使徒行傳
CH. 15
1
有幾個人、從猶太下來、教訓弟兄們說、你們若不按摩西的規條受割禮、不能得救。

Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved."
2
保羅巴拿巴與他們大大的分爭辯論、眾門徒就定規、叫保羅巴拿巴和本會中幾個人、為所辯論的、上耶路撒冷去、見使徒和長老。

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 to see the apostles and elders about this question.
3
於是教會送他們起行、他們經過腓尼基、撒瑪利亞、隨處傳說外邦人歸主的事、叫眾弟兄都甚歡喜。

The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad.
4
到了耶路撒冷、教會和使徒並長老、都接待他們、他們就述說 神同他們所行的一切事。

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.
5
惟有幾個信徒是法利賽教門的人、起來說、必須給外邦人行割禮、吩咐他們遵守摩西的律法。

Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses."
6
使徒和長老、聚會商議這事。

The apostles and elders met to consider this question.
7
辯論已經多了、彼得就起來、說、諸位弟兄、你們知道 神早已在你們中間揀選了我、叫外邦人從我口中得聽福音之道、而且相信。

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.
8
知道人心的 神、也為他們作了見證.賜聖靈給他們、正如給我們一樣。

God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.
9
又藉著信潔淨了他們的心、並不分他們我們。

He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.
10
現在為甚麼試探 神、要把我們祖宗和我們所不能負的軛、放在門徒的頸項上呢。

Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
11
我們得救、乃是因主耶穌的恩、和他們一樣、這是我們所信的。

No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."
12
眾人都默默無聲、聽巴拿巴和保羅、述說 神藉他們在外邦人中所行的神蹟奇事。

The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
13
他們住了聲、雅各就說、諸位弟兄、請聽我的話。

When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me.
14
方纔西門述說 神當初怎樣眷顧外邦人、從他們中間選取百姓歸於自己的名下。

Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself.
15
眾先知的話、也與這意思相合.

The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
16
正如經上所寫的、『此後我要回來、重新修造大衛倒塌的帳幕、把那破壞的、重新修造建立起來.

"'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,
17
叫餘剩的人、就是凡稱為我名下的外邦人、都尋求主.

that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things'
18
這話是從創世以來、顯明這事的主說的。』

that have been known for ages.
19
所以據我的意見、不可難為那歸服 神的外邦人.

"It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
20
只要寫信、吩咐他們禁戒偶像的污穢和姦淫、並勒死的牲畜、和血。

Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.
21
因為從古以來、摩西的書在各城有人傳講、每逢安息日、在會堂裡誦讀。

For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath."
22
那時、使徒和長老並全教會、定意從他們中間揀選人、差他們和保羅、巴拿巴、同住安提阿去.所揀選的、就是稱呼巴撒巴的猶大、和西拉、這兩個人在弟兄中是作首領的。

Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, two men who were leaders among the brothers.
23
於是寫信交付他們、內中說、使徒和作長老的弟兄們、問安提阿、敘利亞、基利家外邦眾弟兄的安。

With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings.
24
我們聽說有幾個人、從我們這裡出去、用言語攪擾你們、惑亂你們的心.〔有古卷在此有你們必須受割禮守摩西的律法〕其實我們並沒有吩咐他們.

We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.
25
所以我們同心定意、揀選幾個人、差他們同我們所親愛的巴拿巴、和保羅、往你們那裡去。

So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul--
26
這二人是為我主耶穌基督的名、不顧性命的。

men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27
我們就差了猶大和西拉、他們也要親口訴說這些事.

Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing.
28
因為聖靈和我們、定意不將別的重擔放在你們身上.惟有幾件事是不可少的、

It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements:
29
就是禁戒祭偶像的物、和血、並勒死的牲畜、和姦淫.這幾件你們若能自己禁戒不犯、就好了.願你們平安。

You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.
30
他們既奉了差遣、就下安提阿去、聚集眾人、交付書信。

The men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter.
31
眾人念了、因為信上安慰的話、就歡喜了。

The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message.
32
猶大和西拉也是先知、就用許多話勸勉弟兄、堅固他們。

Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers.
33
住了些日子、弟兄們打發他們平平安安的回到差遣他們的人那裡去。〔有古卷在此有〕

After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them.
34
〔惟有西拉定意仍住在那裡〕

35
但保羅和巴拿巴、仍住在安提阿、和許多別人一同教訓人、傳主的道。

But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.
36
過了些日子、保羅對巴拿巴說、我們可以回到從前宣傳主道的各城、看望弟兄們景況如何。

Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing."
37
巴拿巴有意、要帶稱呼馬可的約翰同去.

Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them,
38
但保羅、因為馬可從前在旁非利亞離開他們、不和他們同去作工、就以為不可帶他去。

but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.
39
於是二人起了爭論、甚至彼此分開.巴拿巴帶著馬可、坐船往居比路去.

They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,
40
保羅揀選了西拉、也出去、蒙弟兄們把他交於主的恩中。

but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
41
他就走遍敘利亞、基利家、堅固眾教會。

He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.