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Acts 15
King James Version

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.

2 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.

3 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.

4 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.

5 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.

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

7 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.

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

9 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.

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使徒行傳 15
Chinese Standard Bible (Traditional)

在安提阿爭辯

15 有一些人從猶太下來，教導弟兄們說：「你們如果不按摩西的規矩受割禮，就不能得救。」 2 保羅、巴拿巴與他們發生了不小的爭執和辯論，他們就指定保羅、巴拿巴和其中的另一些人為這爭議的問題，上耶路撒冷到使徒們和長老們那裡去。 3 於是教會送他們上路；他們就走遍腓尼基和撒馬利亞地區，詳細說明外邦人悔改的事，給所有弟兄們帶來了極大的喜樂。

4 來到耶路撒冷，他們受到教會、使徒們和長老們的歡迎，就向大家傳講了神與他們一起做的事。 5 但法利賽教派中的一些信徒站起來，說：「必須給外邦人行割禮，並吩咐他們遵守摩西的律法。」

耶路撒冷的會議

6 使徒們和長老們就聚集探討這件事。 7 經過了許多辯論，彼得站起來對他們說：「各位弟兄，你們知道前些時候神在你們[a]中間施行揀選，要外邦人藉著我的口聽到福音之道，得以相信。 8 於是那洞察人心的神，賜聖靈給他們做了見證，就像為我們做的那樣； 9 又藉著信潔淨了他們的心，在我們和他們之間不做什麼區別。 10 既然如此，你們現在為什麼試探神，把我們的祖先和我們都擔當不了的軛，放在那些門徒的脖子上呢？ 11 相反，我們相信：我們得救是藉著主耶穌[b]的恩典，外邦人也是一樣。」

12 這時，全體會眾都靜默無聲，聽巴拿巴和保羅述說神藉著他們在外邦人中所行的神蹟和奇事。 13 他們講完以後，雅各就回應說：「各位弟兄，請聽我說。 14 西門已經述說了神當初怎樣臨到[c]外邦人，從他們中間選出子民，歸入自己的名。 15 連先知們的話也與此相符，正如經上所記：

16 『此後我將要回來，
重建大衛倒塌的居所[d]；
我要重建它的破損之處，把它重新豎立起來。
17 這樣，其餘的人，
就是所有被稱為我名下的外邦人，
都會尋求主。
18 這是自古以來，讓人知道這些事的主說的。』[e]

19 因此，我判定不可為難那些歸向神的外邦人， 20 不過要寫信給他們：要遠避偶像的汙穢，遠避淫亂、勒死的動物和血。 21 因為自古以來，在各城裡都有人宣講摩西，每逢安息日在各會堂裡都有人誦讀他的書[f]。」

致外邦信徒的書信

22 當時，使徒們、長老們和全教會都認為應該從他們當中揀選幾個人，派他們與保羅和巴拿巴一起到安提阿去。被選的是[g]那稱為巴撒巴的猶大和賽拉斯，這兩個人在弟兄中是領頭的。 23 他們帶去的信這樣寫著：

「做使徒的和年長的弟兄們，
問候安提阿、敘利亞省和奇里乞亞省的外邦弟兄們。
24 我們聽說從我們這裡出去[h]的一些人，用一些話使你們不安，攪擾你們的心靈。[i]其實我們沒有吩咐他們。 25 我們已達成了一致，認為應該揀選幾個人，派他們與我們親愛的巴拿巴和保羅一起到你們那裡去。 26 這兩個人都為我們主耶穌基督的名，已經把自己的生命置之度外。 27 所以我們派了猶大和賽拉斯去，他們會親口報告同樣的事， 28 因為聖靈和我們都認為，除了以下幾件必須遵守的事以外，不該把更多的重擔加給你們： 29 就是要遠避祭過偶像的食物，遠避血和勒死的動物，遠避淫亂。你們如果保守自己遠離這些，就做得很好了。
祝你們安康！」

耶路撒冷來信的結果

30 於是這些人被派遣，下[j]到安提阿，召集了會眾，把信函交給他們。 31 讀完了信，會眾因著那鼓勵的話而感到歡喜。 32 猶大和賽拉斯自己也是做先知傳道的[k]。他們用很多話鼓勵弟兄們，堅固他們。 33 兩個人住了一段時間，弟兄們就打發他們平平安安地回到差派他們的人[l]那裡去。 34 可是賽拉斯認為應該留在那裡。[m] 35 保羅和巴拿巴也住在安提阿，與其他許多人一起教導、傳揚主的福音[n]。

