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”。

15 Their peace was disturbed, however, when certain Judeans came with this teaching: “Unless you are circumcised according to Mosaic custom, you cannot be saved.” Paul and Barnabas argued against this teaching and debated with the Judeans vehemently, so the church selected several people—including Paul and Barnabas—to travel to Jerusalem to dialogue about this issue with the apostles and elders there. The church sent them on their way. They passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, stopping to report to the groups of believers there that outsiders were now being converted. This brought great joy to them all. Upon arrival in Jerusalem, the church, the apostles, and the elders welcomed them warmly; and they reported all they had seen God do. But there were some believers present who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees. They stood up and asserted,

Pharisees: No, this is not acceptable. These people must be circumcised, and we must require them to keep the whole Mosaic law.

The apostles and elders met privately to discuss how this issue should be resolved. There was a lot of debate, and finally Peter stood up.

These debates give a glimpse of the cultural tensions present between Jewish and Gentile believers throughout the New Testament writings. The early Jewish believers still follow the traditional Jewish practices of Sabbath rest and kosher food. This is fine, until Jewish and Gentile Christians must share a table. How can they be truly unified as one church without being able to sit down together for a meal? This council affirms—under the influence of the Spirit’s work—that the outsiders may become Christians without becoming Jews first; but the outsiders should respect their Jewish brothers’ beliefs so they can fellowship together. The decision is a model for church unity: artificial hurdles should not be imposed for inclusion, but groups should willingly sacrifice their freedoms to promote unity in the church.

Peter: My brothers, you all know that in the early days of our movement, God decided that I should be the one through whom the first outsiders would hear the good news and become believers. God knows the human heart, and He showed approval of their hearts by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did for us. In cleansing their hearts by faith, God has made no distinction between them and us. 10 So it makes no sense to me that some of you are testing God by burdening His disciples with a load that neither our forefathers nor we have been able to carry. 11 No, we all believe that we will be liberated through the grace of the Lord Jesus—they also will be rescued in the same way.

12 There was silence among them while Barnabas and Paul reported all the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among outsiders. 13 When they finished, James spoke.

James: My brothers, hear me. 14 Simon Peter reminded us how God first included outsiders in His favor, taking people from among them for His name. 15 This resonates with the words of the prophets:

16     “After this, I will return
        and rebuild the house of David, which has fallen into ruins.
    From its wreckage I will rebuild it;
17     So all the nations may seek the Eternal One—
        including every person among the outsiders who has been called by My name.”[a]
This is the word of the Lord, 18     who has been revealing these things since ancient times.[b]

19 So here is my counsel: we should not burden these outsiders who are turning to God. 20 We should instead write a letter, instructing them to abstain from four things: first, things associated with idol worship; second, sexual immorality; third, food killed by strangling; and fourth, blood. 21 My reason for these four exceptions is that in every city there are Jewish communities where, for generations, the laws of Moses have been proclaimed; and on every Sabbath, Moses is read in synagogues everywhere.

22 This seemed like a good idea to the apostles, the elders, and the entire church. They commissioned men from among them and sent them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent two prominent men among the believers, Judas (also known as Barsabbas) and Silas, 23 to deliver this letter:

The brotherhood, including the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, send greetings to the outsider believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. 24 We have heard that certain people from among us—without authorization from us—have said things that, in turn, upset you and unsettle your minds. 25 We have decided unanimously to choose and send two representatives, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul 26 who, as you know, have risked their lives for our Lord Jesus the Anointed. 27 These representatives, Judas and Silas, will confirm verbally what you will read in this letter. 28 It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to keep you free from all burdens except these four: 29 abstain from anything sacrificed to idols, from blood, from food killed by strangling, and from sexual immorality. Avoid these things, and you will be just fine. Farewell.

30 So the men were sent to Antioch. When they arrived, they gathered the community together and read the letter. 31 The community rejoiced at the resolution to the controversy. 32 Judas and Silas, being prophets themselves, offered lengthy encouragements to strengthen the believers. 33 After some time there, their mission was complete; so the leaders in Antioch released Judas and Silas to return to Jerusalem with a blessing of peace. [34 But after some thought, Silas decided to remain behind.][c] 35 Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, where they teamed with many others to teach and preach the message of the Lord.

36 Some days later, Paul proposed another journey to Barnabas.

Paul: Let’s return and visit the believers in each city where we preached the Lord’s message last time to see how they’re doing.

37 Barnabas agreed and wanted to bring John Mark along, 38 but Paul felt that was a mistake since John Mark had abandoned them in Pamphylia and hadn’t finished the previous mission. 39 Their difference of opinion was so heated that they decided not to work together anymore. Barnabas took John Mark and sailed to Cyprus, 40 while Paul chose Silas as his companion. The believers in Antioch commissioned him for this work, entrusting him to the grace of the Lord. 41 They traveled through Syria and Cilicia to strengthen the churches there.

Footnotes

  1. 15:16–17 Amos 9:11–12
  2. 15:17–18 Isaiah 45:21
  3. 15:34 The earliest manuscripts omit verse 34.

The Council at Jerusalem

15 Certain people(A) came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers:(B) “Unless you are circumcised,(C) according to the custom taught by Moses,(D) you cannot be saved.” This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem(E) to see the apostles and elders(F) about this question. The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia(G) and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted.(H) This news made all the believers very glad. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.(I)

Then some of the believers who belonged to the party(J) of the Pharisees(K) stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”(L)

The apostles and elders met to consider this question. After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.(M) God, who knows the heart,(N) showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them,(O) just as he did to us. He did not discriminate between us and them,(P) for he purified their hearts by faith.(Q) 10 Now then, why do you try to test God(R) by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke(S) that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace(T) of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

12 The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders(U) God had done among the Gentiles through them.(V) 13 When they finished, James(W) spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. 14 Simon[a] has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles.(X) 15 The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

16 “‘After this I will return
    and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
    and I will restore it,
17 that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
    even all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things’[b](Y)
18     things known from long ago.[c](Z)

19 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols,(AA) from sexual immorality,(AB) from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.(AC) 21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”(AD)

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

22 Then the apostles and elders,(AE) with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch(AF) with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas,(AG) men who were leaders among the believers. 23 With them they sent the following letter:

The apostles and elders, your brothers,

To the Gentile believers in Antioch,(AH) Syria(AI) and Cilicia:(AJ)

Greetings.(AK)

24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.(AL) 25 So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26 men who have risked their lives(AM) for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas(AN) to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit(AO) and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.(AP) You will do well to avoid these things.

Farewell.

30 So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. 31 The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. 32 Judas and Silas,(AQ) who themselves were prophets,(AR) said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. 33 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace(AS) to return to those who had sent them. [34] [d] 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached(AT) the word of the Lord.(AU)

Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas

36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns(AV) where we preached the word of the Lord(AW) and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark,(AX) with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them(AY) in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas(AZ) and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.(BA) 41 He went through Syria(BB) and Cilicia,(BC) strengthening the churches.(BD)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 15:14 Greek Simeon, a variant of Simon; that is, Peter
  2. Acts 15:17 Amos 9:11,12 (see Septuagint)
  3. Acts 15:18 Some manuscripts things’— / 18 the Lord’s work is known to him from long ago
  4. Acts 15:34 Some manuscripts include here But Silas decided to remain there.