First Reading
Acts 15:22-31
Read this as the first big movement of the day. Notice what God is doing, who is speaking, and what part of the story or teaching should stay with you.
22Then it pleased the apostles and leaders, with the whole church, to choose men of their own company, and to send to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas, who was surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers and sisters.
23Writing by their hands: The apostles and leaders, brothers and sisters, to the brothers and sisters of the Gentiles that are at Antioch, and in Syria and Cilicia, greeting.
24Forasmuch as we have heard, that some going out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no command:
25It has seemed good to us, being assembled together, to choose out men, and to send them to you, with our well beloved Barnabas and Paul:
26Men that have given their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also will, by word of mouth, tell you the same things.
28For it has seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay no further burden upon you than these necessary things:
29That you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which things keeping yourselves, you shall do well. Fare you well.
30They therefore being dismissed, went down to Antioch; and gathering together the crowd, rescued the epistle.
31Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.