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耶路撒冷的会议

15 有几个人从犹太下来,教导弟兄们说:“你们若不照摩西的规例受割礼,就不能得救。” 保罗和巴拿巴,与他们大大地争执辩论起来。大家就派保罗、巴拿巴和他们中间的几个人,为这个问题上耶路撒冷去见使徒和长老。 于是教会给他们送行,他们就经过腓尼基、撒玛利亚,述说外族人怎样归主的事,使弟兄们大大喜乐。 到了耶路撒冷,他们受到教会、使徒和长老的接待,就报告 神同他们一起所行的一切。 然而有几个法利赛派的信徒站起来,说:“我们必须给外族人行割礼,吩咐他们遵守摩西的律法。”

使徒和长老聚集在一起,商议这件事。 经过了很多的辩论,彼得站起来对他们说:“弟兄们,你们知道,前些时候 神在你们中间拣选了我,使外族人从我的口中听见福音的道,而且信了。 知道人心的 神也为他们作证─赐圣灵给他们,像给我们一样; 而且他待他们和我们没有分别,因为借着信,他洁净了他们的心。 10 现在你们为甚么试探 神,把我们祖先和我们所不能负的轭,放在门徒的颈上呢? 11 我们相信,我们得救是借着主耶稣的恩,和他们也是一样。”

12 大家都静默无声,听巴拿巴和保罗述说 神借着他们在外族人中所行的神迹奇事。 13 他们讲完了,雅各说:“弟兄们,请听我说! 14 刚才西门述说 神当初怎样关怀外族人,从他们中间拣选了众人,归在自己的名下。 15 众先知的话,也符合这个意思,正如经上所记:

16 ‘此后我要回来,

重建大卫倒塌了的帐幕,

重建它损坏之处,

把它重新竖立起来,

17 使余下的人,

就是所有称为我名下的外族人,都寻求主,

18 这是自古以来就显明了这些事的主所说的。’

19 “所以我认为不可难为这些归服 神的外族人, 20 只要写信叫他们禁戒偶像的污秽、淫乱,勒死的牲畜和血。 21 因为自古以来,在各城里都有人宣讲摩西的书,每逢安息日,在各会堂里都有人诵读。”

会议的决定

22 当时,使徒、长老和全教会都认为好,就从他们中间选出人来,差他们和保罗、巴拿巴一同到安提阿去,所选的就是别号巴撒巴的犹大和西拉,他们是弟兄中的领袖。 23 于是写信给他们带去,信上说:“使徒和作长老的弟兄们,向安提阿、叙利亚、基利家的外族众弟兄问安。 24 我们听说有人从我们这里出去,说了一些话搅扰你们,使你们心里不安,其实我们并没有吩咐他们。 25 因此,我们一致同意,选派一些人跟我们亲爱的巴拿巴和保罗去见你们, 26 这两个人为了我们主耶稣基督的名,曾经把性命置之度外。 27 我们派了犹大和西拉一同去,他们也会亲口述说这些事。 28 圣灵和我们都同意,不把别的重担加在你们身上,然而有几件事是重要的, 29 就是禁戒祭过偶像的食物、血、勒死的牲畜和淫乱。这些事你们若能保守自己不作,那就好了。祝你们平安!”

30 他们受了差派,下安提阿去,集合了众人,就把书信交上。 31 众人读了,因信上的劝勉,就感到欣慰。 32 犹大和西拉也是先知,说了许多话劝勉弟兄,坚固他们。 33 住了一段时间,弟兄们就给他们送行,祝一路平安;他们就回到差派他们的人那里去。(有些抄本在此有第34节:“但西拉认为自己应当在那里住下来,只有犹大回到耶路撒冷。”) 35 保罗和巴拿巴却住在安提阿,跟许多别的人一同教导,传讲主的道。

第二次宣教旅程

36 过了一些时候,保罗对巴拿巴说:“我们要回到我们传过主道的各城,探望弟兄们,好知道他们的情形怎么样。” 37 巴拿巴有意要带别号马可的约翰一同去, 38 但保罗认为不应带他去,因为他从前在旁非利亚离开过他们,不跟他们一起去作工。 39 他们各持己见,以致彼此分手。巴拿巴带着马可,坐船到塞浦路斯去; 40 保罗却选了西拉,众弟兄把他交托在主的恩典中之后,他就出发了。 41 他走遍了叙利亚、基利家,坚固众教会。

The Council at Jerusalem

15 While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers[a]: “Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question. The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them—much to everyone’s joy—that the Gentiles, too, were being converted.

When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through them. But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, “The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses.”

So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue. At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe. God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. 10 So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers[b] with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? 11 We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”

12 Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

13 When they had finished, James stood and said, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Peter[c] has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for himself. 15 And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets predicted. As it is written:

16 ‘Afterward I will return
    and restore the fallen house[d] of David.
I will rebuild its ruins
    and restore it,
17 so that the rest of humanity might seek the Lord,
    including the Gentiles—
    all those I have called to be mine.
The Lord has spoken—
18     he who made these things known so long ago.’[e]

19 “And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from consuming blood. 21 For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations.”

The Letter for Gentile Believers

22 Then the apostles and elders together with the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leaders[f]—Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas. 23 This is the letter they took with them:

“This letter is from the apostles and elders, your brothers in Jerusalem. It is written to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings!

24 “We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them! 25 So we decided, having come to complete agreement, to send you official representatives, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We are sending Judas and Silas to confirm what we have decided concerning your question.

28 “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements: 29 You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell.”

30 The messengers went at once to Antioch, where they called a general meeting of the believers and delivered the letter. 31 And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message.

32 Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke at length to the believers, encouraging and strengthening their faith. 33 They stayed for a while, and then the believers sent them back to the church in Jerusalem with a blessing of peace.[g] 35 Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord there.

Paul and Barnabas Separate

36 After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.” 37 Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. 38 But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work. 39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. 40 Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care. 41 Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there.

Footnotes

  1. 15:1 Greek brothers; also in 15:3, 23, 32, 33, 36, 40.
  2. 15:10 Greek disciples.
  3. 15:14 Greek Simeon.
  4. 15:16 Or kingdom; Greek reads tent.
  5. 15:16-18 Amos 9:11-12 (Greek version); Isa 45:21.
  6. 15:22 Greek were leaders among the brothers.
  7. 15:33 Some manuscripts add verse 34, But Silas decided to stay there.

15 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:

20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,

26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:

31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.

34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.

35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.

37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.