使徒行传 15
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
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。” 2 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。 3 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。 4 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。 5 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。”
6 使徒和長老聚集在一起，商議這件事。 7 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。 8 知道人心的 神也為他們作證─賜聖靈給他們，像給我們一樣； 9 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。
Acts 15
Expanded Bible
The Meeting in Jerusalem
15 Then some people came to Antioch from Judea and began teaching the Gentile believers [L brothers (and sisters)]: “You cannot be saved if you are not circumcised ·as Moses taught us [L according to the custom of Moses; compare Gen. 17:9–14].” 2 Paul and Barnabas ·were against this teaching and argued [L had no small argument and debate] with them about it. So the church ·decided to send [commissioned; appointed] Paul, Barnabas, and some others to Jerusalem where they could talk more about this disagreement with the apostles and elders.
3 The church ·helped them leave [sent them] on the trip, and they went through the countries of Phoenicia and Samaria, telling all about ·how the other nations had turned to God [L the conversion of the Gentiles]. This made all the ·believers [L brothers (and sisters)] very ·happy [joyful]. 4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the apostles, the elders, and the church. They told about everything God had done with them. 5 But some of the believers who belonged to the Pharisee ·group [sect; party; faction] ·came forward [L stood up] and said, “·The Gentile believers [L They] must be circumcised. They must be ·told to obey [ordered to keep] the law of Moses.”
6 The apostles and the elders gathered to consider this ·problem [matter]. 7 After a long debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “[L Men,] Brothers, you know that in the early days God chose me from among you to preach the ·Good News [Gospel] to the ·nations [Gentiles]. They heard the ·Good News [Gospel] from ·me [L my mouth], and they believed. 8 God, who knows the ·thoughts of everyone [L heart], ·accepted [showed his approval of; L testified for] them. He showed this to us by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. 9 To God, those people are not different from us. When they believed, he made their hearts ·pure [clean]. 10 So now why are you testing God by putting a ·heavy load around [L yoke on] the necks of the ·Gentile believers [L disciples]? It is a ·load [yoke] that neither we nor our ·ancestors [forefathers; fathers] were ·able [strong enough] to ·carry [bear]. 11 But we believe that we are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”
12 Then the whole ·group [assembly] became quiet. They listened to Paul and Barnabas tell about all the [miraculous] signs and ·miracles [wonders] that God did through them among the Gentiles. 13 After they finished speaking, James said, “[L Men,] Brothers, listen to me. 14 ·Simon [C Peter; v. 7] has told us how God ·showed his love for [cared for; intervened with; visited] the Gentiles [Acts 10—11]. For the first time he is ·accepting [taking; selecting] from among them a people ·to be his own [L for his name]. 15 The words of the prophets agree with this too [L as it is written]:
16 ‘After these things I will return.
And I will rebuild the tent of David, which has fallen [C either the Davidic dynasty of kings (the “house of David”), or the nation Israel generally].
But I will rebuild its ruins,
and I will ·set it up [restore it].
17 Then ·those people who are left alive [the remnant; L the rest of the people] may ·ask the Lord for help [L seek the Lord],
and the ·other nations [Gentiles] ·that belong to me [L who are called by my name],
says the Lord,
who will make it happen.
18 And these things have been known ·for a long time [from long ago; Amos 9:11–12; C a reference to God’s promise that he would restore the “remnant” of Israel and save the Gentiles].’
19 “So I ·think [conclude; judge] we should not ·bother [trouble; cause trouble for] the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead, we should write a letter to them telling them these things: Stay away from food ·that has been offered to idols (which makes it unclean) [L polluted by idols], ·any kind of sexual sin [or prohibited marriages; C the Greek word could mean any sexual sin, or marriages viewed as incestuous by OT law], eating animals that have been strangled [C leaving the blood inside, which the OT law prohibited; Gen. 9:4], and blood [C consuming blood was forbidden in the OT law; Lev. 17:10–12]. 21 They should do these things, because for a long time in every city ·the law of Moses has been taught [L Moses has been preached/proclaimed; C referring to the Torah (the Law)]. And it is still read in the synagogue every Sabbath day.” [C These guidelines were to keep from offending pious Jews in the community and so promote unity in the Church.]
Letter to Gentile Believers
22 The apostles, the elders, and the whole church decided to send some of their men with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch. They chose Judas [L called] Barsabbas [1:23] and Silas [15:40; 1 Thess. 1:1], who were ·respected by [or leaders among] the ·believers [L brothers (and sisters)]. 23 ·They sent the following letter with them [L Writing by their hand; C an idiom for composing and sending a letter]:
From the apostles and elders, your brothers.
To all the Gentile ·believers [L brothers (and sisters)] in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
Greetings!
24 We have heard that some of our group have come to you and said things that trouble and ·upset you [unsettle your minds/souls]. But we did not ·tell [instruct; authorize; order] them to do this. 25 We have ·all [unanimously; with one accord] agreed to choose some ·messengers [L men] and send them to you with our ·dear friends [beloved] Barnabas and Paul— 26 people who have ·given [dedicated; or risked] their lives ·to serve [L for the name of] our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 So we are sending Judas and Silas, who will tell you the same things [in person; L through word]. 28 It has pleased the Holy Spirit that you should not have a heavy ·load [burden] to carry, and we agree. You need to do only these things: 29 Stay away from any food that has been ·offered [sacrificed] to idols, eating any animals that have been strangled, and blood, and any kind of sexual sin [see v. 20]. If you stay away from these things, you will do well.
·Good-bye [Best wishes; May you fare well].
30 So they ·left Jerusalem [were sent off/dismissed] and went to Antioch where they gathered the ·church [congregation; assembly] and ·gave them [delivered] the letter. 31 When they read it, they ·were very happy [rejoiced] because of the encouraging message. 32 Judas and Silas, who were ·also [themselves] prophets, said many things to encourage the ·believers [L brothers (and sisters)] and make them stronger. 33 After some time ·Judas and Silas [L they] were sent off in peace by the ·believers [L brothers (and sisters)], and they went back to those who had sent them|, 34 but Silas decided to remain there|.[a]
35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch and, along with many others, preached the ·Good News [Gospel] and taught the people the ·message [L word] of the Lord.
Paul and Barnabas Separate
36 After some ·time [days], Paul said to Barnabas, “·We should [Let’s] go back to visit the ·believers [L brothers (and sisters)] in all those ·towns [or cities] where we preached the ·message [L word] of the Lord [chs. 13—14] and see how they are doing.”
37 Barnabas wanted to take John [L who is called] Mark with them [C John Mark was a cousin of Barnabas; Col. 4:10]. 38 But Paul ·did not think it was a good idea to [or insisted that they should not] take him, since Mark had ·left [deserted] them at Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work [13:13]. 39 Paul and Barnabas had such a ·serious argument [sharp disagreement] about this that they ·separated and went different ways [parted company; L separated from one another]. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus [C an island off the coast of Syria, and the homeland of Barnabas; 4:36; 13:4], 40 but Paul chose Silas [v. 32; 16:37; 2 Cor. 1:19; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1] and left. The ·believers [L brothers (and sisters)] in Antioch ·put [commended; entrusted] Paul ·into the Lord’s care [L to the grace of the Lord], 41 and he went through Syria and Cilicia, ·giving strength to [building up; encouraging] the churches.
Footnotes
- Acts 15:34 but … there Some Greek copies do not contain the bracketed text.
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.