Morning Bible Study: Acts 15:22-35

22  Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. 
23  With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings. 
24  We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 
25  So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul- 
26  men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
27  Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 
28  It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 
29  You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. FAREWELL. 
30  So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. 
31  The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. 
32  Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. 
33  After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them.
35  But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.

(the following is from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary -- www.christianity.com)

"Commentary on Acts 15:22-35

Being warranted to declare themselves directed by the immediate influence of the Holy Ghost, the apostles and disciples were assured that it seemed good unto God the Holy Spirit, as well as to them, to lay upon the converts no other burden than the things before mentioned, which were necessary, either on their own account, or from present circumstances. It was a comfort to hear that carnal ordinances were no longer imposed on them, which perplexed the conscience, but could not purify or pacify it; and that those who troubled their minds were silenced, so that the peace of the church was restored, and that which threatened division was removed. All this was consolation for which they blessed God. Many others were at Antioch. Where many labour in the word and doctrine, yet there may be opportunity for us: the zeal and usefulness of others should stir us up, not lay us asleep."