Apostelgeschichte 15
1 Und einige die von Judäa herunter kamen, lehrten die Brüder: wenn ihr euch nicht beschneiden lasset nach der Sitte Moses, so könnet ihr nicht gerettet werden.
[Then] some [Jewish] believers went down from Judea [province] to Antioch. They started teaching the [non-Jewish] believers [there, and said], “[You] ([must] be circumcised/must have God’s mark put on you) [to indicate you belong to God], as Moses [commanded] in the laws that [he received from God]. If you do not do that, you will not be saved {[God] will not save you}.”
2 Da nun aber Paulus und Barnabas viel mit ihnen zu kämpfen und zu streiten bekamen, beschloß man, daß Paulus und Barnabas und einige andere aus ihrer Mitte zu den Aposteln und Aeltesten nach Jerusalem hinaufgehen sollten wegen dieser Streitfrage.
Paul and Barnabas strongly disagreed with those Jews and started arguing [with them. So the believers at Antioch] appointed Paul and Barnabas and some of the other believers to go to Jerusalem, in order that they would/could discuss this matter with the apostles and [other spiritual] leaders.
3 So bekamen sie denn das Geleite der Gemeinde, zogen durch Phoinike und Samaria, wo sie von der Bekehrung der Heiden erzählten, und bereiteten den Brüdern insgesamt große Freude.
After Paul, Barnabas, and the others were given things for their trip by the congregation [at Antioch] {After the congregation [at Antioch] gave Paul, Barnabas, and the others things for their trip}, they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria [provinces. When they stopped at different places in those provinces], they reported [to the believers] that [many] non-Jews [in Antioch] had become believers. As a result, all the believers [in those places] rejoiced greatly.
4 Bei ihrer Ankunft in Jerusalem aber wurden sie von der Gemeinde und den Aposteln und den Aeltesten empfangen, und berichteten, wie große Dinge Gott mit ihnen gethan.
And when Paul, Barnabas, and the others arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the apostles, the [other] elders, and the [other members of the] congregation [there] {the apostles, the [other] elders, and the [other members of the] congregation [there] welcomed them}. Then Paul and Barnabas reported the things that God had enabled them to do [among non-Jewish people].
5 Aber einige von der Sekte der Pharisäer, die gläubig geworden waren, standen auf und erklärten: man muß sie beschneiden, und anhalten das Gesetz Moses zu beobachten.
But some of the [Jewish] believers who belonged to the Pharisee sect stood up [among the other believers and] said to them, “The non-Jews [who have believed in Jesus] must be circumcised, and they must be told to obey the laws [that God gave to] Moses.”
6 Es vesammelten sich aber die Apostel und die Aeltesten, um über diese Sache zu urteilen.
Then the apostles and [the other] elders met together in order to talk about this matter.
7 Als aber lebhafter Streit entstand, erhob sich Petrus und sprach zu ihnen: Ihr Männer und Brüder, ihr wisset, daß vorlängst Gott unter euch meinen Mund erwählte, die Heiden das Wort des Evangeliums hören und gläubig werden zu lassen.
After they had discussed it for a long time, Peter stood up and spoke to them. He said, “Fellow believers, you [all] know that a long time ago God chose me from among you [other apostles, in order that] the non-Jewish people might [also] hear me [SYN] tell [them] the good message [about the Lord Jesus], so that they could hear [it] and believe [in him. So Paul and Barnabas are not the first ones to tell non-Jews about Jesus].
8 Und der herzenskundige Gott gab Zeugnis für sie, indem er ihnen den heiligen Geist gab so gut wie uns.
God knows [and judges] people according to what they think, [not according to who their ancestors were]. By sending the Holy Spirit to [the non-Jews], just like [he had] also done for us [(inc)] Jews, he showed [me and others] that he had accepted them [also to be his people].
9 Und er machte keinen Unterschied zwischen uns und ihnen, nachdem er durch den Glauben ihre Herzen gereinigt.
[God] saved us [Jews] and those [non-Jews] similarly, making them clean spiritually simply as a result of their believing [in the Lord Jesus. That was exactly how he has forgiven us].
10 Nun, was versucht ihr jetzt Gott, den Jüngern ein Joch auf den Nacken zu legen, welches weder unsere Väter noch wir zu tragen vermocht haben?
[You are wanting to force the non-Jewish believers to obey our Jewish rituals and laws]—laws that God has shown that he does not require them to obey [MET]. [Your doing that is like] putting a heavy burden on them! So then, (stop making God angry by doing that!/why are you making God angry by doing that?) [RHQ] Our ancestors and we [(inc) Jews] have never been able to bear [the burden of obeying those laws]!
11 Vielmehr glauben wir durch die Gnade des Herrn Jesus gerettet zu werden, in gleicher Weise wie auch jene.
But we [(inc) know that it is not because] we [(inc) try to obey those laws that God saves us(inc) Jews. On the contrary], we [(inc)] know that it is because of what the Lord Jesus did for us [(inc)] that we did not deserve that we [(inc)] are saved {that [God] saves us} [from the guilt of our sins. God saves non-Jews who believe in the Lord Jesus] exactly like [he saves] us Jews.”
