1And certain men which came down from Judæa taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 3And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 4And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. 5But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6¶ And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 7And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
12¶ Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
13¶ And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. 18Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 19Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. 22Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: 24Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 25It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 28For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. 30So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: 31Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation. 32And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. 33And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. 34Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. 35Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36¶ And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 37And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 40And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. 41And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
Baraza La Yerusalemu
115:1 Gal 2:12; 5:2, 3; Mdo 6:14Baadhi ya watu wakashuka Antiokia kutoka Uyahudi, nao wakawa wanawafundisha wandugu: “Msipotahiriwa kufuatana na desturi aliyofundisha Mose, hamwezi kuokoka.” 215:2 Gal 2:2; Mdo 11:30Baada ya Paulo na Barnaba kutokubaliana nao kukawa na mabishano makali, Paulo na Barnaba na baadhi ya wengine miongoni mwao wakachaguliwa kwenda Yerusalemu ili kujadiliana jambo hili na mitume na wazee. 315:3 Mdo 14:27Hivyo wakasafirishwa na kanisa, wakiwa njiani wakapitia nchi ya Foinike na Samaria, wakawaeleza jinsi watu wa Mataifa walivyookoka. Habari hizi zikaleta furaha kubwa kwa ndugu wote. 415:4 Mdo 21:19Walipofika Yerusalemu, walipokelewa na kanisa na mitume pamoja na wazee, ndipo Paulo na Barnaba wakawaarifu kila kitu Mungu alichokuwa amefanya kupitia kwao.
515:5 Mdo 5:17; Mt 3:7; Mdo 15:1Ndipo baadhi ya walioamini wa madhehebu ya Mafarisayo wakasimama na kusema, “Hao watu wa Mataifa lazima watahiriwe na waagizwe kutii sheria ya Mose.”
6Mitume na wazee wakakutana pamoja ili kufikiri jambo hili. 715:7 Mdo 10:20; 11:12; 10:1-48Baada ya majadiliano mengi, Petro akasimama na kusema, “Ndugu zangu, mnajua kwamba siku za kwanza Mungu alinichagua ili kwa midomo yangu watu wa Mataifa wapate kusikia ujumbe wa Injili na kuamini. 815:8 Mdo 1:24; Ufu 2:23; Mdo 10:44, 47Mungu, yeye ajuaye mioyo, alionyesha kwamba anawakubali kwa kuwapa Roho Mtakatifu kama vile alivyotupa sisi. 915:9 Mdo 10:28, 34; 11:12; 10:43Mungu hakutofautisha kati yetu na wao, bali alitakasa mioyo yao kwa imani. 1015:10 Mt 23:4; Gal 5:1Sasa basi, mbona mnataka kumjaribu Mungu kwa kuweka kongwa shingoni mwa wanafunzi ambalo baba zetu wala sisi hatukuweza kulibeba? 1115:11 Gal 2:16; Efe 2:5-8Lakini sisi tunaamini ya kuwa tunaokolewa kwa neema ya Bwana Yesu Kristo, kama wao wanavyookolewa.”
1215:12 Yn 4:48; Mdo 14:27; 21:19Kusanyiko lote likakaa kimya, wakawasikiliza Paulo na Barnaba wakieleza jinsi Mungu alivyowatumia kutenda ishara na maajabu kwa watu wa Mataifa. 1315:13 1Kor 15:7; Gal 1:19Walipomaliza kunena, Yakobo akasema, “Ndugu zangu, nisikilizeni. 1415:14 2Pet 1:1; Mdo 15:7; Lk 1:68Simoni amekwisha kutueleza jinsi Mungu, kwa mara ya kwanza alivyoonyesha kuhusika kwa kujichagulia watu kutoka watu wa Mataifa kwa ajili ya Jina lake. 1515:15 Amo 9:11-12Maneno ya manabii yanakubaliana na jambo hili, kama ilivyoandikwa:
1615:16 Amo 9:11-12“ ‘Baada ya mambo haya nitarudi,
nami nitajenga upya
nyumba ya Daudi iliyoanguka.
Nitajenga tena magofu yake
na kuisimamisha,
1715:17 Amo 9:11, 12ili wanadamu wengine wote
wapate kumtafuta Bwana,
hata wale watu wa Mataifa wote
ambao wanaitwa kwa Jina langu,
asema Bwana, afanyaye mambo haya’
1815:18 Isa 45:21ambayo yamejulikana tangu zamani.
