The council at Jerusalem
1Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: ‘Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.’ 2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3The church sent them on their way, and as they travelled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. 4When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
5Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, ‘The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.’
6The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: ‘Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles should hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? 11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.’
12The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. 13When they finished, James spoke up. ‘Brothers,’ he said, ‘listen to me. 14Simon15:14 Greek Simeon, a variant of Simon; that is, Peter has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. 15The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
16‘ “After this I will return
and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
and I will restore it,
17that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
even all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things”15:17 Amos 9:11,12 (see Septuagint) –
18things known from long ago.15:17,18 Some manuscripts things’ – / 18 the Lord’s work is known to him from long ago
19‘It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.’
The council’s letter to Gentile believers
22Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. 23With them they sent the following letter:
The apostles and elders, your brothers,
To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:
Greetings.
24We have heard that some went out from us without our authorisation and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul – 26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
Farewell.
30So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. 31The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. 32Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. 33After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them. 3415:34 Some manuscripts include here But Silas decided to remain there. 35But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.
Disagreement between Paul and Barnabas
36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.’ 37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. 41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Mũcemanio wa Kanitha Jerusalemu
115:1 Agal 2:12; Atũm 15:5; Agal 5:2Na rĩrĩ, andũ amwe magĩikũrũka kuuma Judea magĩthiĩ Antiokia, na nĩmarutaga ariũ a Ithe witũ makameera atĩrĩ: “Mũngĩaga kũrua kũringana na mũtugo ũrĩa warutanirwo nĩ Musa, mũtingĩhonoka.” 2Ũndũ ũyũ ũgĩtũma Paũlũ na Baranaba macookanĩrie na makararanie mũno nao. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Paũlũ na Baranaba makĩamũrwo, marĩ na etĩkia angĩ, maambate mathiĩ Jerusalemu makone atũmwo na athuuri nĩ ũndũ wa ũhoro ũcio. 315:3 Atũm 14:27Naguo kanitha ũkĩmoimagaria, na rĩrĩa maatuĩkanagĩria Foinike na Samaria, nĩmaheanaga ũhoro wa ũrĩa andũ-a-Ndũrĩrĩ maagarũrũkire kũrĩ Ngai. Ũhoro ũcio ũgĩkenia ariũ a Ithe witũ mũno. 415:4 Atũm 14:27Na maakinya Jerusalemu, makĩamũkĩrwo nĩ kanitha, na atũmwo, na athuuri, nao makĩmeera maũndũ mothe marĩa Ngai eekĩte agereire harĩo.
5Hĩndĩ ĩyo andũ amwe a arĩa meetĩkĩtie a thiritũ ya Afarisai makĩrũgama, makiuga atĩrĩ, “Andũ a Ndũrĩrĩ no nginya marue na maathwo atĩ marũmagie watho wa Musa.”
6Nao atũmwo na athuuri magĩcemania nĩgeetha maarĩrĩrie ũhoro ũcio. 7Thuutha wa mĩario mĩingĩ, Petero akĩrũgama, akĩmarĩria, akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Ariũ na aarĩ a Ithe witũ, nĩmũũĩ atĩ ihinda rĩhĩtũku, Ngai nĩathuurire kuuma gatagatĩ kanyu nĩguo andũ-a-Ndũrĩrĩ maigue ndũmĩrĩri ya Ũhoro-ũrĩa-Mwega kuuma kũrĩ niĩ na nĩguo metĩkie. 815:8 Atũm 10:44, 47Nake Ngai, ũrĩa ũũĩ ngoro, akĩonania atĩ nĩametĩkĩrĩte na ũndũ wa kũmahe Roho Mũtheru, o ta ũrĩa aatũhete. 9Ndeekĩrire ngũũrani gatagatĩ gaitũ nao, nĩgũkorwo maatheririe ngoro ciao na ũndũ wa wĩtĩkio. 1015:10 Math 23:4Hakĩrĩ ũguo-rĩ, nĩ kĩĩ kĩratũma mwende kũgeria Ngai na ũndũ wa gwĩkĩra arutwo icooki ngingo rĩrĩa ithuĩ o na kana maithe maitũ tũtarĩ twahota gũkuua? 1115:11 Arom 3:24; Aef 2:5-8Aca! Twĩtĩkĩtie atĩ tũhonokete nĩ ũndũ wa wega wa Mwathani witũ Jesũ, o ta ũrĩa o nao mahonokete.”
