1 ¶ Entonces algunos que venían de Judea enseñaban a los hermanos: Que si no os circuncidáis conforme al rito de Moisés, no podéis ser salvos.

Some men came down from the country of Judea and started to teach the Christians. They said, “Unless you go through the religious act of becoming a Jew as Moses taught, you cannot be saved from the punishment of sin.”

2 A sí que, suscitada una disensión y contienda no pequeña a Pablo y a Bernabé contra ellos, determinaron que subieran Pablo y Bernabé a Jerusalén, y algunos otros de ellos, a los apóstoles y a los ancianos, sobre esta cuestión.

Paul and Barnabas argued with them. Then Paul and Barnabas and some other men were chosen to go up to Jerusalem. They were to talk to the missionaries and church leaders about this teaching.

3 E llos, pues, habiendo sido acompañados de algunos de la Iglesia, pasaron por Fenicia y Samaria, contando la conversión de los gentiles; y daban gran gozo a todos los hermanos.

The church sent them on their way. They went through the countries of Phoenicia and Samaria and told how those who were not Jews were turning to God. This made the Christians very happy.

4 Y llegados a Jerusalén, fueron recibidos por la Iglesia y por los apóstoles y por los ancianos; y refirieron todas las cosas que Dios había hecho con ellos.

When they got to Jerusalem, the church and the missionaries and the church leaders were glad to see them. Paul and Barnabas told them what God had done through them.

5 M as algunos de la secta de los fariseos, que habían creído, se levantaron, diciendo: Que es necesario circuncidarlos, y mandarles que guarden la ley de Moisés.

Some of the Christians there had been proud religious law-keepers. They got up and said, “Doing the religious act of becoming a Jew and keeping the Law of Moses are two things that must be done.”

6 ¶ Y se juntaron los apóstoles y los ancianos para conocer de este negocio.

The missionaries and church leaders got together to talk about this.

7 Y después de grande contienda, levantándose Pedro, les dijo: Varones hermanos, vosotros sabéis cómo ya hace algún tiempo que Dios escogió que los gentiles oyeran por mi boca la Palabra del Evangelio, y creyeran.

After a long time of much talking, Peter got up and said to them, “Brothers, you know in the early days God was pleased to use me to preach the Good News to the people who are not Jews so they might put their trust in Christ.

8 Y Dios, que conoce los corazones, les dio testimonio, dándoles el Espíritu Santo también como a nosotros;

God knows the hearts of all men. He showed them they were to have His loving-favor by giving them the Holy Spirit the same as He gave to us.

9 y ninguna diferencia hizo entre nosotros y ellos, purificando con la fe sus corazones.

He has made no difference between them and us. They had their hearts made clean when they put their trust in Him also.

10 A hora pues, ¿por qué tentáis a Dios, poniendo sobre la cerviz de los discípulos yugo, que ni nuestros padres ni nosotros hemos podido llevar?

Why do you test God by putting too heavy a load on the back of the followers? It was too heavy for our fathers or for us to carry.

11 A ntes por la gracia del Señor Jesús, el Cristo, creemos que seremos salvos, como también ellos.

We believe it is by the loving-favor of the Lord Jesus that we are saved. They are saved from the punishment of sin the same way.”

12 E ntonces toda la multitud calló, y oyeron a Bernabé y a Pablo, que contaban cuán grandes maravillas y señales Dios había hecho por ellos entre los gentiles.

All those who were gathered together said nothing. They listened to Paul and Barnabas who told of the powerful works God had done through them among the people who are not Jews. God’s Call Is Also for the People Who Are Not Jews

13 Y después que ellos callaron, Jacobo respondió, diciendo: Varones hermanos, oídme:

When they finished speaking, James said, “Brothers, listen to me.

14 S imón ha contado cómo Dios primero visitó a los gentiles, para tomar de ellos pueblo para su Nombre;

Simon Peter has told how God first visited the people who are not Jews. He was getting a people for Himself.

15 y con esto concuerdan las palabras de los profetas, como está escrito:

This agrees with what the early preacher said,

16 D espués de esto volveré y restauraré el tabernáculo de David, que estaba caído; y repararé sus ruinas, y lo volveré a levantar;

’After this I will come back and build again the building of David that fell down. Yes, I will build it again from the stones that fell down. I will set it up again.

17 p ara que el resto de los hombres busque al Señor, y todos los gentiles, sobre los cuales es llamado mi nombre, dice el Señor, que hace todas estas cosas.

Then all the nations may look for the Lord, even all the people who are not Jews who are called by My name. The Lord said this. He does all these things.

18 C onocidas son a Dios desde el siglo todas sus obras.

God has made all His works known from the beginning of time.’ The People Who Are Not Jews Are Not Under the Law

19 P or lo cual yo juzgo, que los que de los gentiles se convierten a Dios, no han de ser inquietados;

“So we should not trouble these people who are not Jews who are turning to God.

20 s ino escribirles que se aparten de las contaminaciones de los ídolos, y de fornicación, y de lo ahogado, y de sangre.

