Acts 15:22-35

A Letter for the Gentiles

The group decided to send Paul and Barnabas back to the Gentiles along with some men closely associated with the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. Judas Barsabas and Silas were specially selected to go help deliver a letter which explained the thinking of the assembled group. McGarvey thought these men might have been sent because they had not been associated with converting the Gentiles and would be "above suspicion of undue partiality toward them." He went on to suggest that they "might use their influence with the Jewish brethren to induce them to accept the teaching of the epistle."

When they got to Antioch, the multitude of believers assembled to hear the letter from the apostles and elders. After they heard they were to be accepted into the church without submitting to the law of Moses, there was great rejoicing. Further words of encouragement were delivered by Judas and Silas, who Luke says were prophets. The brethren told them they could return to Jerusalem after they had spent and unspecified amount of time with them. However, Silas apparently chose to remain in Antioch (Acts 15:22-35).