使徒行传 15
Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified)
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。” 2 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。 3 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。 4 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。 5 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。”
6 使徒和长老聚会商议这事。 7 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。 8 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； 9 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，听巴拿巴和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的犹大和西拉，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和保罗往你们那里去。 26 这二人是为我主耶稣基督的名不顾性命的。 27 我们就差了犹大和西拉，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 犹大和西拉也是先知，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 但保罗和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，保罗对巴拿巴说：“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的约翰同去， 38 但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
- 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。
- 使徒行传 15:33 有古卷在此有：34唯有西拉定意仍住在那里。
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.”
Copyright © 2011 by Global Bible Initiative
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.