²³ Paul and Barnabas appointed elders^[a](A) for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting,^(B) committed them to the Lord,^(C) in whom they had put their trust.

² This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem^(A) to see the apostles and elders^(B) about this question.

⁴ As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders^(A) in Jerusalem^(B) for the people to obey.^(C)

¹⁷ From Miletus,^(A) Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders^(B) of the church.

¹⁸ The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James,^(A) and all the elders^(B) were present.

¹⁷ The elders^(A) who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor,^(B) especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

¹⁹ Do not entertain an accusation against an elder^(A) unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.^(B)

¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders^(A) of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil^(B) in the name of the Lord.

¹ The elder,^(A)

To the lady chosen by God^(B) and to her children, whom I love in the truth^(C)—and not I only, but also all who know the truth^(D)— ² because of the truth,^(E) which lives in us^(F) and will be with us forever:

³ Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ,^(G) the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

⁴ It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth,^(H) just as the Father commanded us. ⁵ And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning.^(I) I ask that we love one another. ⁶ And this is love:^(J) that we walk in obedience to his commands.^(K) As you have heard from the beginning,^(L) his command is that you walk in love.

⁷ I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ^(M) as coming in the flesh,^(N) have gone out into the world.^(O) Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.^{(P) 8} Watch out that you do not lose what we^[a] have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.^{(Q) 9} Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ^(R) does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.^{(S) 10} If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them.^{(T) 11} Anyone who welcomes them shares^(U) in their wicked work.

¹² I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face,^(V) so that our joy may be complete.^(W)

¹³ The children of your sister, who is chosen by God,^(X) send their greetings.