耶路撒冷会议

15 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。” 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。

于是教会为他们送行。他们经过腓尼基和撒玛利亚,沿途报告外族人悔改信主的消息,弟兄姊妹都大受鼓舞。 他们到了耶路撒冷,受到教会、使徒和长老的接待,并详述了上帝借他们所做的一切事。 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。”

使徒和长老们聚集商议这个问题。 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。 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。 上帝对他们和我们一视同仁,祂因他们的信心而洁净了他们的心灵。 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重担强加在这些门徒身上? 11 我们相信,他们和我们一样都是靠主耶稣的恩典得救。”

12 众人都沉默不语,继续听巴拿巴和保罗叙述上帝借着他们在外族人中所行的神迹奇事。 13 他们报告完了,雅各站起来说:“弟兄们,请听我说。 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 这完全与众先知的话相符,正如圣经上说,

16 “‘此后,我要回来重建已倾覆的大卫王朝,
将它从废墟中重建、恢复,
17 好叫其余的百姓,
就是凡归在我名下的外族人都寻求主。’

这是上帝说的, 18 祂从亘古就显明了这事。

19 “所以,我认为不应该为难那些信上帝的外族人。 20 我们只须写信吩咐他们远避被偶像玷污之物,不可淫乱,不可吃血和勒死的牲畜。 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。”

给外族信徒的信

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 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 “听说有几个人从我们这里去了你们那里,教导你们必须接受割礼并遵守摩西的律法[a]。他们的言论使你们大感困惑。其实我们从来没有授权他们这样做。 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 他们二人为我们主耶稣基督的缘故已将生死置之度外。 27 我们选派犹大和西拉两位代表跟他们一起去,向你们报告我们的决定。 28 因为圣灵和我们都认为不应把重担加在你们身上。但请务必注意以下几件事, 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就好了。祝平安!”

30 他们奉命下到安提阿,召集众人,交付书信。 31 众人读过这封信之后,都因信中劝勉的话而欢喜。 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 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 但西拉决定留在那里。[b] 35 保罗和巴拿巴则继续留在安提阿,与许多人一起教导、传扬上帝的道。

保罗与巴拿巴分手

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 巴拿巴想要带约翰·马可同去, 38 但保罗坚持不带他同行,因为他在旁非利亚离开了他们,没有和他们一起做工。

39 二人激烈地争执起来,僵持不下,只好分道扬镳。巴拿巴和约翰·马可一同乘船去塞浦路斯。 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 保罗走遍了叙利亚和基利迦,巩固当地的各教会。

Footnotes

  1. 15:24 有古卷无“教导你们必须接受割礼并遵守摩西的律法。”
  2. 15:34 有古卷无“但西拉决定留在那里”。

耶路撒冷的會議

15 有幾個人從猶太下來,教導弟兄們說:“你們若不照摩西的規例受割禮,就不能得救。” 保羅和巴拿巴,與他們大大地爭執辯論起來。大家就派保羅、巴拿巴和他們中間的幾個人,為這個問題上耶路撒冷去見使徒和長老。 於是教會給他們送行,他們就經過腓尼基、撒瑪利亞,述說外族人怎樣歸主的事,使弟兄們大大喜樂。 到了耶路撒冷,他們受到教會、使徒和長老的接待,就報告 神同他們一起所行的一切。 然而有幾個法利賽派的信徒站起來,說:“我們必須給外族人行割禮,吩咐他們遵守摩西的律法。”

使徒和長老聚集在一起,商議這件事。 經過了很多的辯論,彼得站起來對他們說:“弟兄們,你們知道,前些時候 神在你們中間揀選了我,使外族人從我的口中聽見福音的道,而且信了。 知道人心的 神也為他們作證─賜聖靈給他們,像給我們一樣; 而且他待他們和我們沒有分別,因為藉著信,他潔淨了他們的心。 10 現在你們為甚麼試探 神,把我們祖先和我們所不能負的軛,放在門徒的頸上呢? 11 我們相信,我們得救是藉著主耶穌的恩,和他們也是一樣。”

