Acts
Chapter 15
1 1 Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers, ＂Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.＂ 2
有从犹太下来的几个人教训弟兄们说：＂若是你们不按梅瑟的惯例行割损，不能得救。＂
2 Because there arose no little dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and presbyters about this question.
保禄和巴尔纳伯同他们起了不少的争执和辩论；大家就指定保禄和巴尔纳伯，与他们中的几个人，上耶路撒冷去见宗徒和长老，讨论这问题。
3 They were sent on their journey by the church, and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria telling of the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.
他们由教会送走之后，就路过腓尼基和撒玛黎雅，沿途叙述外邦人归化的事，使众弟兄非常喜欢。
4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, as well as by the apostles and the presbyters, and they reported what God had done with them.
他们到了耶路撒冷，为教会、宗徒和长老所欢迎，就报告了天主偕同他们所行的一切大事。
5 But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers stood up and said, ＂It is necessary to circumcise them and direct them to observe the Mosaic law.＂
却有几个信教的法利塞党人起来说：＂必须叫外邦人受割损，又应该命他们遵守梅瑟法律。＂
6 3 The apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.
宗徒和长老们就开会商讨此事。
7 4 After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to them, ＂My brothers, you are well aware that from early days God made his choice among you that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.
辩论多时之后，伯多禄起来向他们说：＂诸位仁人弟兄！你们深知，多时以前，天主就在你们中选定了，要借我的口，叫外邦人听福音的道理而信从。
8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the holy Spirit just as he did us.
洞察人心的天主，已为他们作了证，因为赐给了他们圣神，如同赐给了我们一样；
9 He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts.
在我们和他们中间没有作任何区别，因他以信德净化了他们的心。
10 Why, then, are you now putting God to the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?
既然如此，现今你们为什么试探天主，在门徒的颈项上，放上连我们的祖先和我们自己都不能负荷的轭呢？
11 On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they.＂ 5
但是，我们信我们得救，是借着主耶稣的恩宠，正和他们一样。＂
12 The whole assembly fell silent, and they listened while Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them.
于是众人都缄默不语，静听巴尔纳伯和保禄述说天主借着他们在外邦人中，行了怎样大的征兆与奇迹。
13 6 After they had fallen silent, James responded, ＂My brothers, listen to me.
大家都不出声之后，雅各伯接着说：＂诸位仁人弟兄，请听我说！
14 Symeon 7 has described how God first concerned himself with acquiring from among the Gentiles a people for his name.
西满述说了天主当初怎样关心外邦人，由他们中选拔一个百姓，属于自己名下；
15 The words of the prophets agree with this, as is written:
先知的话也正与此相合，如经上记载：
16‘After this I shall return and rebuild the fallen hut of David; from its ruins I shall rebuild it and raise it up again,
‘以后我要回来，重建达味已倾倒的居所；已坍塌了的，要把它重建而竖立起来，
17 so that the rest of humanity may seek out the Lord, even all the Gentiles on whom my name is invoked. Thus says the Lord who accomplishes these things,
为的是其余的人，即一切以我的名得名的民族，要寻求上主：
18 known from of old.'
这是很久以前，公布这事的主说的。’
19 It is my judgment, therefore, that we ought to stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God,
因此，按我的意见，不要再加给由外邦归依天主的人烦难，
20 but tell them by letter to avoid pollution from idols, unlawful marriage, the meat of strangled animals, and blood.
只要函告他们戒避偶像的玷污和奸淫，戒食窒死之物和血。
21 For Moses, for generations now, has had those who proclaim him in every town, as he has been read in the synagogues every sabbath.＂
因为自古以来，在各城内都有宣讲梅瑟的人，每安息日在会堂中诵读他的书。＂
22 Then the apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole church, decided to choose representatives and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers.
当时，宗徒和长老同全教会决定，从他们中选几个人，派他们同保禄和巴尔纳伯去安提约基雅。所派的，有号称巴尔撒巴的犹达和息拉，是弟兄中的领导人物。
23 This is the letter delivered by them: ＂The apostles and the presbyters, your brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin: greetings.
他们带去的信如下：＂宗徒和长老弟兄们，给在安提约基雅、叙利亚和基里基雅由外邦归化的弟兄们请安。
24 Since we have heard that some of our number (who went out) without any mandate from us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind,
我们听说有几个从我们这里去的，而并非我们所派去的人，讲话扰乱你们，混乱了你们的心。
25 we have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
我们取得同意后，决定拣选几个人，派他们同我们可爱的巴尔纳伯和保禄，到你们那里去。
26 who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
此二人为了我们主耶稣基督的名，已付出了自己的性命。
27 So we are sending Judas and Silas who will also convey this same message by word of mouth:
我们派犹达和息拉去，他们要亲口报告同样的事。
28 ‘It is the decision of the holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,
因为圣神和我们决定，不再加给你们什么重担，除了这几项重要的事：
29 namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right. Farewell.'＂
即戒食祭邪神之物、血和窒死之物，并戒避奸淫；若你们戒绝了这一切，那就好了。祝你们安好！＂
30 And so they were sent on their journey. Upon their arrival in Antioch they called the assembly together and delivered the letter.