1915:19 Mdo 15:28; 1The 1:9“Kwa hivyo uamuzi wangu ni kwamba, tusiwataabishe watu wa Mataifa wanaomgeukia Mungu. 2015:20 1Kor 8:7-13; Ufu 2:14, 20; 1Kor 10:7-8; Ufu 2:14; 20; Mwa 9:4; Law 7:26Badala yake, tuwaandikie kwamba wajiepushe na vyakula vilivyonajisiwa kwa kutolewa sanamu, wajiepushe na uasherati, au kula mnyama aliyenyongwa, na damu. 2115:21 Mdo 13:15; 2Kor 3:14-15Kwa maana katika kila mji kwa vizazi vilivyopita, Mose amekuwa na wale wanaotangaza sheria yake kwa kuwa imekuwa ikisomwa kwa sauti kubwa katika masinagogi kila Sabato.”
Barua Kwa Waumini Wa Mataifa
2215:22 Mdo 11:30; 16:19, 25, 26; 2Kor 1:19; 1The 1:1; 1Pet 5:12Mitume na wazee pamoja na kanisa lote, wakaamua kuwachagua baadhi ya watu wao na kuwatuma Antiokia pamoja na Paulo na Barnaba. Wakamchagua Yuda aitwaye Barsaba pamoja na Sila, watu wawili waliokuwa viongozi miongoni mwa ndugu. 2315:23 Mdo 20:23Wakatumwa na barua ifuatayo:
Sisi mitume na wazee, ndugu zenu,
Kwa ndugu Mataifa mlioamini mlioko Antiokia, Shamu na Kilikia:
Salamu.
2415:24 Mdo 15:1; Gal 1:7; 5:10Tumesikia kwamba kuna baadhi ya watu waliokuja huko kutoka kwetu bila ruhusa yetu na kuwasumbua, wakiyataabisha mawazo yenu. 25Hivyo tumekubaliana wote kuwachagua baadhi ya watu na kuwatuma kwenu pamoja na wapendwa wetu Barnaba na Paulo, 2615:26 Mdo 11:19; 11:23; 15:40; 13:13watu ambao wamehatarisha maisha yao kwa ajili ya jina la Bwana wetu Yesu Kristo. 2715:27 Mdo 15:22Kwa hiyo tunawatuma Yuda na Sila, kuthibitisha kwa maneno ya mdomo mambo haya tunayowaandikia. 2815:28 Mdo 5:32Kwa maana imempendeza Roho Mtakatifu na sisi tusiwatwike mzigo wowote mkubwa zaidi ya mambo haya yafuatayo ambayo ni ya lazima: 2915:29 Mdo 21:25Kwamba mjiepushe na vyakula vilivyotolewa sadaka kwa sanamu, na damu, au kula nyama ya mnyama aliyenyongwa, na mjiepushe na uasherati. Mkiyaepuka mambo haya, mtakuwa mmefanya vyema.
Kwaherini.
30Hivyo wakaagwa, wakashuka kwenda Antiokia. Baada ya kulikusanya kanisa pamoja, wakawapa ile barua. 31Nao hao watu wakiisha kuisoma, wakafurahishwa sana kwa ujumbe wake wa kutia moyo. 3215:32 Mdo 14:22; 18:23Yuda na Sila, ambao wenyewe walikuwa manabii, wakanena maneno mengi ya kuwatia moyo na kuwajenga katika imani wale ndugu walioamini. 3315:33 1Sam 1:17; Lk 7:50Baada ya kukaa huko Antiokia kwa muda, wakaagwa kwa amani na wale ndugu ili waende kwa wale waliowatuma. [ 3415:34 Mdo 4:36; 13:40Lakini Sila bado akaendelea kukaa huko.] 3515:35 Mdo 8:4Lakini Paulo na Barnaba walibaki Antiokia ambako wao pamoja na wengine wengi walifundisha na kuhubiri neno la Bwana.
Safari Ya Pili Ya Paulo Kueneza Injili
(15:36–18:22)
Paulo Na Barnaba Wagawanyika
3615:36 Mdo 13:4, 13, 14, 51; 14:1, 6, 24; 25Baada ya muda, Paulo akamwambia Barnaba, “Turudi tukawatembelee ndugu katika miji yote tuliyohubiri neno la Bwana tuone jinsi wanavyoendelea.” 3715:37 Mdo 12:12Barnaba alitaka wamchukue Yohana aitwaye Marko waende naye. 3815:38 Mdo 13:13Lakini Paulo aliona si vyema kwa sababu aliwahi kuwaacha walipokuwa huko Pamfilia, hakutaka kuendelea kufanya kazi naye. 39Pakatokea ubishi mkali kati ya Paulo na Barnaba kuhusu jambo hili, hivyo wakagawanyika. Barnaba akamchukua Yohana Marko wakasafiri baharini kwenda Kipro. 4015:40 Mdo 11:23; 15:41; Lk 2:2; Mdo 6:9; 16:5Lakini Paulo akamchagua Sila na akaondoka baada ya ndugu kuwatakia neema ya Bwana. 41Akapitia Shamu na Kilikia, akiimarisha makanisa ya huko.