12Nakĩo kĩũngano gĩothe gĩgĩkira ki gĩgĩthikĩrĩria Baranaba na Paũlũ makĩheana ũhoro wa ciama na morirũ iria Ngai eekĩte kũrĩ andũ-a-Ndũrĩrĩ agereire harĩo. 1315:13 Atũm 12:17Rĩrĩa maarĩkirie kwaria, Jakubu akĩaria akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Ariũ na aarĩ a Ithe witũ, ta thikĩrĩriai. 14Simoni nĩatũtaarĩria ũrĩa Ngai oonanirie wendo wake hĩndĩ ya mbere na ũndũ wa gwĩthuurĩra andũ kuuma kũrĩ andũ-a-Ndũrĩrĩ nĩguo matuĩke aake. 15Nacio ciugo cia anabii ikaringana na ũhoro ũcio, o ta ũrĩa kwandĩkĩtwo atĩrĩ:
16“ ‘Thuutha wa ũguo nĩngacooka,
na njake rĩngĩ hema ya Daudi ĩrĩa ĩgwĩte.
Nĩngaka iganjo rĩayo rĩngĩ,
na ndĩmĩcookie harĩa yarĩ,
17nĩgeetha matigari marongoragie Mwathani,
o na andũ othe a Ndũrĩrĩ arĩa metanagio na rĩĩtwa rĩakwa,
ũguo nĩguo Mwathani ũrĩa wĩkaga maũndũ macio ekuuga’
18marĩa moĩkaine kuuma o tene.
19“Nĩ ũndũ ũcio-rĩ, niĩ ngũtua atĩrĩ, tũtige kũritũhĩria ũhoro andũ-a-Ndũrĩrĩ arĩa maragarũrũka kũrĩ Ngai. 2015:20 1Akor 10:14-28; Kĩam 9:4Handũ ha ũguo-rĩ, twagĩrĩirwo tũmaandĩkĩre marũa, tũmeere metheemage kuumana na irio iria ithaahĩtio nĩ mĩhianano, ningĩ metheemage kuumana na ũmaraya, na kuumana na nyama cia nyamũ cia gũitwo, o na kuumana na thakame. 21Nĩgũkorwo ũhoro wa Musa nĩwahunjagio matũũra-inĩ mothe o kuuma mahinda ma tene mũno, na nĩũthomagwo thunagogi-inĩ mĩthenya yothe ya Thabatũ.”
Marũa ma Kĩama kũrĩ Andũ-a-Ndũrĩrĩ arĩa Metĩkĩtie
2215:22 Atũm 11:30; 2Akor 1:19; 1Pet 5:12Hĩndĩ ĩyo atũmwo na athuuri, hamwe na kanitha wothe, magĩtua itua mathuure andũ amwe ao mamatũme Antiokia marĩ na Paũlũ na Baranaba. Magĩthuura Judasi (ũrĩa wetagwo Barasaba) na Sila, nao andũ aya eerĩ maarĩ atongoria thĩinĩ wa ariũ a Ithe witũ. 23Makĩmatũma na marũa maya:
Nĩ ithuĩ atũmwo na athuuri, o ithuĩ ariũ a Ithe wanyu,
Kũrĩ andũ-a-Ndũrĩrĩ arĩa metĩkĩtie kũu Antiokia, na Suriata, na Kilikia:
Amũkĩrai ngeithi.
