ⲚⲒⲠⲢⲀⲜⲒⲤ 15
1 ⲁ̅ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁϩⲟⲓⲛⲉ ⲉⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ ϯⲟⲩⲇⲁⲓⲁ ⲁⲩϯ ⲥⲃⲱ ⲛⲛⲉⲥⲛⲏⲩ ϫⲉ ⲉⲓⲙⲏⲧⲓ ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲛⲥⲃⲃⲉ ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲛⲙⲟⲟϣⲉ ϩⲙ ⲡⲥⲱⲛⲧ ⲙⲙⲱⲩⲥⲏⲥ ⲙⲛ ϭⲟⲙ ⲙⲙⲱⲧⲛ ⲉⲟⲩϫⲁⲓ
Then some men arrived from Judea who started teaching the believers, “Unless you're circumcised according to the rules set down by Moses, you can't be saved.”
2 ⲃ̅ ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲉ ⲟⲩⲥⲧⲁⲥⲓⲥ ⲇⲉ ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛⲍⲏⲧⲏⲥⲓⲥ ⲙⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲃⲁⲣⲛⲁⲃⲁⲥ ⲛⲙⲙⲁⲩⲁⲩⲧⲉϣ ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲃⲁⲣⲛⲁⲃⲁⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ϩⲉⲛⲕⲉⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛϩⲏⲧⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲩⲃⲱⲕ ϣⲁ ⲛⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉⲡⲣⲉⲥⲃⲩⲧⲉⲣⲟⲥ ⲉⲧϩⲛ ⲑⲓⲗⲏⲙ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲉⲓⲍⲏⲧⲏⲙⲁ
Paul and Barnabas had many arguments and debates with them. So Paul and Barnabas and some others were appointed to go to Jerusalem and talk to the apostles and leaders there about this issue.
3 ⲅ̅ ⲛⲧⲟⲟⲩ ϭⲉ ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩⲑⲡⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲛ ⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲁⲩⲉⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲛ ⲧⲉⲫⲟⲓⲛⲓⲕⲏ ⲙⲛ ⲧⲥⲁⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ ⲉⲩϫⲱ ⲙⲡⲉⲕⲧⲟ ⲛⲛϩⲉⲑⲛⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲩⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛⲣⲁϣⲉ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ
The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they explained how foreigners were being converted, which made all the believers very happy.
4 ⲇ̅ ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲟⲩⲃⲱⲕ ⲇⲉ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉⲑⲓⲉⲣⲟⲩⲥⲟⲗⲩⲙⲁ ⲁⲩϣⲟⲡⲟⲩ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲙⲁⲧⲉ ⲛϭⲓ ⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲉⲡⲣⲉⲥⲃⲩⲧⲉⲣⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲧⲁⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲛⲉⲛⲧⲁ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲙⲙⲁⲩ ϩⲛ ⲛϩⲉⲑⲛⲟⲥ
When they arrived in Jerusalem they were welcomed by the church members, the apostles, and the elders. They explained everything God had done through them.
5 ⲉ̅ ⲁⲩⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛⲟⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲛϭⲓ ϩⲟⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲛⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ ⲑⲁⲓⲣⲉⲥⲓⲥ ⲛⲛⲉⲫⲁⲣⲓⲥⲁⲓⲟⲥ ⲉⲩϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ϣϣⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲩⲥⲃⲃⲏⲧⲟⲩ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛⲥⲉⲡⲁⲣⲁⲅⲅⲓⲗⲉ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲉϩⲁⲣⲉϩ ⲉⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲙⲙⲱⲩⲥⲏⲥ
But they were opposed by some of the believers who belonged to the Pharisee faction. They said, “These converts have to be circumcised, and instructed to observe the law of Moses.”
The apostles and elders met together to discuss the issue.