12 大家都靜默無聲,聽巴拿巴和保羅述說 神藉著他們在外族人中所行的神蹟奇事。 13 他們講完了,雅各說:“弟兄們,請聽我說! 14 剛才西門述說 神當初怎樣關懷外族人,從他們中間揀選了眾人,歸在自己的名下。 15 眾先知的話,也符合這個意思,正如經上所記:

16 ‘此後我要回來,

重建大衛倒塌了的帳幕,

重建它損壞之處,

把它重新豎立起來,

17 使餘下的人,

就是所有稱為我名下的外族人,都尋求主,

18 這是自古以來就顯明了這些事的主所說的。’

19 “所以我認為不可難為這些歸服 神的外族人, 20 只要寫信叫他們禁戒偶像的污穢、淫亂,勒死的牲畜和血。 21 因為自古以來,在各城裡都有人宣講摩西的書,每逢安息日,在各會堂裡都有人誦讀。”

會議的決定

22 當時,使徒、長老和全教會都認為好,就從他們中間選出人來,差他們和保羅、巴拿巴一同到安提阿去,所選的就是別號巴撒巴的猶大和西拉,他們是弟兄中的領袖。 23 於是寫信給他們帶去,信上說:“使徒和作長老的弟兄們,向安提阿、敘利亞、基利家的外族眾弟兄問安。 24 我們聽說有人從我們這裡出去,說了一些話攪擾你們,使你們心裡不安,其實我們並沒有吩咐他們。 25 因此,我們一致同意,選派一些人跟我們親愛的巴拿巴和保羅去見你們, 26 這兩個人為了我們主耶穌基督的名,曾經把性命置之度外。 27 我們派了猶大和西拉一同去,他們也會親口述說這些事。 28 聖靈和我們都同意,不把別的重擔加在你們身上,然而有幾件事是重要的, 29 就是禁戒祭過偶像的食物、血、勒死的牲畜和淫亂。這些事你們若能保守自己不作,那就好了。祝你們平安!”

30 他們受了差派,下安提阿去,集合了眾人,就把書信交上。 31 眾人讀了,因信上的勸勉,就感到欣慰。 32 猶大和西拉也是先知,說了許多話勸勉弟兄,堅固他們。 33 住了一段時間,弟兄們就給他們送行,祝一路平安;他們就回到差派他們的人那裡去。(有些抄本在此有第34節:“但西拉認為自己應當在那裡住下來,只有猶大回到耶路撒冷。”) 35 保羅和巴拿巴卻住在安提阿,跟許多別的人一同教導,傳講主的道。

第二次宣教旅程

36 過了一些時候,保羅對巴拿巴說:“我們要回到我們傳過主道的各城,探望弟兄們,好知道他們的情形怎麼樣。” 37 巴拿巴有意要帶別號馬可的約翰一同去, 38 但保羅認為不應帶他去,因為他從前在旁非利亞離開過他們,不跟他們一起去作工。 39 他們各持己見,以致彼此分手。巴拿巴帶著馬可,坐船到塞浦路斯去; 40 保羅卻選了西拉,眾弟兄把他交託在主的恩典中之後,他就出發了。 41 他走遍了敘利亞、基利家,堅固眾教會。

争论外邦门徒该守摩西的律法

15 有几个人从犹太下来,教训弟兄们说:“你们若不按摩西的规条受割礼,不能得救。” 保罗巴拿巴与他们大大地纷争辩论,众门徒就定规,叫保罗巴拿巴和本会中几个人为所辩论的,上耶路撒冷去见使徒和长老。 于是教会送他们起行。他们经过腓尼基撒马利亚,随处传说外邦人归主的事,叫众弟兄都甚欢喜。 到了耶路撒冷,教会和使徒并长老都接待他们,他们就述说神同他们所行的一切事。 唯有几个信徒是法利赛教门的人起来,说:“必须给外邦人行割礼,吩咐他们遵守摩西的律法。”

