The chat will start when you send the first message.
1While Small Man (Paul) and Son of Comfort (Barnabas) were in Stands Against (Antioch) , some men came down from the Land of Promise (Judea) and began to teach the followers there.
They said, “Unless you have participated in the traditional cutting of the flesh ceremony, given by Drawn from the Water (Moses) , you cannot be set free and made whole.”
2But Small Man (Paul) and Son of Comfort (Barnabas) did not agree with them and had a strong argument with them. It was decided that Small Man (Paul) and Son of Comfort (Barnabas) , along with a few others, would go to the message bearers and elders at Village of Peace (Jerusalem) to settle this among them.
3So, having been sent on their way by the sacred family, they traveled through Land of Palm Trees (Phoenicia) and High Place (Samaria) . As they traveled, they told how the Outside Nations had come to faith. This made the hearts of all the followers glad.
4When they came to Village of Peace (Jerusalem) , the message bearers, elders, and the sacred family welcomed them. They told them the stories of all that the Great Spirit had done through them.
5But some of the sacred family members who belonged to the band of the Separated Ones (Pharisees) stood up among them to make their voice heard .
“The Outside Nations,” said the Separated Ones (Pharisees) , “must participate in the cutting of the flesh ceremony and be required to follow our tribal law given by Drawn from the Water (Moses) .”
6The message bearers and elders sat in council together to discuss this matter.
7After much talk and debate, Stands on the Rock (Peter) stood up among them.
“My fellow members of the sacred family,” he said to all, “you know that a good while ago Creator chose me to be the one to help the Outside Nations come to faith by telling them the good story.
8The Knower of Hearts made this clear when he gave them the Holy Spirit in the same manner as he did for us.
9The Great Spirit made no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts when they trusted in him.
10So why put Creator to the test by putting a burden on their shoulders that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to carry?
11“So then,” Stands on the Rock (Peter) finished , “we believe it is because of the gift of great kindness from Creator Sets Free (Jesus) , the Chosen One, that we will be set free and made whole. It is the same for us and them!”
12Silence fell upon all who had gathered there as they listened to Son of Comfort (Barnabas) and Small Man (Paul) tell about the wondrous and powerful signs the Great Spirit had done through them when they were with the Outside Nations.
13When they were finished speaking, He Leads the Way (James) stood up and spoke to the gathering.
“My fellow Tribal Members,” he said. “Hear what I have to say.
14One Who Hears (Simon) has spoken well to remind us of how the Great Spirit first showed to us his concern for the Outside Nations, by choosing from among them those who would represent him.
15This agrees with the words of the prophets from long ago .
“It is written in the Sacred Teachings,
16‘At that time I will return and repair the sacred tent of Much Loved One (David) that has fallen to the ground. I will raise it up from its tattered ruins and mend its tears,
17so that the rest of humankind may search for the Great Spirit—all the Outside Nations who have also been chosen to represent me. This is what Creator is saying,
18for he made these things known long ago.’[#15:18 Some ancient manuscripts read For the Great Spirit knew long ago what he would do .]
19“So, as I see it, we should not put stumbling stones in the path of the ones in these Outside Nations who are turning to the Great Spirit.
20The message we should send to them is that they should stay away from things offered to evil spirits, from sexual impurity, from the meat of a strangled animal, and from drinking blood.[#15:20 Lit. idols]
21For from ancient times the ways of Drawn from the Water (Moses) have been taught in every village, and his words are read out loud in the tribal gathering houses on every Day of Resting.”
22Then the message bearers, the elders, and all of the sacred family agreed that it was a good thing to choose some men, along with Small Man (Paul) and Son of Comfort (Barnabas) , to take a message to Stands Against (Antioch) . They chose Speaks Well Of (Judas) who is also called Son of Resting (Barsabbas) and Woods Man (Silas) , spiritual leaders among the sacred family.
23Here is the message they sent in a letter: “Greetings, from the message bearers and elders of the sacred family, to our brothers and sisters who are from the Outside Nations in the villages of Stands Against (Antioch) , Bright Sun (Syria) , and Turns Over (Cilicia) .
24“We heard that some of our people came to you, even though we did not send them, and that they said things that troubled and confused you.
25We all agreed it would be good to send some men to represent us—along with our much-loved Son of Comfort (Barnabas) and Small Man (Paul) .
26These are men who have risked their lives representing our Honored Chief Creator Sets Free (Jesus) , the Chosen One.
27So we sent Speaks Well Of (Judas) and Woods Man (Silas) to tell you the same things we have written.
28“So then, it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to place on you no burden other than these necessary things:
29that you stay away from things offered to evil spirits, from drinking blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual impurity. If you stay away from these things you will be walking in a good way. Safe journeys to you.”
30So they sent the messengers to Stands Against (Antioch) .
31When they gathered everyone together and read the message, their hearts were encouraged and made glad.
32Speaks Well Of (Judas) and Woods Man (Silas) , who were also prophets, lifted their spirits and made their hearts strong with many words.
33After some time there, they sent the messengers back with a blessing of peace on those who had sent them.
34Woods Man (Silas) thought it good to remain there.[#15:34 Most manuscripts do not include verse 34.]
35Small Man (Paul) and Son of Comfort (Barnabas) also remained in Stands Against (Antioch) . There, along with many others, they taught the message of the good story about our Honored Chief.
36After they had stayed there for a while, Small Man (Paul) said to Son of Comfort (Barnabas) , “Come with me and we will visit the sacred family in every village where we taught Creator’s message, to see how well they are doing.”
37Now Son of Comfort (Barnabas) wanted Walks in Kindness (John) , who is also named War Club (Mark) , to go with them.
38But Small Man (Paul) did not think it wise, for he had deserted them in the territory of Many Tribes (Pamphylia) and did not complete his task.
39Their argument became so strong that they split apart and went their separate ways. Son of Comfort (Barnabas) took War Club (Mark) and set out by water for Island of Flowers (Cyprus) ,
40but Small Man (Paul) chose Woods Man (Silas) . So they were given Creator’s blessing by the sacred family and set out,
41traveling through Bright Sun (Syria) and Turns Over (Cilicia) . There they gave strength to the sacred family gatherings in that territory .