We should write to them that they should keep away from everything that is given to gods. They should keep away from sex sins and not eat blood or meat from animals that have been killed in ways against the Law.

21 P orque Moisés desde los tiempos antiguos tiene en cada ciudad quien le predique en las sinagogas, donde es leído cada sábado.

For the Law of Moses has been read in every city from the early days. It has been read in the Jewish places of worship on every Day of Rest.”

22 ¶ Entonces pareció bien a los apóstoles y a los ancianos, con toda la Iglesia, enviar varones escogidos de entre ellos a Antioquía con Pablo y Bernabé; a Judas que tenía por sobrenombre Barsabás, y a Silas, varones principales entre los hermanos;

Then the missionaries and the church leaders and the whole church chose some men from among them. They were to be sent to the city of Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas Barsabbas and Silas. These men were leaders among the Christians.

23 y escribir por mano de ellos: Los apóstoles y los ancianos y los hermanos, a los hermanos de los gentiles que están en Antioquía, y en Siria, y en Cilicia, salud:

They sent them with this letter: “The missionaries and church leaders and Christians greet the brothers who are not Jews in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

24 P or cuanto hemos oído que algunos que han salido de nosotros, os han inquietado con palabras, trastornando vuestras almas, mandando circunci-daros y guardar la ley, a los cuales no mandamos;

We have heard that some from our group have troubled you and have put doubt in your minds. They said that you must go through the religious act of becoming a Jew and you must keep the Law of Moses. We did not tell them to say these things.

25 n os ha parecido, congregados en uno, enviar varones escogidos a vosotros con nuestros amados Bernabé y Pablo,

All of us have wanted to send men to you with our much-loved Paul and Barnabas.

26 h ombres que han expuesto sus vidas por el Nombre de nuestro Señor Jesús, el Cristo.

Their lives have been in danger for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

27 A sí que, enviamos a Judas y a Silas, los cuales también por palabra os harán saber lo mismo.

So now we send Judas and Silas to you. They will tell you the same things.

28 Q ue ha parecido bien al Espíritu Santo, y a nosotros, no imponeros ninguna carga más que estas cosas necesarias:

It pleased the Holy Spirit and us to ask you to do nothing more than these things that have to be done.

29 Q ue os abstengáis de cosas sacrificadas a ídolos, y de sangre, y de lo ahogado, y de fornicación; de las cuales cosas si os guardareis, bien haréis. Pasadlo bien.

You are to keep away from everything that is given to gods. Do not eat blood or meat from animals that have been killed in ways against the Law. Keep away from sex sins. If you keep yourselves free from these things you will do well. Good-by.” The Missionaries Go Back to Antioch

30 E llos entonces despedidos, descendieron a Antioquía; y juntando la multitud, dieron la carta.

When the meeting was finished, they went to Antioch. As soon as they gathered the people together, they gave them the letter.

31 L a cual, como leyeron, fueron gozosos de la consolación.

When they read it, they were glad for the comfort and strength it brought them.

32 J udas y Silas, como ellos también eran profetas, consolaron y confirmaron a los hermanos con abundancia de palabra.

Judas and Silas were preachers also. They preached to the Christians and helped them to become stronger in the faith.

33 Y pasando allí algún tiempo, fueron enviados de los hermanos a los apóstoles en paz.

They were there for some time. Then they were sent back in peace to the missionaries who had sent them.

34 M as a Silas pareció bien el quedarse allí.

But Silas thought he should stay there.

35 Y Pablo y Bernabé se estaban en Antioquía, enseñando la palabra del Señor y anunciando el Evangelio con otros muchos.

Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. With the help of many others, they preached and taught the Word of God. Paul Starts Out the Second Time

36 ¶ Y después de algunos días, Pablo dijo a Bernabé: Volvamos a visitar a los hermanos por todas las ciudades en las cuales hemos anunciado la palabra del Señor, para ver cómo están.

After awhile, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the Christians in every city where we have preached the Word of God. Let us see how they are doing.”

37 Y Bernabé quería que tomaran consigo a Juan, el que tenía por sobrenombre Marcos;

Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them.

38 m as a Pablo no le parecía bien llevar consigo al que se había apartado de ellos desde Panfilia, y no había ido con ellos a la obra.

Paul did not think it was good to take him because he had left them while they were in Pamphylia. He had not helped them in the work.

39 Y hubo tal contención entre ellos, que se apartaron el uno del otro; y Bernabé tomando a Marcos, navegó a Chipre.

They argued so much that they left each other. Barnabas took John Mark with him and went by ship to the island of Cyprus.

40 Y Pablo escogiendo a Silas, salió encomendado de los hermanos a la gracia del Señor.

Paul chose Silas. After the Christians asked for the Lord’s favor to be on Paul and Silas, they went on their way.

41 Y anduvo la Siria y la Cilicia, confirmando a las Iglesias.

They went through Syria and Cilicia making the churches stronger in the faith.