12 Es schwieg aber die ganze Versammlung und sie hörten zu, wie Barnabas und Paulus erzählten, was alles für Zeichen und Wunder Gott durch sie bei den Heiden gethan.
All the people [there] became silent [after Peter had spoken]. Then they [all] listened to Barnabas and Paul, [as the two of] them told about the many great miracles that God had enabled them to do among the non-Jewish people, [miracles that showed that God had accepted the non-Jews].
13 Nachdem sie aber zu Ende waren, nahm Jakobus das Wort und sprach: ihr Männer und Brüder, hört mir zu.
When Barnabas and Paul had finished speaking, James, [the leader of the group of believers there in Jerusalem], spoke to all of them. [He said], “Fellow believers, listen to me.
14 Symeon hat erzählt, wie Gott zuerst darauf bedacht war, seinem Namen ein Volk aus Heiden zu gewinnen.
Simon [Peter] has told you how God previously blessed the non-Jews. God did that by choosing from among them a people who would belong to him [MTY].
15 Und damit stimmen die Reden der Propheten, wie geschrieben steht:
[These] words that [God spoke], words that were written by [one of] the prophets {that one of the prophets wrote} [long ago], agree with that:
16 nach diesem will ich umkehren und wieder aufbauen das verfallene Zelt Davids, und seine Trümmer wieder aufbauen und es herstellen,
Later on I will return and I will re-establish the kingdom [MET] that David [ruled] and that has been {that [people] have} destroyed. My [doing that will be like] rebuilding [a house] that has been {that [people] have} torn down.
17 auf daß die übrigen Menschen mögen den Herrn suchen, und alle die Völker, bei welchen mein Name verkündet ward, sprich der Herr, der dieses thut.
I will do that in order that all other people might seek [me], the Lord [God. I will do that in order that] all the non-Jews whom I have called [to belong] to me [MTY] might seek me. [You can be certain that this will happen because I] the Lord [God], who will do those things, have spoken [these words].
I [caused my people to know about them] long ago.” (aiōn g165)
19 Darum bin ich der Ansicht, daß man die, welche von den Heiden her sich zu Gott bekehren, nicht belästige,
[James continued by saying], “Therefore I have decided [that we(inc)] should stop bothering the non-Jewish people who are turning [away from their sins and turning] to God. [That is, we should stop demanding that they obey] all [our laws] and rituals.
20 nur daß man ihnen anbefehle, sich zu enthalten der Befleckungen, der Götzen und der Unzucht und des Erstickten und des Blutes.
Instead, we should write [a letter] to them [requiring only four things: They should] not eat [meat/food that people] have offered to idols, they should not have sex with someone to whom they are not married, they should not [eat meat from animals that have been killed by] being strangled {[people have strangled]}, and [they should not eat] the blood [of animals].
21 Denn Moses hat von langen Zeiten her in den Städten seine Verkündiger, wo er in den Synagogen allsabbatlich gelesen wird.
In many cities, for a very long time people have been proclaiming [the laws that] Moses [wrote] [MTY], [laws prohibiting those things]. And every (Sabbath/Jewish day of rest) [those laws] are read {someone reads [those laws]} in the Jewish meeting places. [So if the non-Jews want to know more about those laws, they can find out in our meeting houses].”
22 Hierauf beschlossen die Apostel und die Aeltesten mit der ganzen Gemeinde, Männer aus ihrer Mitte zu erwählen und nach Antiochia zu schicken mit Paulus und Barnabas; nämlich Judas genannt Barsabbas, und Silas, (die zu den leitenden unter den Brüdern gehörten)
The apostles and the [other] elders, along with all the [other] members of the congregation, accepted [what James had said]. Then they decided that they should choose men from among themselves and that they should send them, along with Paul and Barnabas, to Antioch, to [let the believers there know what the leaders] at Jerusalem had decided. So they chose Judas, who was also called Barsabbas, and Silas, who were leaders among the believers [at Jerusalem].
23 indem sie durch ihre Hand ein Schreiben bestellten des Inhaltes: die Apostel und die Aeltesten und Brüder entbieten den Brüdern aus den Heiden in Antiochia und Syria und Kilikia ihren Gruß.
Then they wrote the following letter [that they asked Judas and Silas to take to the believers at Antioch]: “[We(exc)] apostles and [other] leaders who are your fellow believers [send our greetings to you as we write this to you] non-Jewish believers [who live] in Antioch and [other places in] Syria and Cilicia [provinces].
24 Nachdem wir gehört, daß einige, die von uns her kamen, euch mit Reden beunruhigt und eure Gemüter beschwert haben, ohne daß sie von uns einen Auftrag hatten,
People have told us that some men from among us went [to you], although we had not told [them to do that]. They troubled/distressed you [SYN] [by telling you things] that confused your thinking.