他们去后，就下到安提约基雅，聚集了众人，递上公函。
31 When the people read it, they were delighted with the exhortation.
人们读了，对这劝慰的话都十分欢喜。
32 Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, exhorted and strengthened the brothers with many words.
犹达和息拉，因为他们也是先知，就讲了许多话，劝勉坚固弟兄们。
33 After they had spent some time there, they were sent off with greetings of peace from the brothers to those who had commissioned them.
过了一些时候，弟兄们打发他们带着请安的话，回到派他们的人那里。
34 8 【但是息拉决意留在那里，只犹达一人回了耶路撒冷。】
35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming with many others the word of the Lord.
保禄和巴尔纳伯却留在安提约基雅施教，同别的许多人宣讲主的道理。
36 9 After some time, Paul said to Barnabas, ＂Come, let us make a return visit to see how the brothers are getting on in all the cities where we proclaimed the word of the Lord.＂
过了些日子，保禄向巴尔纳伯说：＂我们要回去，视察我们曾讲过主道的各城，看看弟兄怎么样了。＂
37 Barnabas wanted to take with them also John, who was called Mark,
巴尔纳伯愿意也带号称马尔谷的若望同去，
38 but Paul insisted that they should not take with them someone who had deserted them at Pamphylia and who had not continued with them in their work.
但保禄认为不应带他去，因为他从旁非里雅离开他们，没有同他们一起去工作。
39 So sharp was their disagreement that they separated. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus.
二人于是起了争执，以致彼此分离。巴尔纳伯遂带马尔谷，乘船往塞浦路斯去了。
40 But Paul chose Silas and departed after being commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
保禄却拣选了息拉，蒙弟兄们将他托于主的恩宠以后，
41 He traveled through Syria and Cilicia bringing strength to the churches.
也起身走了，他走遍了叙利亚和基里基雅，坚固各教会。
Footnotes(注解)
1 [1-35] The Jerusalem ＂Council＂ marks the official rejection of the rigid view that Gentile converts were obliged to observe the Mosaic law completely. From here to the end of Acts, Paul and the Gentile mission become the focus of Luke's writing.
2 [1-5] When some of the converted Pharisees of Jerusalem discover the results of the first missionary journey of Paul, they urge that the Gentiles be taught to follow the Mosaic law. Recognizing the authority of the Jerusalem church, Paul and Barnabas go there to settle the question of whether Gentiles can embrace a form of Christianity that does not include this obligation.
3 [6-12] The gathering is possibly the same as that recalled by Paul in Gal 2:1-10. Note that in Acts 15:2 it is only the apostles and presbyters, a small group, with whom Paul and Barnabas are to meet. Here Luke gives the meeting a public character because he wishes to emphasize its doctrinal significance (see Acts 15:22).
4 [7-11] Paul's refusal to impose the Mosaic law on the Gentile Christians is supported by Peter on the ground that within his own experience God bestowed the holy Spirit upon Cornelius and his household without preconditions concerning the adoption of the Mosaic law (see Acts 10:44-47).
5 [11] In support of Paul, Peter formulates the fundamental meaning of the gospel: that all are invited to be saved through faith in the power of Christ.
6 [13-35] Some scholars think that this apostolic decree suggested by James, the immediate leader of the Jerusalem community, derives from another historical occasion than the meeting in question. This seems to be the case if the meeting is the same as the one related in Gal 2:1-10. According to that account, nothing was imposed upon Gentile Christians in respect to Mosaic law; whereas the decree instructs Gentile Christians of mixed communities to abstain from meats sacrificed to idols and from blood-meats, and to avoid marriage within forbidden degrees of consanguinity and affinity (Lev 18), all of which practices were especially abhorrent to Jews. Luke seems to have telescoped two originally independent incidents here: the first a Jerusalem ＂Council＂ that dealt with the question of circumcision, and the second a Jerusalem decree dealing mainly with Gentile observance of dietary laws (see Acts 21:25 where Paul seems to be learning of the decree for the first time).
7 [14] Symeon: elsewhere in Acts he is called either Peter or Simon. The presence of the name Symeon here suggests that, in the source Luke is using for this part of the Jerusalem ＂Council＂ incident, the name may have originally referred to someone other than Peter (see Acts 13:1 where the Antiochene Symeon Niger is mentioned). As the text now stands, however, it is undoubtedly a reference to Simon Peter (Acts 15:7).
8 [34] Some manuscripts add, in various wordings, ＂But Silas decided to remain there.＂
9 [15:36-18:22] This continuous narrative recounts Paul's second missionary journey. On the internal evidence of the Lucan account, it lasted about three years. Paul first visited the communities he had established on his first journey (Acts 16:1-5), then pushed on into Macedonia, where he established communities at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Beroea (Acts 16:7-17:5). To escape the hostility of the Jews of Thessalonica, he left for Greece and while resident in Athens attempted, without success, to establish an effective Christian community there. From Athens he proceeded to Corinth and, after a stay of a year and a half, returned to Antioch by way of Ephesus and Jerusalem (Acts 17:16-18:22). Luke does not concern himself with the structure or statistics of the communities but aims to show the general progress of the gospel in the Gentile world as well as its continued failure to take root in the Jewish community.