Acts 15:33-35 Meaning: Understanding 'Dismissed in Peace'
33After they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to the apostles.
35But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
33And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.
34Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
35Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
33And after they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brethren unto those that had sent them forth.
35But Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
33and having passed some time, they were let go with peace from the brethren unto the apostles;
34and it seemed good to Silas to remain there still.
35And Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming good news--with many others also--the word of the Lord;
33And having passed some time [there], they were let go in peace from the brethren to those who sent them.
35And Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and announcing the glad tidings, with many others also, of the word of the Lord.
Meaning in one sentence
What does it mean to be dismissed in peace? Explore the textual question about their destination and what this passage teaches about mission and fellowship.
Context
This moment comes right after the Jerusalem council settled a major dispute. The church in Antioch had been troubled by people insisting Gentile believers must follow the law of Moses. So the apostles and elders in Jerusalem sent two trusted men, Judas and Silas, along with Paul and Barnabas, to deliver a letter of peace. The chapter records the joy and encouragement that followed. Now the delegation from Jerusalem has finished its work. The two messengers are sent back home with a blessing, while Paul and Barnabas remain in Antioch to keep teaching. This short scene shows the church functioning in unity after a difficult conflict.
Key Words
The Greek verb for ‘were dismissed’ is apoluō. It means to set free, to release, to let go. But here it is paired with the word ‘peace.’ The phrase ‘in peace’ translates met’ eirēnēs, a Hebrew way of saying they were sent off with a blessing and a prayer for well-being. This was not just a quiet exit, it was a formal, loving farewell.
The word for ‘continued’ or ‘stayed’ is dietribon, from diatribō, meaning to spend time, to wear away time. Paul and Barnabas did not merely wait around. They filled their days with teaching and preaching. The two verbs here, didaskontes (teaching) and euangelizomenoi (proclaiming good news), show two sides of the same work: building up believers and reaching those who had not yet heard. Together these words remind us that both leaving with blessing and staying to teach are part of serving God.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this passage with attention to the textual detail. Many early manuscripts omit verse 34 entirely. Some traditions, following the Latin Vulgate, include it, noting that Silas chose to stay. The reformed commentators Calvin and Gill see the phrase ‘dismissed in peace’ as a Hebrew idiom of blessing, not just a polite goodbye. Others, like the Cambridge Bible, point out that the oldest Greek texts read ‘to those who sent them’ rather than ‘to the apostles.’ Both readings agree on the outcome: the messengers returned to Jerusalem with a good report. The passage is cherished across traditions as a picture of unity restored and the steady work of teaching that followed.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume that verse 34, which says ‘it pleased Silas to remain,’ belongs in every Bible because it explains how Silas later traveled with Paul. In fact, this verse is missing from the earliest Greek manuscripts and is almost certainly a later addition. The passage reads just as well without it. The point does not depend on whether Silas stayed or left; the focus is on the peace of the departure and the faithful teaching that continued in Antioch.
Living This Out
The scene invites you to consider the mix of leaving and staying in your own life. This week you might be the one saying goodbye to a church, a small group, or a season of service. If so, you can ask for a blessing of peace to go with you, not just a hurried farewell. Or you might be the one remaining, like Paul and Barnabas, settling in for the slower work of teaching and encouraging others. Both roles matter. Both are ways of serving the same Lord. Perhaps you can take a moment to thank God for people who have been sent in peace from your life, and for those who stay and keep teaching you the word.
Main takeaway: After conflict, God’s people are sent off with a blessing of peace, while others remain to faithfully teach and preach the word of the Lord.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Judas and Silas said goodbye to their new friends in Antioch. The Christians sent them away with a blessing of peace. Then Paul and Barnabas stayed to teach more people about Jesus.
For ages 9, 12
When the messengers from Jerusalem left, the church did not just let them go quietly. They sent them off with a blessing of peace, like saying “God be with you.” Meanwhile Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch and kept teaching. Some people are called to leave, and some are called to stay. Both are important for God’s work.
Questions People Ask
Why is verse 34 missing from many Bibles?
Verse 34 says Silas decided to stay in Antioch, but it does not appear in the oldest Greek manuscripts. Scholars think a later copyist added the verse to explain why Silas is still in Antioch in Acts 15:40. Most modern translations, like the ESV and NIV, either omit it or place it in a footnote. The main story still makes sense without it.
What does 'dismissed in peace' mean in this context?
The phrase is a Hebrew idiom for a blessing at parting. It means more than just leaving quietly. The church wished them well and prayed for God’s peace to accompany them. This same expression appears elsewhere in Scripture, like when Jethro sends Moses back to Egypt in Exodus 4:18.
Did Judas and Silas return to Jerusalem or to 'those who sent them'?
The oldest Greek manuscripts say they returned 'to those who had sent them,' meaning the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. Some later copies read 'to the apostles.' The difference is minor, both point to the same destination. They completed their mission and brought back the good news of unity.
Why did Paul and Barnabas stay in Antioch while the others left?
Paul and Barnabas were already based in Antioch as teachers in the church there (Acts 13:1). After the council, they continued the work of teaching and preaching the word of the Lord. The passage shows that mission happens both through travel and through settled, faithful teaching in one place.
What happened right after this passage?
Immediately after, Paul proposed a return visit to the churches they had planted earlier. But a sharp disagreement arose with Barnabas over whether to take John Mark. They separated, Paul took Silas (who likely had stayed in Antioch), and Barnabas took Mark. The very next verses show that even after a season of peace, new conflicts could arise.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study