< Acts 15 >
1 And certain having come down from Judea, were teaching the brothers, “If you are not circumcised after the custom of Moses, you are not able to 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 there having been, therefore, not a little dissension and debate to Paul and Barnabas with them, they arranged for Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, to go up to the apostles and elders to Jerusalem 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 indeed, then, having been sent forward by the assembly, were passing through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the nations, and they were causing 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 And having come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly, and the apostles, and the elders; they also declared as many things as God did 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 and there rose up certain of those of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, “It is required to circumcise them, to command them also 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 And there were gathered together the apostles and the elders, to see about this matter,
宗徒和長老們就開會商討此事。
7 and there having been much disputing, Peter having risen up said to them, “Men, brothers, you know that from former days God made choice among us, through my mouth, for the nations to hear the word of the good news, and to 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 and the heart-knowing God bore them testimony, having given to them the Holy Spirit, even as also 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 and also put no difference between us and them, having purified 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, to 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 through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe to be saved, even as also they.”
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 And all the multitude kept silence and were listening to Barnabas and Paul expounding as many signs and wonders as God did 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 and after they were silent, James answered, saying, “Men, 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 expounded how at first God looked on [us] to take a people out of [the] nations 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 and to this the words of the Prophets agree, as it has been written:
先知的話也正與此相合,如經上記載:『
16 After these things I will return, And I will rebuild the dwelling place of David that has fallen down, And I will rebuild its ruins, And will set it upright—
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 remnant of men may seek after the LORD, And all the nations on whom My Name has been called, Says the LORD, who is doing 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:
18 Known from the ages to God are all His works. (aiōn )
這是很久以前,公佈這事的主說的。』 (aiōn )
19 For this reason I judge: not to trouble those who turn back to God from the nations,
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 to write to them to abstain from the defilements of the idols, and the whoredom, and the strangled thing, and the 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 has those preaching him from former generations in every city—being read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”
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 send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas chosen men out of themselves—Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, leading 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 having written through their hand thus: “The apostles, and the elders, and the brothers, to those in Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia, brothers, who [are] of the nations, greeting;
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 seeing we have heard that some having gone forth from us troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying to be circumcised and to keep the Law, to whom we gave no charge,
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 together with one accord, to send to you chosen men, 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 given up 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, and they are telling the same things by word.
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 more burden on you, except 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 to abstain from things offered to idols, and blood, and a strangled thing, and whoredom; keeping yourselves from which, you will do well; be strong!”
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 They then, indeed, having been let go, went to Antioch, and having brought the multitude together, 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 and having read [it] they rejoiced for the consolation;
人們讀了,對這勸慰的話都十分歡喜。
32 Judas also and Silas, also being prophets themselves, through much discourse exhorted the brothers, and confirmed,
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 and having passed some time, they were let go with 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。
34 [[and it seemed good to Silas to remain there still.]]
【但是息拉決意留在那裏,只猶達一人回了耶路撒冷。】
35 And Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming good news—with many others also—the word of the LORD;
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 and after certain days, Paul said to Barnabas, “Having turned back again, we may look after our brothers, in every city in which we have preached the word of the LORD—how they are.”
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 And Barnabas resolved to take with [them] John called Mark,
巴爾納伯願意也帶號稱馬爾谷的若望同去,
38 and Paul was not thinking it good to take him with them who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and did not go with them to 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 there came, therefore, a sharp contention, so that they were parted from one another, and Barnabas having taken Mark, sailed 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 and Paul having chosen Silas, went forth, having been given up to the grace of God by the brothers;
保祿卻揀選了息拉,蒙弟兄們將他託於主的恩寵以後,
41 and he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the assemblies.
也起身走了,他走遍了敘利亞和基里基雅,堅固各教會。