使徒行传 15
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
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。” 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 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。 4 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。 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 使徒和长老们聚集商议这个问题。 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 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 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。
Acts 15
Names of God Bible
Controversy about Moses’ Teachings
15 Some men came from Judea and started to teach believers that people can’t be saved unless they are circumcised as Moses’ Teachings require. 2 Paul and Barnabas had a fierce dispute with these men. So Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were sent to Jerusalem to see the apostles and spiritual leaders[a] about this claim.
3 The church sent Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem. As they were going through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told the whole story of how non-Jewish people were turning to God. This story brought great joy to all the believers.
4 The church in Jerusalem, the apostles, and the spiritual leaders welcomed Paul and Barnabas when they arrived. Paul and Barnabas reported everything that God had done through them. 5 But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “People who are not Jewish must be circumcised and ordered to follow Moses’ Teachings.”
6 The apostles and spiritual leaders met to consider this statement. 7 After a lot of debating, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know what happened some time ago. God chose me so that people who aren’t Jewish could hear the Good News and believe. 8 God, who knows everyone’s thoughts, showed that he approved of people who aren’t Jewish by giving them the Holy Spirit as he gave the Holy Spirit to us. 9 God doesn’t discriminate between Jewish and non-Jewish people. He has cleansed non-Jewish people through faith as he has cleansed us Jews. 10 So why are you testing God? You’re putting a burden on the disciples, a burden neither our ancestors nor we can carry. 11 We certainly believe that the Lord Yeshua saves us the same way that he saves them—through his kindness.”[b]
12 The whole crowd was silent. They listened to Barnabas and Paul tell about all the miracles and amazing things that God had done through them among non-Jewish people.
13 After they finished speaking, James responded, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simon has explained how God first showed his concern by taking from non-Jewish people those who would honor his name. 15 This agrees with what the prophets said. Scripture says,
16 ‘Afterwards, I will return.
I will set up David’s fallen tent again.
I will restore its ruined places again.
I will set it up again
17 so that the survivors and all the people who aren’t Jewish
over whom my name is spoken,
may search for the Lord, declares the Lord.
18 He is the one who will do these things that have always been known!’
19 “So I’ve decided that we shouldn’t trouble non-Jewish people who are turning to God. 20 Instead, we should write a letter telling them to keep away from things polluted by false gods, from sexual sins, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from eating bloody meat. 21 After all, Moses’ words have been spread to every city for generations. His teachings are read in synagogues on every day of worship.”
22 Then the apostles, the spiritual leaders, and the whole church decided to choose some of their men to send with Paul and Barnabas to the city of Antioch. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, who were leaders among the believers. 23 They wrote this letter for them to deliver:
From the apostles and the spiritual leaders, your brothers.
To their non-Jewish brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.
Dear brothers and sisters,
24 We have heard that some individuals who came from us have confused you with statements that disturb you. We did not authorize these men to speak. 25 So we have come to a unanimous decision that we should choose men and send them to you with our dear Barnabas and Paul. 26 Barnabas and Paul have dedicated their lives to our Lord, the one named Yeshua Christ. 27 We have sent Judas and Silas to report to you on our decision. 28 The Holy Spirit and we have agreed not to place any additional burdens on you. Do only what is necessary 29 by keeping away from food sacrificed to false gods, from eating bloody meat, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual sins. If you avoid these things, you will be doing what’s right.
Farewell!
30 So the men were sent on their way and arrived in the city of Antioch. They gathered the congregation together and delivered the letter. 31 When the people read the letter, they were pleased with the encouragement it brought them. 32 Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, spoke a long time to encourage and strengthen the believers.
33 After Judas and Silas had stayed in Antioch for some time, the congregation sent them back to Jerusalem with friendly greetings to those who had sent them.[c] 35 Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught people about the Lord’s word and spread the Good News.
Paul and Barnabas Disagree
36 After a while Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back to every city where we spread the Lord’s word. We’ll visit the believers to see how they’re doing.”
37 Barnabas wanted to take John Mark along. 38 However, Paul didn’t think it was right to take a person like him along. John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to work. 39 Paul and Barnabas disagreed so sharply that they parted ways. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed to the island of Cyprus. 40 Paul chose Silas and left after the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s care.[d]
41 Paul went through the provinces of Syria and Cilicia and strengthened the churches.
Footnotes
- Acts 15:2 Or “pastors,” or “elders.”
- Acts 15:11 Or “grace.”
- Acts 15:33 Some manuscripts and translations add verse 34: “But Silas decided to stay there, and Judas went back to Jerusalem alone.”
- Acts 15:40 Or “grace.”
Chinese Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1979, 2005, 2007, 2011 by Biblica® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.