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 有幾個人從猶太下來，教訓弟兄們說：「你們若不按摩西的規條受割禮，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 保羅、巴拿巴與他們大大地紛爭辯論；眾門徒就定規，叫保羅、巴拿巴和本會中幾個人，為所辯論的，上耶路撒冷去見使徒和長老。

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 於是教會送他們起行。他們經過腓尼基、撒馬利亞，隨處傳說外邦人歸主的事，叫眾弟兄都甚歡喜。

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 到了耶路撒冷，教會和使徒並長老都接待他們，他們就述說上帝同他們所行的一切事。

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 惟有幾個信徒， 是法利賽教門的人，起來說：「必須給外邦人行割禮，吩咐他們遵守摩西的律法。」

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

6 使徒和長老聚會商議這事；

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 辯論已經多了，彼得就起來，說：「諸位弟兄，你們知道上帝早已在你們中間揀選了我，叫外邦人從我口中得聽福音之道，而且相信。

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

8 知道人心的上帝也為他們作了見證，賜聖靈給他們，正如給我們一樣；

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

9 又藉着信潔淨了他們的心，並不分他們我們。

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 現在為甚麼試探上帝，要把我們祖宗和我們所不能負的軛放在門徒的頸項上呢？

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

11 我們得救乃是因主耶穌的恩，和他們一樣，這是我們所信的。」

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 眾人都默默無聲，聽巴拿巴和保羅述說上帝藉他們在外邦人中所行的神蹟奇事。

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

13 他們住了聲，雅各就說：「諸位弟兄，請聽我的話。

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

14 方才西門述說上帝當初怎樣眷顧外邦人，從他們中間選取百姓歸於自己的名下；

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

15 眾先知的話也與這意思相合。

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

16 正如經上所寫的： 此後，我要回來， 重新修造大衛倒塌的帳幕， 把那破壞的重新修造建立起來，

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 叫餘剩的人， 就是凡稱為我名下的外邦人， 都尋求主。

18 that have been known for ages.’

18 這話是從創世以來顯明這事的主說的。

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

19 「所以據我的意見，不可難為那歸服上帝的外邦人；

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 只要寫信，吩咐他們禁戒偶像的污穢和姦淫，並勒死的牲畜和血。

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

21 因為從古以來，摩西的書在各城有人傳講，每逢安息日，在會堂裏誦讀。」

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 那時，使徒和長老並全教會定意從他們中間揀選人，差他們和保羅、巴拿巴同往安提阿去；所揀選的就是稱呼巴撒巴的猶大和西拉。這兩個人在弟兄中是作首領的。

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 於是寫信交付他們，內中說：「使徒和作長老的弟兄們問安提阿、敘利亞、基利家外邦眾弟兄的安。

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 我們聽說，有幾個人從我們這裏出去，用言語攪擾你們，惑亂你們的心。 其實我們並沒有吩咐他們。

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

25 所以，我們同心定意，揀選幾個人，差他們同我們所親愛的巴拿巴和保羅往你們那裏去。

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

26 這二人是為我主耶穌基督的名不顧性命的。

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

27 我們就差了猶大和西拉，他們也要親口訴說這些事。

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

28 因為聖靈和我們定意不將別的重擔放在你們身上，惟有幾件事是不可少的，

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 就是禁戒祭偶像的物和血，並勒死的牲畜和姦淫。這幾件你們若能自己禁戒不犯就好了。願你們平安！」

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

30 他們既奉了差遣，就下安提阿去，聚集眾人，交付書信。

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

31 眾人念了，因為信上安慰的話就歡喜了。

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

32 猶大和西拉也是先知，就用許多話勸勉弟兄，堅固他們。

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，弟兄們打發他們平平安安地回到差遣他們的人那裏去。

34

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

35 但保羅和巴拿巴仍住在安提阿，和許多別人一同教訓人，傳主的道。

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 過了些日子，保羅對巴拿巴說：「我們可以回到從前宣傳主道的各城，看望弟兄們景況如何。」

37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark.

37 巴拿巴有意要帶稱呼馬可的約翰同去；

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 但保羅因為馬可從前在旁非利亞離開他們，不和他們同去做工，就以為不可帶他去。

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

39 於是二人起了爭論，甚至彼此分開。巴拿巴帶着馬可，坐船往塞浦路斯去；

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

40 保羅揀選了西拉，也出去，蒙弟兄們把他交於主的恩中。

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

41 他就走遍敘利亞、基利家，堅固眾教會。