7 ⲍ̅ ⲛⲧⲉⲣⲉⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲍⲏⲧⲏⲥⲓⲥ ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲁⲡⲉⲧⲣⲟⲥ ⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲡⲉϫⲁϥ ⲛⲁⲩ ϫⲉ ⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲁⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲛⲧⲱⲧⲛ ⲧⲉⲧⲛⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ϫⲉ ϫⲓⲛ ⲛⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲛϣⲟⲣⲡ ⲁⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲥⲱⲧⲡ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲛ ⲧⲁⲧⲁⲡⲣⲟ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲛϩⲉⲑⲛⲟⲥ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ ⲉⲡϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙⲡⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ ⲛⲥⲉⲡⲓⲥⲧⲉⲩⲉ
After much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that some time ago God chose me from among you so that the foreigners could hear the message of good news and trust in Jesus.
God, who knows thewhat we're thinking, has shown that he accepts them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us.
He doesn't make any distinction between us and them—he cleansed their thoughts as they trusted in him.
10 ⲓ̅ ⲧⲉⲛⲟⲩ ϭⲉ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲧⲉⲧⲛⲡⲓⲣⲁⲍⲉ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲟⲩⲉϩ ⲟⲩⲛⲁϩⲃ ⲉϫⲙ ⲡⲙⲁⲕϩ ⲛⲙⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲉⲙⲡⲉ ⲛⲉⲛⲉⲓⲟⲧⲉ ⲟⲩⲇⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ϣϭⲙϭⲟⲙ ⲉϥⲓ ϩⲁⲣⲟϥ
So why do you want to oppose God and put a burden on the believers that our fathers weren't able to bear, and we can't either?
We're convinced that we're saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way they are.”
12 ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ ⲁⲡⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲧⲏⲣϥ ⲕⲁⲣⲱⲟⲩ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲁⲩϫⲓⲥⲙⲏ ⲉⲃⲁⲣⲛⲁⲃⲁⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ ⲉⲩⲧⲁⲩⲟ ⲛⲙⲙⲁⲉⲓⲛ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉϣⲡⲏⲣⲉ ⲛⲧⲁⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲁⲁⲩ ϩⲛ ⲛϩⲉⲑⲛⲟⲥ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧⲟⲩ
Everyone listened attentively to Barnabas and Paul as they explained the miraculous signs that God had performed through them among the foreigners.
After they had finished speaking, James spoke up, saying, “Brothers, listen to me.
Simon has described how God first revealed his concern for the foreigners by taking from them a people committed to him.
This is in accordance with the words of the prophets, as it's written,
16 ⲓ̅ⲋ̅ ϫⲉ ⲙⲛⲛⲥⲁ ⲛⲁⲓ ϯⲛⲁⲕⲧⲟⲓ ⲧⲁⲕⲱⲧ ⲛⲧⲉⲥⲕⲩⲛⲏ ⲛⲇⲁⲩⲉⲓⲇ ⲧⲉⲛⲧⲁⲥϩⲉ ⲁⲩⲱ ϯⲛⲁⲕⲱⲧ ⲛⲛⲉⲛⲧⲁⲩϣⲟⲣϣⲣ ⲛϩⲏⲧⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲧⲁⲧⲁϩⲟⲥ ⲉⲣⲁⲧⲥ
‘In the future I will return, and I will rebuild the fallen house of David; I will rebuild its ruins and set it straight.
17 ⲓ̅ⲍ̅ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲉⲣⲉⲡⲕⲉⲥⲉⲉⲡⲉ ⲛⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ ϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲥⲁ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲛϩⲉⲑⲛⲟⲥ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲛⲧⲁⲩⲉⲡⲓⲕⲁⲗⲉⲓ ⲙⲡⲁⲣⲁⲛ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲱⲟⲩ ⲡⲉϫⲉ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ
I will do this so that those who are left may come to the Lord, including the foreigners who call on my name.
This is what the Lord says, who revealed these things long ago.’ (aiōn g165)
So my decision is that we shouldn't make it difficult for foreigners who turn to God.
