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
Living Bible
15 While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers that unless they adhered to the ancient Jewish custom of circumcision, they could not be saved. 2 Paul and Barnabas argued and discussed this with them at length, and finally the believers sent them to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local men, to talk to the apostles and elders there about this question. 3 After the entire congregation had escorted them out of the city, the delegates went on to Jerusalem, stopping along the way in the cities of Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers, telling them—much to everyone’s joy—that the Gentiles, too, were being converted.
4 Arriving in Jerusalem, they met with the church leaders—all the apostles and elders were present—and Paul and Barnabas reported on what God had been doing through their ministry. 5 But then some of the men who had been Pharisees before their conversion stood to their feet and declared that all Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow all the Jewish customs and ceremonies.
6 So the apostles and church elders set a further meeting to decide this question.
7 At the meeting, after long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you long ago to preach the Good News to the Gentiles so that they also could believe. 8 God, who knows men’s hearts, confirmed the fact that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he gave him to us. 9 He made no distinction between them and us, for he cleansed their lives through faith, just as he did ours. 10 And now are you going to correct God by burdening the Gentiles with a yoke that neither we nor our fathers were able to bear? 11 Don’t you believe that all are saved the same way, by the free gift of the Lord Jesus?”
12 There was no further discussion, and everyone now listened as Barnabas and Paul told about the miracles God had done through them among the Gentiles.
13 When they had finished, James took the floor. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14 Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to bring honor to his name. 15 And this fact of Gentile conversion agrees with what the prophets predicted. For instance, listen to this passage from the prophet Amos:[a]
16 ‘Afterwards’ (says the Lord),[b] ‘I will return and renew the broken contract with David, 17 so that Gentiles, too, will find the Lord—all those marked with my name.’
18 That is what the Lord says, who reveals his plans made from the beginning.
19 “And so my judgment is that we should not insist that the Gentiles who turn to God must obey our Jewish laws, 20 except that we should write to them to refrain from eating meat sacrificed to idols, from all fornication, and also from eating unbled meat of strangled animals. 21 For these things have been preached against in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations.”
22 Then the apostles and elders and the whole congregation voted to send delegates to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leaders—Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas.
23 This is the letter they took along with them:
“From: The apostles, elders and brothers at Jerusalem.
“To: The Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. Greetings!
24 “We understand that some believers from here have upset you and questioned your salvation,[c] but they had no such instructions from us. 25 So it seemed wise to us, having unanimously agreed on our decision, to send to you these two official representatives, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul. 26 These men—Judas and Silas, who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ—will confirm orally what we have decided concerning your question.
27-29 “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden of Jewish laws on you than to abstain from eating food offered to idols and from unbled meat of strangled animals,[d] and, of course, from fornication. If you do this, it is enough. Farewell.”
30 The four messengers went at once to Antioch, where they called a general meeting of the Christians and gave them the letter. 31 And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read it.
32 Then Judas and Silas, both being gifted speakers,[e] preached long sermons to the believers, strengthening their faith. 33 They stayed several days,[f] and then Judas and Silas returned to Jerusalem taking greetings and appreciation to those who had sent them. 34-35 Paul and Barnabas stayed on at Antioch to assist several others who were preaching and teaching there.
36 Several days later Paul suggested to Barnabas that they return again to Turkey and visit each city where they had preached before,[g] to see how the new converts were getting along. 37 Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. 38 But Paul didn’t like that idea at all, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia. 39 Their disagreement over this was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus, 40-41 while Paul chose Silas and, with the blessing of the believers, left for Syria and Cilicia to encourage the churches there.
Footnotes
- Acts 15:15 from the prophet Amos, implied; see Amos 9:11-12.
- Acts 15:16 says the Lord, implied. renew the broken contract with David, literally, “rebuild the tabernacle of David which is fallen.”
- Acts 15:24 questioned your salvation, literally, “subverted your souls.”
- Acts 15:27 and from unbled meat of strangled animals, literally, “and from blood.”
- Acts 15:32 gifted speakers, or “prophets.”
- Acts 15:33 stayed several days, literally, “spent some time.”
- Acts 15:36 return again to Turkey and visit each city where they had preached before, implied; literally, “return now and visit every city wherein we proclaimed the word of the Lord.”
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.