保羅與巴拿巴分手

36 過了幾天，保羅對巴拿巴說：「來，讓我們回到我們傳過主福音[o]的每一個城，探望[p]弟兄們，看看他們的情況怎麼樣[q]。」 37 巴拿巴一直想要帶那稱為馬可的約翰一起去。 38 但是保羅覺得不該帶他一起去，因為他曾在潘菲利亞省離開他們，沒有陪他們一起去工作。 39 兩個人起了激烈的爭執，以致彼此分手。巴拿巴帶著馬可，坐船到塞浦路斯島去； 40 保羅卻選了賽拉斯。弟兄們把保羅交託於主[r]的恩典之後，他就出發了。 41 保羅走遍敘利亞省和奇里乞亞省，堅固各教會。

Footnotes

  1. 使徒行傳 15:7 你們——有古抄本作「我們」。
  2. 使徒行傳 15:11 耶穌——有古抄本作「耶穌基督」。
  3. 使徒行傳 15:14 臨到——或譯作「照顧」。
  4. 使徒行傳 15:16 居所——原文直譯「帳幕」。
  5. 使徒行傳 15:18 《阿摩司書》9:11-12。
  6. 使徒行傳 15:21 他的書——輔助詞語。
  7. 使徒行傳 15:22 被選的是——輔助詞語。
  8. 使徒行傳 15:24 有古抄本沒有「出去」。
  9. 使徒行傳 15:24 有古抄本附「說你們必須受割禮並遵守律法。」
  10. 使徒行傳 15:30 下——有古抄本作「去」。
  11. 使徒行傳 15:32 做先知傳道的——原文直譯「先知」。
  12. 使徒行傳 15:33 差派他們的人——有古抄本作「使徒們」。
  13. 使徒行傳 15:34 有古抄本沒有此節。
  14. 使徒行傳 15:35 福音——原文直譯「話語」或「道」。
  15. 使徒行傳 15:36 福音——原文直譯「話語」或「道」。
  16. 使徒行傳 15:36 探望——或譯作「照顧」。
  17. 使徒行傳 15:36 看看他們的情況怎麼樣——原文直譯「看看他們現在怎麼樣」。
  18. 使徒行傳 15:40 主——有古抄本作「神」。
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Acts 15
New International Version

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.” 2 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. 3 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. 4 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)

5 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)

6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 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) 8 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. 9 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.
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Acts 15
EasyEnglish Bible

Paul and Barnabas go to Jerusalem

15 Some men arrived in Antioch from Judea.[a] They began to teach the believers there who were not Jews. They said to them, ‘God cannot save you unless someone circumcises you. This is in the Law that God gave to Moses.’

2 Paul and Barnabas did not agree with these men. They argued strongly against them. As a result, the believers in Antioch decided what to do. They chose Paul, Barnabas and some of the other believers to go to Jerusalem. They should go to meet with the apostles and the other leaders of the believers. The leaders should decide who was right in this quarrel. 3 The group of believers at Antioch sent Paul, Barnabas and the other men on their way. They travelled through Phoenicia and Samaria. They spoke to the believers in those places. They told them, ‘Gentiles are also turning to God and they are believing in Jesus.’ The believers were all very happy to hear this news. 4 When Paul, Barnabas and the other men arrived in Jerusalem, they met with the believers there. The apostles, the other leaders and the whole group of believers were happy to see them. Paul and Barnabas told them about everything that God had helped them to do.

5 Some Jewish believers were there who also belonged to the Pharisees' group. They stood up and they said, ‘We must circumcise Gentiles when they become believers. We must tell them to obey all the Law that God gave to Moses.’

6 So the apostles and the other leaders of the believers met to talk about this problem. 7 After they had all talked about this problem for a long time, Peter stood up to speak.[b] He said, ‘My friends, you know that, a long time ago, God chose me from among all you leaders. He wanted me to teach Gentiles the good news about Jesus. God wanted them to hear his message and to believe in Jesus. 8 God knows what people truly believe. He showed clearly that he accepts Gentile believers as his people. He gave his Holy Spirit to them in the same way that he did for us. 9 He made no difference between them and us. When they believed in Jesus, he saved them. He made them clean inside.

10 So do not say that God has done a wrong thing. God has shown us that he accepts Gentiles when they believe in Jesus. If you make the Gentile believers obey the Law of Moses, that is like a heavy weight on their necks. Even we Jews and our ancestors could not carry that heavy weight. 11 God saves us who are Jews when we believe in Jesus. It is not because we obey the Law of Moses. It is because the Lord Jesus is kind to us. God saves Gentiles in the same way, when they believe in Jesus.’

