Actuum Apostolorum 15
1 Et quidam descendentes de Iudæa, docebant fratres: Quia nisi circumcidamini secundum morem Moysi, non potestis salvari.
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 Facta ergo seditione non minima Paulo, et Barnabæ adversus illos, statuerunt ut ascenderent Paulus, et Barnabas, et quidam alii ex aliis ad Apostolos, et presbyteros in Ierusalem super hac quæstione.
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 Illi ergo deducti ab Ecclesia pertransibant Phœnicen, et Samariam, narrantes conversionem Gentium: et faciebant gaudium magnum omnibus fratribus.
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 Cum autem venissent Ierosolymam, suscepti sunt ab Ecclesia, et ab Apostolis, et senioribus annunciantes quanta Deus fecisset cum illis.
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 Surrexerunt autem quidam de hæresi Pharisæorum, qui crediderunt, dicentes: Quia oportet circumcidi eos, præcipere quoque servare legem Moysi.
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.”
6 Conveneruntque Apostoli, et seniores videre de verbo hoc.
The apostles and elders met together to discuss the issue.
7 Cum autem magna conquisitio fieret, surgens Petrus dixit ad eos: Viri fratres, vos scitis quoniam ab antiquis diebus Deus in nobis elegit, per os meum audire Gentes verbum Evangelii, et credere.
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.
8 Et qui novit corda Deus, testimonium perhibuit, dans illis Spiritum Sanctum, sicut et nobis,
God, who knows thewhat we're thinking, has shown that he accepts them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us.
9 et nihil discrevit inter nos et illos, fide purificans corda eorum.
He doesn't make any distinction between us and them—he cleansed their thoughts as they trusted in him.
10 Nunc ergo quid tentatis Deum, imponere iugum super cervices discipulorum, quod neque patres nostri, neque nos portare potuimus?
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?
11 Sed per gratiam Domini Iesu Christi credimus salvari, quemadmodum et illi.
We're convinced that we're saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way they are.”
12 Tacuit autem omnis multitudo: et audiebant Barnabam, et Paulum narrantes quanta Deus fecisset signa, et prodigia in Gentibus per eos.
Everyone listened attentively to Barnabas and Paul as they explained the miraculous signs that God had performed through them among the foreigners.
13 Et postquam tacuerunt, respondit Iacobus, dicens: Viri fratres, audite me.
After they had finished speaking, James spoke up, saying, “Brothers, listen to me.
14 Simon narravit quemadmodum primum Deus visitavit sumere ex Gentibus populum nomini suo.
Simon has described how God first revealed his concern for the foreigners by taking from them a people committed to him.
15 Et huic concordant verba Prophetarum, sicut scriptum est:
This is in accordance with the words of the prophets, as it's written,
16 Post hæc revertar, et reædificabo tabernaculum David, quod decidit: et diruta eius reædificabo, et erigam illud:
‘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 ut requirant ceteri hominum Dominum, et omnes gentes, super quas invocatum est nomen meum, dicit Dominus faciens hæc.
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)
19 Propter quod ego iudico non inquietari eos, qui ex Gentibus convertuntur ad Deum,
So my decision is that we shouldn't make it difficult for foreigners who turn to God.
20 sed scribere ad eos ut abstineant se a contaminationibus simulacrorum, et fornicatione, et suffocatis, et sanguine.
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 Moyses enim a temporibus antiquis habet in singulis civitatibus qui eum prædicent in synagogis, ubi per omne Sabbatum legitur.
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 Tunc placuit Apostolis, et senioribus cum omni Ecclesia, eligere viros ex eis, et mittere Antiochiam cum Paulo, et Barnaba, Iudam, qui cognominabatur Barsabas, et Silam viros primos in fratribus,
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 scribentes per manus eorum: APOSTOLI et seniores fratres, his, qui sunt Antiochiæ, et Syriæ, et Ciliciæ fratribus ex Gentibus, salutem.
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 Quoniam audivimus quia quidam ex nobis exeuntes turbaverunt vos verbis, evertentes animas vestras, quibus non mandavimus:
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 placuit nobis collectis in unum, eligere viros, et mittere ad vos cum charissimis nostris Barnaba, et Paulo,
So we have agreed to choose some representatives and send them to you together with our much-loved brothers Barnabas and Paul,
26 hominibus, qui tradiderunt animas suas pro nomine Domini nostri Iesu Christi.
who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 Misimus ergo Iudam, et Silam, qui et ipsi vobis verbis referent eadem.
So we are sending to you Judas and Silas who can verbally confirm what we're saying.
28 Visum est enim Spiritui Sancto, et nobis nihil ultra imponere vobis oneris quam hæc necessaria:
It seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place on you any heavier burden than these important requirements.
29 ut abstineatis vos ab immolatis simulacrorum, et sanguine, et suffocato, et fornicatione, a quibus custodientes vos, bene agetis. Valete.
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.”
30 Illi ergo dimissi, descendeunt Antiochiam: et congregata multitudine tradiderunt epistolam.
The men were sent on their way to Antioch. When they arrived they called everybody together and delivered the letter.
31 Quam cum legissent, gavisi sunt super consolatione.
After they had read it, the people were so happy for the encouraging message.
32 Iudas autem, et Silas, et ipsi cum essent prophetæ, verbo plurimo consolati sunt fratres, et confirmaverunt.
Judas and Silas, who were also prophets, encouraged the brothers, explaining many things, and strengthening them.
33 Facto autem ibi aliquanto tempore, dimissi sunt cum pace a fratribus ad eos, qui miserant illos.
After spending some time there they were sent back by the brothers with their blessing to the believers in Jerusalem.
34 Visum est autem Silæ ibi remanere: Iudas autem solus abiit Ierusalem.
35 Paulus autem, et Barnabas demorabantur Antiochiæ docentes, et evangelizantes cum aliis pluribus verbum Domini.
But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of God along with many others.
36 Post aliquot autem dies, dixit ad Barnabam Paulus: Revertentes visitemus fratres per universas civitates, in quibus prædicavimus verbum Domini, quomodo se habeant.
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.”
37 Barnabas autem volebat secum assumere et Ioannem, qui cognominabatur Marcus.
Barnabas planned to take along John Mark too.
38 Paulus autem rogabat eum (ut qui discessisset ab eis de Pamphylia, et non isset cum eis in opus) non debere recipi.
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 Facta est autem dissensio, ita ut discederent ab invicem, et Barnabas quidem assumpto Marco navigaret Cyprum.
They had such a strong disagreement that they separated. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed to Cyprus.
40 Paulus vero electo Sila profectus est, traditus gratiæ Dei a fratribus.
Paul chose Silas, and as they left, the believers committed them to the grace of the Lord.
41 Perambulabat autem Syriam, et Ciliciam, confirmans Ecclesias: præcipiens custodire præcepta Apostolorum, et seniorum.
Paul traveled through Syria and Cilicia, encouraging the churches there.
