| 宗徒大事錄 | Acts |
|---|
| 1有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。」 | 1Some persons who had come from Judea to Antioch were teaching the brothers in this way, "Unless you are circumcised according to the law 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。 | 2Because of this there was trouble, and Paul and Barnabas had fierce arguments with them. For Paul told the people to remain as they were when they became believers. Finally those who had come from Jerusalem suggested that Paul and Barnabas and some others go up to Jerusalem to discuss the matter with the apostles and elders. |
| 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。 | 3They were sent on their way by the Church. As they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria they reported how the non-Jews had turned to God, and there was great joy among all the brothers and sisters. |
| 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。 | 4On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the Church, the apostles and the elders, to whom they told 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。」 | 5Some believers, however, who belonged to the party of the Pharisees, stood up and said that non-Jewish men must be circumcised and instructed to keep the law of Moses. |
| 6宗徒和長老們就開會商討此事。 | 6So the apostles and elders met 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，叫外邦人聽福音的道理而信從。 | 7As the discussions became heated, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know what God did among us in the early days, so that non-Jews could hear the Good News from me 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； | 8God, who can read hearts, put himself on their side by giving the Holy Spirit to them 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。 | 9He made no distinction between us and them and cleansed their hearts through faith. |
| 10既然如此，現今你們為甚麼試探天主，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？ | 10So why do you want to put God to the test? Why do you lay on the disciples a burden that neither our ancestors nor we ourselves were able to carry? |
| 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。」 | 11We believe, indeed, that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as 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。 | 12The whole assembly kept silent as they listened to Paul and Barnabas tell of all the miraculous signs and wonders that God had done through them among the non-Jews. |
| 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！ | 13After they had finished, James spoke up, "Listen to me, brothers. |
| 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； | 14Symeon has just explained how God first showed his care by taking a people for himself from non-Jewish nations. |
| 15先知的話也正與此相合，如經上記載： | 15And the words of the prophets agree with this, for Scripture says, |
| 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， | 16After this I will return and rebuild the booth of David which has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins and set it up 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： | 17Then the rest of humanity will look for the Lord, and all the nations will be consecrated to my Name. So says the Lord, who does today |
| 18這是很久以前，公佈這事的主說的。』 | 18what he decided from the beginning. |
| 19因此，按我的意見，不要再加給由外邦歸依天主的人煩難， | 19Because of this, I think that we should not make difficulties for those non-Jews who are turning 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。 | 20Let us just tell them not to eat food that is unclean from having been offered to idols; to keep themselves from prohibited marriages; and not to eat the flesh of animals that have been strangled, or any 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。」 | 21For from the earliest times Moses has been taught in every place, and every sabbath his laws are recalled." |
| 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。 | 22Then the apostles and elders together with the whole Church decided to choose representatives from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. These were Judas, known as Barsabbas, and Silas, both 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。 | 23They took with them the following letter:
Greetings from the apostles and elders, your brothers, to the believers of non-Jewish birth in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. |
| 24我們聽說有幾個從我們這裡去的，而並非我們所派去的人，講話擾亂你們，混亂了你們的心。 | 24We have heard that some persons from among us have worried you with their discussions and troubled your peace of mind. They were not appointed by us. |
| 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，到你們那裡去。 | 25But now, it has seemed right to us in an assembly, to choose representatives and to send them to you, 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。 | 26who have dedicated their lives to the service 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。 | 27We send you then Judas and Silas who themselves will give you these instructions by word of mouth. |
| 28因為聖神和我們決定，不再加給你們甚麼重擔，除了這幾項重要的事： | 28We, with the Holy Spirit, have decided not to put any other burden on you except what is necessary: |
| 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！」 | 29You are to abstain from blood from the meat of strangled animals and from prohibited marriages. If you keep yourselves from these, 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。 | 30After saying good-bye, the messengers went to Antioch, where they assembled the community and handed them the letter. |
| 31人們讀了，對這勸慰的話都十分歡喜。 | 31When they read the news, all were delighted with the encouragement it gave them. |
| 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。 | 32Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, spoke at length to encourage and strengthen them. |
| 33過了一些時候，弟兄們打發他們帶著請安的話，回到派他們的人那裡。 | 33After they had spent some time there, the messengers were sent off in peace by the believers; |
| 34【但是息拉決意留在那裡，只猶達一人回了耶路撒冷。】 | 34Silas, however, preferred to stay with them and only Judas went off. |
| 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。 | 35So Paul and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching with many others the word of God. |
| 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。」 | 36After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the believers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are getting on." |
| 37巴爾納伯願意也帶號稱馬爾谷的若望同去， | 37Barnabas wanted to take with them John also 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。 | 38but Paul did not think it right to take him since he had not stayed with them to the end of their mission, but had turned back and left them in Pamphylia. |
| 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。 | 39Such a sharp disagreement resulted that the two finally separated. Barnabas took Mark along with him and sailed for Cyprus. |
| 40保祿卻揀選了息拉，蒙弟兄們將他託於主的恩寵以後， | 40Paul, for his part, chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers and sisters to the grace of the Lord. |
| 41也起身走了，他走遍了敘利亞和基里基雅，堅固各教會。 | 41He traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there. |