24Nĩtũiguĩte atĩ andũ amwe nĩmooimire kũrĩ ithuĩ matarĩ na rũũtha rwitũ, na makĩmũthĩĩnia, na makĩnyariira meciiria manyu nĩ ũndũ wa maũndũ marĩa maaririe. 25Nĩ ũndũ ũcio, ithuothe nĩtũiguanĩire tũthuure andũ amwe tũmatũme kũrĩ inyuĩ marĩ na arata aitũ endwa, Baranaba na Paũlũ, 2615:26 Atũm 14:19andũ arĩa matwarĩrĩirie mĩoyo yao ũgwati-inĩ nĩ ũndũ wa rĩĩtwa rĩa Mwathani witũ Jesũ Kristũ. 27Nĩ ũndũ ũcio nĩtwatũma Judasi na Sila nĩgeetha makindĩre ũhoro ũyũ tũramwandĩkĩra na ciugo cia tũnua twao. 28Nĩkuonekete arĩ wega kũrĩ Roho Mũtheru o na kũrĩ ithuĩ twage kũmũkuuithia mũrigo ũkĩrĩte maũndũ maya: 2915:29 Atũm 15:20; Atũm 21:25Na rĩrĩ, mũtikarĩĩage irio iria irutĩirwo mĩhianano, na mũtikanyuuage thakame, na mũtikarĩĩage nyama cia nyamũ cia gũitwo, na mũtigane na ũmaraya. Mwetheema maũndũ macio-rĩ, nĩmũgwĩka wega.
Tigwoi ũhoro.
30Nao andũ acio makiugĩrwo ũhoro, na makĩharũrũka magĩthiĩ Antiokia, kũrĩa maacookanĩrĩirie kanitha hamwe, na makĩneana marũa macio. 31Rĩrĩa andũ maathomire marũa macio, magĩkena nĩ ũndũ wa ndũmĩrĩri ya kũmoomĩrĩria ĩrĩa yaandĩkĩtwo marũa-inĩ macio. 32Nao Judasi na Sila, arĩa o ene maarĩ anabii, makĩaria maũndũ maingĩ ma kũũmĩrĩria na kuongerera ariũ a Ithe witũ hinya. 3315:33 1Akor 16:11; 1Sam 1:17Thuutha wa gũikara kũu kwa ihinda-rĩ, makiugĩrwo ũhoro na irathimo cia thayũ nĩ ariũ na aarĩ a Ithe witũ, nĩguo macooke kũrĩ andũ arĩa maamatũmĩte. 34(Nowe Sila akĩona arĩ wega aikare kũu.) 35No Paũlũ na Baranaba magĩtigwo kũu Antiokia, kũrĩa o, na andũ angĩ aingĩ maarutanaga na makahunjia kiugo kĩa Mwathani.
Paũlũ na Baranaba Gũkararania
3615:36 Atũm 13:4, 13; 14:1, 6Thuutha wa mĩthenya ĩigana ũna, Paũlũ akĩĩra Baranaba atĩrĩ, “Reke tũcooke tũgaceerere ariũ na aarĩ a Ithe witũ matũũra-inĩ mothe marĩa tũhunjĩtie kiugo kĩa Mwathani, tũkamenye ũrĩa matariĩ.” 37Baranaba nĩeendaga kuoya Johana, ũrĩa wetagwo Mariko mathiĩ nake, 3815:38 Atũm 13:13no Paũlũ ndonaga arĩ wega mathiĩ nake, tondũ nĩamatiganĩirie rĩrĩa maarĩ Pamufilia na akĩaga gũthiĩ kũruta wĩra nao. 39Makĩgĩa na gũkararania kũnene o nginya makĩamũkana. Baranaba akĩoya Mariko, makĩhaica marikabu, magĩthiĩ Kuporo, 40no Paũlũ agĩthuura Sila, na maarĩkia kũhooerwo wega wa Mwathani nĩ ariũ na aarĩ a Ithe witũ, magĩthiĩ. 4115:41 Atũm 16:5Agĩtuĩkanĩria Suriata na Kilikia, agĩĩkagĩra makanitha hinya.
