु दिएको हुँदैन।

40 यसर्थ, तिमीहरू पनि सर्तक हौं! मानिसका पुत्र अचानक आउनु हुनेछ जब कि उहाँ आउने तिमीहरूले आशा नै गरेका हुँदैनौ।”विश्वासी नोकर को होला?

41 पत्रुसले भने, “हे प्रभु! तपाईंले हामीलाई मात्र अथवा प्रत्येकलाई यो कथा भन्नु हुन्छ?”

42 प्रभुले भन्नुभयो, “को चाँहि ज्ञानी र विश्वासी नोकर होला? विश्वासी नोकर त्यही हो जसमाथि अन्य नोकरहरूलाई ठीक समयमा तिनीहरूको भाग खाना दिन्छ भनी विश्वास गर्छ।

43 मालिक आँउदा आफुले अह्राएको अनुसार नोकर काममा व्यस्त रहेको पायो भने त्यो नोकर अति खुशी हुनेछ।

44 म तिमीहरूलाई साँचो भन्छु, मालिकले त्यस नोकरलाई आफ्नो जे जति छ त्यसको रक्षक नियुक्ति गर्छ।

45 तर यदि नोकर दुष्ट प्रवृत्तिको छ र आफ्नो मालिक झट्टै र्फकदैन भन्ने सोच्छ भने त्यसको प्रतिफल के होला? त्यो नोकरले अरू नोकर पुरुष, स्त्रीहरूलाई कुट-पीट गर्ला अनि खाई पिई मातेर मस्त बस्ला।

46 जब मालिक आँउछ उसलाई तत्पर रहेको पाउँदैन। यस्तो त्यस दिन आउनेछ, त्यो नोकरले मालिक आँउछ भन्ने सोचेकै हुँदैन, मालिक आउँदैछ भन्ने पत्तो हुँदैन। मालिकले त्यस नोकरलाई सजाय दिनेछ अनि त्यसलाई अन्य अविश्वासीसंग पठाइदिनेछ।

47 “त्यो नोकरले जान्दथ्यो, उसको मालिकले के चाहान्थ्यो तर उ काम गर्न तत्पर रहँदैन अथवा मालिकले अह्राएको काम गर्न चेष्ट गरेन, यसर्थ त्यस नोकरले अधिक सजाय पाँउछ।

48 उसको मालिकले जे चहान्छ यदि त्यो नोकरले जान्दैन तर जे गर्छ सजाय योग्यको काम गर्छ, उसको के गति होला? त्यस नोकरले सजाय त पाँउछ नै, तर उसले भन्दा कम्ती सजाय पाउँछ जुन नोकरले मालिकले के चाहान्छ जान्दछ तर गर्दैन। जुन मानिसलाई बेसी दिइएको छ, उसको जिम्मेवारी पनि बेसी हुन्छ। अझ जसमाथि बेसी विश्वास गरिको छ ऊबाट बेसी नै आशा पनि राखिएको हुन्छ।”

49 येशूले लगातार भन्नुभयोः “म पृथ्वीमा आगो लयाउन आएको हुँ। तर मैले कसरी आशा गर्ने कि यो आघिदेखि नै सल्किसकेको रहेछ भन्ने।

50 म बप्तिस्मा गरिने विभिन्न तरिकाबाट बप्तिस्मित हुनु परेकोछ। यो कामको अन्त नभइञ्जेल सम्म म विचलित नै रहनेछु।

51 के तिमीहरू सम्झन्छौ कि पृथ्वीलाई शान्ति दिनु नै म आएको हुँ? अहँ! म पृथ्वीलाई भाग गर्न आएको हुँ।

52 अहिलेदेखि पाँच जनाको एउटा परिवार विभाजन हुनेछ, तीन जना दुई जनाको विरुद्धमा जानेछन, अनि दुइजना तीन जनाको विरुद्धमा हुनेछन्।

53 बाबु र छोराहरू विभाजनमा आउनेछः पुत्र बाबुको विरुद्धमा हुनेछ। अनि बाबु छोराको बिरुद्धमा हुनेछ। आमा छोरीको विरुद्धमा हुन्छे। सासू र बुहारी माझ फाटो आउनेछः बुहारी सासूको विरूद्धमा हुन्छे। सासू बुहारीको विरुद्धमा हुन्छे।”

54 येशूले मानिसहरूलाई भन्नुभयो, “जब तिमीहरूले पश्चिममा बादल बटुलिंदै गरेको पाउनेछौ, तिमीहरू भन्छौ, आँधी-वेहरी आउनेछ।’ अनि यस्तै हुन्छ

55 त्यसरी नै, जब दक्षिणबाट बतास चल्नु थाल्छ, तिमीहरू भन्नेछौ, अब गरमको दिन आउनेछ।’ अनि तिमीहरू ठीक हौ।

56 तिमीहरू कपटीहरू हौ! तिमीहरू जान्दछौ कसरी आकाश र पृथ्वी इशाराहरू बझ्नु।

57 “के चाँहि सही हो भन्ने तिमीहरू माझ किन निर्णय लिन सक्तैनौ? तब तिमीहरू किन बुझ्न सक्तैनौ अहिले के भइरहेको छ?

58 मानिलेऊ, कुनै मानिससंग तिम्रो झगडा छ, अनि तिमी न्यायलय जानु लागेकाछौ। तर न्यालयमा पुग्नु अघि नैं त्यो झगडा मिलाउन जे आवश्यक हुन्छ हरेक कुरो गर। यदि त्यसो नगरे विपक्षीले तिमीलाई नयायकर्त्ता अघि उभ्याउनेछ। अनि न्यायकर्ताले अधिकारीलाई सुम्पिनेछ औ उनले तिमीलाई जेलमा थुन्नेछ।

59 तिमीलाई भन्छु, जब सम्म तिमीमाथि तोकिएको पैसा सम्म तिमी चुक्ता गर्दैनौ तिमीले त्यहाँबाट छुटकारा पाउनेछैनौं।”

1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:

12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?

42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?

43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.

45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

51 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

52 For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.

53 The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

54 And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.

55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.

56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

58 When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.

59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.

37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.