20 ⲕ̅ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲩⲥⲁϩⲱⲟⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲛϫⲱϩⲙ ⲛⲛⲉⲓⲇⲱⲗⲟⲛ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲧⲡⲟⲣⲛⲓⲁ ⲙⲛ ⲟⲩⲛⲕⲁ ⲉϥⲙⲟⲟⲩⲧ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉⲥⲛⲟϥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉⲧⲉⲛⲥⲉⲟⲩⲁϣϥ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲧⲣⲉϥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲙⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲙⲧⲣⲉⲩⲁⲁϥ ⲛϭⲉ
We should write to them and tell them to avoid food sacrificed to idols, sexual immorality, meat of animals that have been strangled, and from consuming blood.
21 ⲕ̅ⲁ̅ ⲙⲱⲩⲥⲏⲥ ⲅⲁⲣ ϫⲓⲛ ⲛⲅⲉⲛⲉⲁ ⲛⲛⲁⲣⲭⲁⲓⲟⲛ ⲟⲩⲛⲧⲁϥ ⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲕⲩⲣⲏⲥⲥⲉ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ϩⲣⲁⲓ ϩⲛ ⲛⲥⲩⲛⲁⲅⲱⲅⲏ ⲉⲩⲱϣ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲥⲁⲃⲃⲁⲧⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ
For the law of Moses has been taught in every town for a long, long time—it's read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
22 ⲕ̅ⲃ̅ ⲧⲟⲧⲉ ⲁⲥⲛⲇⲟⲕⲓ ⲛⲛⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉⲡⲣⲉⲥⲃⲩⲧⲉⲣⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲧⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ ⲧⲏⲣⲥ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲩⲥⲱⲧⲡ ⲛϩⲉⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛϩⲏⲧⲟⲩ ⲛⲥⲉϫⲟⲟⲩⲥⲉ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲁⲛⲧⲓⲟⲭⲓⲁ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲃⲁⲣⲛⲁⲃⲁⲥ ⲉⲧⲉⲓⲟⲩⲇⲁⲥ ⲡⲉϣⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϫⲉ ⲃⲁⲣⲛⲁⲃⲁⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲥⲓⲗⲁⲥ ϩⲉⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲛⲟϭ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉⲥⲛⲏⲩ
Then the apostles and elders, together with the whole church, decided it would be good to choose some representatives and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas Barsabbas and Silas, leaders among the brothers,
23 ⲕ̅ⲅ̅ ⲉⲁⲩⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲛⲟⲩⲉⲡⲓⲥⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⲛⲧⲉⲓϩⲉ ⲛⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉⲡⲣⲉⲥⲃⲩⲧⲉⲣⲟⲥ ⲉⲩⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲛⲛⲉⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲉⲧϩⲛ ⲧⲁⲛⲧⲓⲟⲭⲓⲁ ⲙⲛ ⲧⲥⲩⲣⲓⲁ ⲙⲛ ⲧⲕⲩⲗⲓⲕⲓⲁ ⲛⲉⲧϣⲟⲟⲡ ϩⲛ ⲛϩⲉⲑⲛⲟⲥ ⲭⲁⲓⲣⲉⲧⲉ
and sent them with this letter: “Greetings from us, the apostles and elders and brothers, to the non-Jewish brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:
24 ⲕ̅ⲇ̅ ⲉⲡⲉⲓⲇⲏ ⲁⲛⲥⲱⲧⲙ ϫⲉ ⲁϩⲟⲓⲛⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛϩⲏⲧⲛ ⲉⲓ ϣⲁⲣⲱⲧⲛ ⲁⲩϣⲧⲣⲧⲣ ⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ ϩⲛ ϩⲉⲛϣⲁϫⲉ ⲉⲩϯ ⲙⲕⲁϩ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲙⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲙⲡⲛϩⲱⲛ ⲉⲧⲟⲟⲧⲟⲩ
We have heard that some from our group have confused you with their teachings, causing you trouble. We certainly didn't tell them to do this!