使徒和长老聚会商议这事。 辩论已经多了,彼得就起来说:“诸位弟兄,你们知道神早已在你们中间拣选了我,叫外邦人从我口中得听福音之道,而且相信。 知道人心的神也为他们作了见证,赐圣灵给他们,正如给我们一样; 又借着信洁净了他们的心,并不分他们我们。 10 现在为什么试探神,要把我们祖宗和我们所不能负的轭放在门徒的颈项上呢? 11 我们得救乃是因主耶稣的恩,和他们一样,这是我们所信的。”

巴拿巴和保罗述说在外邦人中所行之事

12 众人都默默无声,听巴拿巴保罗述说神借他们在外邦人中所行的神迹奇事。 13 他们住了声,雅各就说:“诸位弟兄,请听我的话! 14 方才西门述说神当初怎样眷顾外邦人,从他们中间选取百姓归于自己的名下。 15 众先知的话也与这意思相合, 16 正如经上所写的:‘此后我要回来,重新修造大卫倒塌的帐幕,把那破坏的重新修造建立起来, 17 叫余剩的人,就是凡称为我名下的外邦人,都寻求主。 18 这话是从创世以来显明这事的主说的。’

雅各定断此事

19 “所以据我的意见,不可难为那归服神的外邦人, 20 只要写信吩咐他们禁戒偶像的污秽和奸淫,并勒死的牲畜和血。 21 因为从古以来,摩西的书在各城有人传讲,每逢安息日在会堂里诵读。”

差人送信到安提阿

22 那时,使徒和长老并全教会定意从他们中间拣选人,差他们和保罗巴拿巴同往安提阿去。所拣选的就是称呼巴撒巴犹大西拉,这两个人在弟兄中是做首领的。 23 于是写信交付他们,内中说:“使徒和做长老的弟兄们问安提阿叙利亚基利家外邦众弟兄的安! 24 我们听说有几个人从我们这里出去,用言语搅扰你们,惑乱你们的心。[a]其实我们并没有吩咐他们。 25 所以,我们同心定意拣选几个人,差他们同我们所亲爱的巴拿巴保罗往你们那里去。 26 这二人是为我主耶稣基督的名不顾性命的。 27 我们就差了犹大西拉,他们也要亲口诉说这些事。 28 因为圣灵和我们定意不将别的重担放在你们身上,唯有几件事是不可少的, 29 就是禁戒祭偶像的物和血,并勒死的牲畜和奸淫。这几件你们若能自己禁戒不犯就好了。愿你们平安!”

众人接信便得安慰

30 他们既奉了差遣,就下安提阿去,聚集众人,交付书信。 31 众人念了,因为信上安慰的话就欢喜了。 32 犹大西拉也是先知,就用许多话劝勉弟兄,坚固他们。 33 住了些日子,弟兄们打发他们平平安安地回到差遣他们的人那里去。[b] 35 保罗巴拿巴仍住在安提阿,和许多别人一同教训人,传主的道。

保罗巴拿巴为马可分开

36 过了些日子,保罗巴拿巴说:“我们可以回到从前宣传主道的各城,看望弟兄们景况如何。” 37 巴拿巴有意要带称呼马可约翰同去, 38 保罗因为马可从前在旁非利亚离开他们,不和他们同去做工,就以为不可带他去。 39 于是二人起了争论,甚至彼此分开。巴拿巴带着马可,坐船往塞浦路斯去; 40 保罗拣选了西拉,也出去,蒙弟兄们把他交于主的恩中。 41 他就走遍叙利亚基利家,坚固众教会。

Footnotes

  1. 使徒行传 15:24 有古卷在此有:你们必须受割礼,守摩西的律法。
  2. 使徒行传 15:33 有古卷在此有:34唯有西拉定意仍住在那里。

The Council at Jerusalem

15 Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised in accordance with the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”(A) Paul and Barnabas disagreed greatly and debated with them, so it was determined that Paul and Barnabas and some of the others from their group would go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders [and confer with them] concerning this issue. So, after being supplied and sent on their way by the church, they went through both Phoenicia and Samaria telling in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they brought great joy to all the [a]believers. When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received warmly by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported to them all the things that God had accomplished through them. But some from the sect of the Pharisees who had believed [in Jesus as the Messiah] stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise the Gentile converts and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.”

