Acts 15
1 Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can’t be saved.”
從猶太下來的幾個人教訓弟兄們說：「若是你們不按梅瑟的慣例行割損，不能得救。」
2 Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul, Barnabas, and some others of them to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question.
保祿和巴爾納伯同他們起了不少的爭執和辯論；大家就指定保祿和巴爾納伯，與他們中的幾個人，上耶路撒冷去見宗徒和長老，討論這問題。
3 They, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers.
他們由教會送走之後，就路過腓尼基和撒瑪黎雅，沿途敘述外邦人歸化的事，使眾弟兄非常喜歡。
4 When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the apostles and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done with them.
他們到了耶路撒冷，為教會、宗徒和長老所歡迎，就報告了天主偕同他們所行的一切大事。
5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
卻有幾個信教的法利塞黨人起來說：「必須叫外邦人受割損，又應該命他們遵守梅瑟法律。」
6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.
宗徒和長老們就開會商討此事。
7 When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News and believe.
辯論多時之後，伯多祿起來向他們說：「諸位仁人弟兄！你們深知，多時以前，天主就在你們中選定了，要藉我的口，為叫外邦人聽福音的道理而信從。
8 God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.
洞察人心的天主，已為他們作了證，因為賜給了他們聖神，如同賜給了我們一樣；
9 He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
在我們和他們中間沒有作任何區別，因他以信德淨化了他們的心。
10 Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
既然如此，現今你們為什麼試探天主，在門徒的頸項上，放上連我們的祖先和我們自己都不能負荷的軛呢﹖
11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”
但是，我們信我們得救，是藉著主耶穌的恩寵，正和他們一樣。」
12 All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them.
於是眾人都緘默不語，靜聽巴爾納伯和保祿述說天主藉著他們在外邦人中，行了怎樣大的徵兆與奇蹟。
13 After they were silent, James answered, “Brothers, listen to me.
大家都不出聲之後，雅各伯接著說：「諸位仁人弟兄，請聽我說!
14 Simeon has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name.
西滿述說了天主當初怎樣關心外邦人，由他們中選拔一個百姓，屬於自己名下；
15 This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written,
先知的話也正與此相合，如經上記載：『
16 ‘After these things I will return. I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up
以後我要回來，重建達味已傾倒的居所；已坍塌了的，要把它重建而豎立起來，
17 that the rest of men may seek after the Lord: all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.’
為的是其餘的人，即一切以我的名得名的民族，要尋求上主：
19 Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God,
因此，按我的意見，不要再加給由外邦歸依天主的人煩難，
20 but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood.
只要函告他們戒避偶像的玷污和奸淫，戒食窒死之物和血。
21 For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
因為自古以來，在各城內都有宣講梅瑟的人，每安息日在會堂中誦讀他的書。」
22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers.
當時，宗徒和長老同全教會決定，從他們中選幾個人，派他們同保祿和巴爾納伯去安提約基雅。所派的，有號稱巴爾撒巴的猶達和息拉，是弟兄中的領導人物。
23 They wrote these things by their hand: “The apostles, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings.
他們帶去的信如下：「宗徒和長老弟兄們，給在安提約基雅、敘利亞和基里基雅由外邦歸化的弟兄們請安。
24 Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law,’ to whom we gave no commandment;
我們聽說有幾個從我們這裏去的，而並非我們所派去的人，講話擾亂你們，混亂了你們的心。
25 it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
我們取得同意後，決定揀選幾個人，派他們同我們可愛的巴爾納伯和保祿，到你們那裏去。
26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
此二人為了我們主耶穌基督的名，已付出了自己的性命。
27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth.
我們派猶達和息拉去，他們要親口報告同樣的事。
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things:
因為聖神和我們決定，不再加給你們什麼重擔，除了這幾項重要的事：
29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.”
即戒食祭邪神之物、血和窒死之物，並戒避奸淫；若你們戒絕了這一切，那就好了。祝你們安好！」
30 So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
他們去後，就下到安提約基雅，聚集了眾人，遞上公函。
31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement.
人們讀了，對這勸慰的話都十分歡喜。
32 Judas and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.
猶達和息拉，因為他們也是先知，就講了許多話，勸勉堅固弟兄們。
33 After they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to the apostles.
過了一些時候，弟兄們打發他們帶著請安的話，回到派他們的人那裏。
【但是息拉決意留在那裏，只猶達一人回了耶路撒冷。】
35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
保祿和巴爾納伯卻留在安提約基雅施教，同別的許多人宣講主的道理。
36 After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”
過了些日子，保祿向巴爾納伯說：「我們要回去，視察我們曾講過主道的各城，看看弟兄怎麼樣了。」
37 Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.
巴爾納伯願意也帶號稱馬爾谷的若望同去，
38 But Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do the work.
但保祿認為不應帶他去，因為他從旁非里雅離開他們，沒有同他們一起去工作。
39 Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,
二人於是起了爭執，以致彼此分離。巴爾納伯遂帶馬爾谷，乘船往塞浦路斯去了。
40 but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.
保祿卻揀選了息拉，蒙弟兄們將他託於主的恩寵以後，
41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.
也起身走了，他走遍了敘利亞和基里基雅，堅固各教會。
