使徒行傳 15
1 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。」
Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers: “If you are not circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
2 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。
Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had a great dissension and debate with them, the brothers appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among the believers to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem to discuss this issue.
3 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。
After being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria and brought great joy to all the brothers when they described in detail the conversion of the Gentiles.
4 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。
When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done through them.
5 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。」
But some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise the Gentiles and command them to keep the law of Moses.”
6 宗徒和長老們就開會商討此事。
So the apostles and the elders gathered together to consider this matter.
7 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。
After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among us, that by the words of my mouth the Gentiles would hear the message of the gospel and believe.
8 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；
And God, who knows the heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.
9 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。
He made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 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﹖
Now then, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
11 但是，我們信我們得救，是藉著主耶穌的恩寵，正和他們一樣。」
On the contrary, we believe that we are saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus in the same way they are.”
12 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。
Then the entire assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul tell of all the signs and wonders God had performed through them among the Gentiles.
13 大家都不出聲之後，雅各伯接著說：「諸位仁人弟兄，請聽我說!
When they had finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me.
14 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；
Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name.
15 先知的話也正與此相合，如經上記載：『
The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, just as it is written:
16 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，
‘After this I will return and rebuild the tabernacle of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins and erect it again,
17 為的是其餘的人，即一切以我的名得名的民族，要尋求上主：
so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these things.’
19 因此，按我的意見，不要再加給由外邦歸依天主的人煩難，
Therefore my judgment is that we not create difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God,
20 只要函告他們戒避偶像的玷污和奸淫，戒食窒死之物和血。
but that we write to them, telling them to abstain from things defiled by idols, from fornication, from what has been strangled, and from blood.
21 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。」
For from generations of old, Moses has had those who preach him in every city, because he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
22 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。
Then it seemed good to the apostles and to the elders, together with the whole church, to send men chosen from among them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, leading men among the brothers,
23 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。
and to send with them this letter they had written: “The apostles, elders, and brothers, to the Gentile brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
24 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。
Since we have heard that certain men, whom we did not authorize, have gone out from us and troubled you with their words, unsettling your minds by saying that you must be circumcised and keep the law,
25 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。
it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to send you men chosen from among us, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 此二人為了我們主耶穌基督的名，已付出了自己的性命。
who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 我們派猶達和息拉去，他們要親口報告同樣的事。
Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will tell you the same things in their own words.
28 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：
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no further burden than these essentials:
29 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！」
You must abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what has been strangled, and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these things, you will do well. Farewell.”
30 他們去後，就下到安提約基雅，聚集了眾人，遞上公函。
So when these men had been sent off, they went to Antioch, and after gathering the congregation together, they delivered the letter.
31 人們讀了，對這勸慰的話都十分歡喜。
When the people read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.
32 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。
Then Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.
33 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。
After spending some time there, they were sent off to the apostles in peace by the brothers.
34 【但是息拉決意留在那裏，只猶達一人回了耶路撒冷。】
35 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。
But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching, along with many others, the good news of the word of the Lord.
36 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。」
After some days had gone by, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit our brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”
37 巴爾納伯願意也帶號稱馬爾谷的若望同去，
Now Barnabas wanted to bring John, who was called Mark.
38 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。
But Paul thought it best not to bring this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them in their work.
39 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。
So there arose a sharp disagreement, with the result that they parted from one another. Barnabas took Mark and sailed off to Cyprus,
40 保祿卻揀選了息拉，蒙弟兄們將他託於主的恩寵以後，
but Paul chose Silas and departed, once he had been committed by the brothers to the grace of God.
41 也起身走了，他走遍了敘利亞和基里基雅，堅固各教會。
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
