Acts 15

1 Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

1 有几个从犹太下来的人教导弟兄们说：“你们若不照着摩西的规条接受割礼，就不能得救。”

2 And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

2 保罗和巴拿巴为这件事与他们激烈地辩论，最后大家决定派保罗、巴拿巴和几个当地的信徒上耶路撒冷去跟使徒和长老讨论这件事。

3 Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.

3 于是教会为他们送行。他们经过腓尼基和撒玛利亚，沿途详述外族人悔改信主的消息，使弟兄姊妹大为欢喜。

4 On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.

4 他们到了耶路撒冷，受到教会、使徒和长老的接待，并报告了上帝借他们所做的一切事。

5 But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”

5 有几个信了主的法利赛人站起来说：“外族的信徒必须接受割礼，而且还要遵守摩西的律法。”

6 So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.

6 使徒和长老们聚集商议这个问题。

7 After much discussion, Peter got up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you that the Gentiles would hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.

7 经过许多辩论之后，彼得站起来对大家说：“弟兄们，你们都知道，上帝早已在你们当中拣选我去向外族人传道，让他们也可以听到福音并信主。

8 And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.

8 洞悉人心的上帝把圣灵赐给他们，正如赐给我们一样，以表明祂也接纳外族人。

9 He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith.

9 上帝对他们和我们一视同仁，祂借着他们的信心洁净了他们的心灵。

10 Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?

10 现在你们为什么要试探上帝，把我们祖先和我们不能负的轭强加在这些门徒肩上？

11 On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

11 我们相信，他们和我们一样都是靠主耶稣的恩典得救。”

12 The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

12 众人都沉默不语，继续听巴拿巴和保罗诉说上帝借着他们在外族人中所行的神迹奇事。

13 When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me!

13 他们报告完了，雅各站起来说：“弟兄们，请听我说。

14 Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.

14 刚才西门讲述了上帝当初如何眷顾外族人，从他们当中拣选人归在祂的名下。

15 The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:

15 这完全与众先知的话相符，正如圣经上说，

16 ‘After this I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,

16 “‘此后，我要回来重建已倾覆的大卫家， 从废墟中重建它、恢复它，

17 so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does these things

17 好叫其余的百姓， 就是凡归在我名下的外族人都寻求主。’ 这是主说的，

18 that have been known for ages.’

18 祂从亘古就显明了这事。

19 It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God.

19 “所以，我认为不应该为难那些信上帝的外族人。

20 Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.

20 我们只需写信吩咐他们远避被偶像玷污之物，不可淫乱，不可吃勒死的牲畜和血。

21 For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

21 因为自古以来，在各城都有人宣讲摩西的律法，每逢安息日，都有人在会堂里诵读。”

22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to select men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, two leaders among the brothers,

22 最后，使徒、长老和全教会都决定从他们当中选派代表，随保罗和巴拿巴去安提阿。他们选了别号巴撒巴的犹大和西拉，这两位都是教会的领袖。

23 and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.

23 他们带去的书信这样说：“安提阿、叙利亚和基利迦的外族弟兄姊妹，你们的弟兄——众使徒和长老向你们问安！

24 It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said.

24 “听说有几个人从我们这里去了你们那里， 他们的教导使你们困惑不安。其实我们从来没有授权他们这样做。

25 So we all agreed to choose men to send to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

25 所以我们一致决定选派代表，随我们敬爱的巴拿巴和保罗去你们那里。

26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

26 他们二人为我们主耶稣基督的名已将生死置之度外。

27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to tell you in person the same things we are writing.

27 我们差派犹大和西拉去向你们报告我们的决定。

28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond these essential requirements:

28 因为圣灵和我们都认为不应把额外的重担加在你们身上。但请务必注意以下几件事：

29 You must 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.

29 要远避祭拜偶像的事，不可吃血，不可吃勒死的牲畜，不可淫乱。你们一一遵守这些事才好。祝平安！”

30 So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter.

30 他们奉命下到安提阿，召集众人，交付书信。

31 When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message.

31 众人读过这封信之后，都因信中劝勉的话而欢喜。

32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.

32 犹大和西拉也是先知，他们讲了许多勉励、坚立弟兄姊妹的话。

33 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers in peace to return to those who had sent them.

33 住了些日子后，安提阿的弟兄姊妹以平安的祝福为他们送行，让他们回耶路撒冷复命。

34

34 但西拉决定留在那里。

35 But Paul and Barnabas remained at Antioch, along with many others, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord.

35 保罗和巴拿巴则继续留在安提阿，与许多人一起教导、传扬主的道。

36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”

36 过了一些日子，保罗对巴拿巴说：“我们回到曾传过福音的各城镇去探望弟兄姊妹吧，好知道他们的情况。”

37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.

37 巴拿巴想要带约翰·马可同去，

38 But Paul thought it best not to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.

38 但保罗坚持不带他同行，因为他在旁非利亚离开过他们，没有和他们一起做工。

39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,

39 二人起了激烈的争执，以致分道扬镳。巴拿巴带着约翰·马可一同乘船去塞浦路斯。

40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

40 保罗则选了西拉同行，弟兄姊妹把他们交托在主的恩典中。

41 And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

41 保罗走遍了叙利亚和基利迦，坚固当地的教会。