25 sind wir zusammengetreten und haben den Beschluß gefaßt, Männer zu wählen und euch zu schicken mit unseren geliebten Barnabas und Paulus,
So [while we(exc) met together here], we decided to choose some men and ask them to go to you, along with Barnabas and Paul, whom we [(exc)] love very much.
26 den Leuten, die ihr Leben darangesetzt haben für den Namen unseres Herrn Jesus Christus.
Those two have put their lives in danger because of their [serving] our Lord [MTY] Jesus Christ.
27 So haben wir also abgeordnet Judas und Silas, die mündlich euch dieses ebenfalls bestätigen mögen.
We [(exc) have also chosen] Judas and Silas to go to you. They will tell you the same things [that we are writing].
28 Es ist nämlich des heiligen Geistes und unser Beschluß, euch keine weitere Last aufzulegen, als die folgenden unerläßlichen Dinge:
The Holy Spirit and [also] we decided that you should not be required {that we should not require you} to obey a lot of burdensome [Jewish] laws. Instead, [we] only [require you to obey] the following instructions,
29 euch zu enthalten des Götzenopfers, und des Blutes, und des Erstickten, und der Unzucht. Wenn ihr euch davor bewahrt, werdet ihr wohl daran thun. Lebet wohl.
You should not eat food that people have sacrificed to idols. You should not eat blood from animals, and you should not eat meat from animals that people have killed by strangling them. Also, you should not have sex with someone to whom you are not married. Those things [especially offend Jewish believers. So if] you avoid doing them, you will be doing what is right. That is all.”
30 So wurden sie denn entlassen und kamen nach Antiochia, und nachdem sie die Gemeinde versammelt, übergaben sie den Brief.
The [four] men whom [they] had chosen went [from Jerusalem] to Antioch [city. When] all the believers [there] had assembled together, [Judas and Silas] gave the letter to them.
31 Als sie ihn aber gelesen, freuten sie sich über den Zuspruch.
When the believers there read the letter, they rejoiced, [because its message] encouraged them.
32 Und Judas und Silas, die selbst auch Propheten waren, ermunterten und bestärkten die Brüder mit vielen Reden.
[Just like Paul and Barnabas were] ([prophets/men who spoke messages from God]), Judas and Silas were also prophets. They spoke for a long time and encouraged the believers [there], and helped them to trust more strongly [in the Lord Jesus].
33 Nach einiger Zeit aber wurden sie von den Brüdern in Frieden entlassen zu ihren Absendern.
After [Judas and Silas] had stayed in Antioch for some time [and were ready to return to Jerusalem], the believers [there] wished them well, and the believers [prayed that God] would protect [them as they traveled. So the two men] started to go back to the leaders [in Jerusalem] who had asked them to go [to Antioch].
34 (Silas aber entschloß sich, daselbst zu bleiben.)
35 Paulus aber und Barnabas hielten sich in Antiochia auf, indem sie neben vielen anderen das Wort des Herrn lehrten und seine frohe Botschaft verkündeten.
However, Paul and Barnabas continued to stay in Antioch. [While they were there], they, along with many others, were teaching [people] and preaching to them the message about the Lord [Jesus].
36 Nach einigen Tagen aber sagte Paulus zu Barnabas: wir wollen wieder hingehen und nach den Brüdern in allen Städten sehen, in welchen wir das Wort des Herrn verkündet haben, wie es bei ihnen steht.
After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the fellow believers in every city where we [previously] proclaimed the message about the Lord [Jesus. In that way, we will know] how [well] they are continuing [to believe in the Lord Jesus].”
37 Barnabas aber wollte auch den Johannes genannt Marcus mitnehmen.
Barnabas [agreed with Paul, and said that he] wanted to take John, whose other name was Mark, along with them [again].
38 Paulus aber bestand darauf ihn nicht mitzunehmen, nachdem er von ihnen abgefallen war von Pamphylia weg, und sich ihnen nicht angeschlossen hatte zum Werk.
However, Paul [told Barnabas that he] thought that it would not be good to take Mark [with them, because] Mark had deserted them when they were previously in Pamphylia [region], and had not continued to work with them.
39 Es kam aber zu hitzigem Streit, so daß sie sich voneinander trennten, und Barnabas den Marcus zu sich nahm und nach Kypros fuhr.
Paul and Barnabas strongly disagreed [with each other about that], so they separated. Barnabas took Mark [along with him and they got] on a ship and went to Cyprus.
40 Paulus aber gesellte sich den Silas bei und zog hinaus, der Gnade des Herrn von den Brüdern empfohlen.
Paul chose Silas, [who had returned to Antioch, to work with him]. The believers [there] asked the Lord [God] to graciously help [Paul and Silas. Then] the two of them departed [from Antioch].
41 Er durchzog aber Syria und Kilikia und bestärkte die Gemeinden.
Paul continued traveling [with Silas] through Syria and Cilicia [provinces]. In those places he was helping the congregations to trust strongly [in the Lord Jesus].