The apostles and the elders came together to consider this matter. After a long debate, Peter got up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the message of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows and understands the heart, testified to them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith [in Jesus]. 10 Now then, why are you testing God by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able to endure? 11 But we believe that we are saved through the [precious, undeserved] grace of the Lord Jesus [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life], in just the same way as they are.”

12 All the people remained silent, and they listened [attentively] to Barnabas and Paul as they described all the signs and wonders (attesting miracles) that God had done through them among the Gentiles.

James’ Judgment

13 When they had finished speaking, [b]James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 [c]Simeon (Simon Peter) has described how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name [to honor Him and be identified with Him]. 15 The words of the Prophets agree with this, just as it is written [in Scripture],

16 
After these things I will return,
And I will rebuild the tent of David which has fallen;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will restore it,
17 
So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
And all the Gentiles upon whom My name has been invoked,’
18 
Says the Lord,
Who has been making these things known from long ago.(B)

19 Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble and make it difficult for those who are turning to God among the Gentiles [by putting obstacles in their way], 20 but that we write to them that they are to abstain from [d]anything that has been contaminated by [being offered to] idols and from sexual impurity and from [eating the meat of] what has been strangled and from [the consumption of] [e]blood. 21 For from ancient generations [the writing of] Moses has been preached in every city, since [f]he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

22 Then the apostles and the elders, together with the whole church, decided to select some of their men to go to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas [also called Silvanus, both], leading men among the brothers. 23 With them they sent the following letter:

“The apostles and the brothers who are the elders, to the brothers and sisters who are from the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, Greetings.

24 Since we have heard that some of our men have troubled you with their teachings, causing distress and confusion—men to whom we gave no such orders or instructions— 25 it has been decided by us, having met together, to select men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 So we have sent Judas and Silas, who will report by word of mouth the same things [that we decided in our meeting]. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any greater burden than these essentials: 29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from [consuming] blood, and from [eating the meat of] things that have been strangled, and from sexual impurity. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell.”

30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch; and after assembling the congregation, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they had read it, the people rejoiced greatly at the encouragement and comfort [it brought them]. 32 Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets (divinely inspired spokesmen), encouraged and strengthened the [g]believers with many words. 33 After spending some time there, they were sent back by the brothers with [the greeting of] peace to those who had sent them. 34 [h][However, Silas decided to stay there.] 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, and with many others also continued teaching and proclaiming the good news, the word of the Lord [concerning eternal salvation through faith in Christ].

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey

36 After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers and sisters (believers) in every city where we preached the message of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take [his cousin] John, who was called Mark, along with them. 38 But Paul kept insisting that they should not take along with them the one who had quit and deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. 39 And it became such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took [John] Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. 40 But Paul chose Silas [who was again in Antioch] and set out [on his second journey], commended by the brothers to the grace and favor of the Lord. 41 And he traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 15:3 Lit brethren.
  2. Acts 15:13 Jesus’ half brother, James, was leader of the church in Jerusalem.
  3. Acts 15:14 This Greek transliteration of Peter’s Hebrew name is also used in 2 Pet 1:1.
  4. Acts 15:20 Lit the pollutions of idols.
  5. Acts 15:20 For the OT prohibition against eating blood, and the reasons for it, see Lev 17:10-14. There, in v 13, hunters are instructed to pour out the blood of an animal before eating it.
  6. Acts 15:21 I.e. the first five books of the OT, Gen through Deut.
  7. Acts 15:32 Lit brethren.
  8. Acts 15:34 Early mss do not contain this v.