25 ⲕ̅ⲉ̅ ⲁⲥⲛⲇⲟⲕⲓ ⲛⲁⲛ ⲉⲁⲛⲉⲓ ⲉⲩⲙⲁ ⲛⲟⲩⲱⲧ ϩⲓ ⲟⲩⲥⲟⲡ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲛⲥⲱⲧⲡ ⲛϩⲉⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲛⲧⲛⲧⲁⲩⲟⲟⲩ ϣⲁⲣⲱⲧⲛ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉⲛⲙⲉⲣⲁⲧⲉ ⲃⲁⲣⲛⲁⲃⲁⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ
So we have agreed to choose some representatives and send them to you together with our much-loved brothers Barnabas and Paul,
who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So we are sending to you Judas and Silas who can verbally confirm what we're saying.
It seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any heavier burden than these important requirements.
29 ⲕ̅ⲑ̅ ⲉⲥⲁϩⲉⲧⲏⲩⲧⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲛϣⲱⲱⲧ ⲛⲛⲉⲓⲇⲱⲗⲟⲛ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲉⲥⲛⲟϥ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉϣⲁⲩⲙⲟⲩ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲧⲡⲟⲣⲛⲓⲁ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲟⲩⲁϣⲟⲩ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲩϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲙⲙⲱⲧⲛ ⲙⲡⲣⲁⲁⲩ ⲛϭⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛϣⲁⲛϩⲁⲣⲉϩ ⲉⲣⲱⲧⲛ ⲉⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲧⲉⲧⲛⲁⲣϣⲁⲩ ⲟⲩϫⲁⲓ
You should avoid: anything sacrificed to idols; blood; meat from strangled animals; and sexual immorality. You will do well to observe these requirements. God bless you.”
The men were sent on their way to Antioch. When they arrived they called everybody together and delivered the letter.
After they had read it, the people were so happy for the encouraging message.
Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, encouraged the brothers, explaining many things, and strengthening them.
After spending some time there they were sent back by the brothers with their blessing to the believers in Jerusalem.
35 ⲗ̅ⲉ̅ ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲃⲁⲣⲛⲁⲃⲁⲥ ⲛⲉⲩϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲡⲉ ϩⲛ ⲧⲁⲛⲧⲓⲟⲭⲓⲁ ⲉⲩϯ ⲥⲃⲱ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲩⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲍⲉ ⲙⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲕⲉⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲙⲡϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ
But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of God along with many others.
36 ⲗ̅ⲋ̅ ⲙⲛⲛⲥⲁ ϩⲉⲛϩⲟⲟⲩ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲉϫⲉ ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ ⲛⲃⲁⲣⲛⲁⲃⲁⲥ ϫⲉ ⲙⲁⲣⲛⲕⲟⲧⲛ ⲛⲧⲛϭⲙ ⲡϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲛⲉⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲡⲟⲗⲓⲥ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲧⲁⲛⲧⲁϣⲉ ⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲛⲁⲩ ⲙⲡϣⲁϫⲉ ⲙⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ϫⲉ ⲥⲉⲣⲟⲩ
Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let's go back and visit the believers in every town where we shared the word of the Lord, and see how they're doing.”
Barnabas planned to take along John Mark too.
But Paul didn't think it was a good idea to take him with them, since he'd left them in Pamphylia and hadn't continued working with them.
39 ⲗ̅ⲑ̅ ⲁⲩⲡⲁⲣⲟⲝⲩⲥⲙⲟⲥ ⲇⲉ ϣⲱⲡⲉ ϩⲱⲥⲧⲉ ⲛⲥⲉⲥⲁϩⲱⲟⲩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲛⲉⲩⲉⲣⲏⲩ ⲃⲁⲣⲛⲁⲃⲁⲥ ⲙⲉⲛ ⲁϥϫⲓ ⲙⲙⲁⲣⲕⲟⲥ ⲁϥⲥϭⲏⲣ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ ⲉⲕⲩⲡⲣⲟⲥ
They had such a strong disagreement that they separated. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed to Cyprus.
Paul chose Silas, and as they left, the believers committed them to the grace of the Lord.
Paul traveled through Syria and Cilicia, encouraging the churches there.