12 After Peter said this everybody in the group was quiet. Then Barnabas and Paul spoke to them. They said, ‘God helped us to do great miracles among the Gentiles. These showed that God was with us.’

13 When they had finished their report, James spoke to the group. He said, ‘Listen to me, my friends. 14 Simon Peter has just described to us what happened first with the Gentile believers. He explained how God chose some of them to belong to him as his own people.

15 The message of God's prophets agrees completely with this. They wrote long ago:

16 The Lord God said,

“Later I will return.
    At that time I will make David's kingdom strong again.[c]
It has become like a house that has fallen down,
    but I will build it again so that it is strong.
17 Then many other people will want to know me, the Lord God.
    Those are the Gentiles that I have chosen to belong to me.
I, the Lord God, say this,
    and I will make these things happen.
18 Long ago I caused people to know all these things.” ’[d]

19 James then said, ‘So this is what I have decided about this problem. Many Gentiles are now turning to God as believers. We should not make it difficult for them. 20 Instead of that, we should write a letter to tell them how to live as believers. We should say to them, “Do not eat any food which people have given to their idols. That food has become unclean. Do not have sex with anyone that you are not married to. If people have strangled an animal to kill it, do not eat its meat. Do not eat anything that still has blood in it.”[e] 21 These rules are important, because people have known the Law of Moses for a very long time. On every Jewish day of rest, someone teaches us about the Law in our Jewish meeting places in every city.’

The leaders in Jerusalem write a letter to the Gentile believers

22 The whole group of believers agreed with what James said. So the apostles and the other leaders decided to choose some men from among the group of believers. These men would go to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Silas and Judas, who was also called Barsabbas. The believers all respected these men as leaders.

23 This is the letter that they sent with those men:

‘We, the apostles and leaders of the believers here say “hello” to you, our friends who also believe in Jesus. We say “hello” to all of you Gentile believers who live in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia.[f]

24 We have heard that some men from our group have confused your thoughts. These men came to you and they taught you without our authority. The things that they said were not right and they have upset you. 25 So now we have all met together. We have agreed what to do about this problem. We have chosen some men to bring this message to you. They will travel with our good friends, Barnabas and Paul. 26 These two men have worked as servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that, they have almost lost their lives. 27 So we are also sending Judas and Silas to you. They will tell you the same things that we have written in this letter. 28 The Holy Spirit has shown us what we should do. We also think that this is the right thing to do. We do not want to put a heavy weight on you. So these are the only rules that we want you to obey: 29 Do not eat any food that people have given to their idols. Do not eat anything that still has blood in it. If people have strangled an animal to kill it, do not eat its meat. Do not have sex with anyone that you are not married to. If you obey these rules, you will do well. Goodbye.’

30 So the believers in Jerusalem sent these four men to go to Antioch. When they arrived there, they told the group of believers to meet together. When they all met, Silas and Judas gave them the letter. 31 When the believers in Antioch read the letter, they were very happy. They said, ‘This message will help us very much.’ 32 Judas and Silas were both prophets. They spoke a message from God to the believers there. They spoke for a long time to help the believers and to make them strong. 33 Judas and Silas remained in Antioch for some time. Then the group of believers sent them back to Jerusalem. The believers prayed that God would help them and take care of them. 34 [g] [But Silas decided to stay there.]

35 Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch for a longer time. Together with many other believers, they taught the people, and they spoke the message about the Lord Jesus.

36 After some time, Paul said to Barnabas, ‘We should go back to the towns where we already spoke the message about the Lord Jesus. Then we can visit the believers in all those places. We can see if they are doing well.’

37 Barnabas agreed and he wanted to take John Mark with them. 38 But Paul did not think that this was right. He said to Barnabas, ‘John Mark did not remain with us until we had finished our work. He left us when we were in Pamphylia.’

39 Paul and Barnabas argued strongly about this. They could not agree, so they went in different directions. Barnabas took John Mark with him and they sailed to Cyprus. 40 Paul chose Silas to go with him. The believers in Antioch asked the Lord God to take care of Paul and Silas. 41 They travelled through Syria and Cilicia. Paul taught the believers in those regions. He helped them to be strong and to trust Jesus.

Footnotes

  1. 15:1 These men were Jewish believers.
  2. 15:7 Peter was one of the apostles.
  3. 15:16 Jesus was a descendant of King David.
  4. 15:18 See Amos 9:11-12.
  5. 15:20 We can read about these rules in Leviticus 18:6-23; 17:10-12.
  6. 15:23 Antioch was a city, but Syria and Cilicia were regions.
  7. 15:34 Many Bibles leave out Acts 15:34.
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