1 S ome 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.”

Algunos que llegaron de Judea enseñaban a los hermanos: “Si no se circuncidan conforme al rito de Moisés, no pueden ser salvos.”

2 P aul 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.

Como Pablo y Bernabé tuvieran gran disensión y debate con ellos, los hermanos determinaron que Pablo y Bernabé, y algunos otros de ellos subieran a Jerusalén a los apóstoles y a los ancianos para tratar esta cuestión.

3 T he 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.

Así que, siendo enviados por la iglesia, pasaron por Fenicia y Samaria, relatando detalladamente la conversión de los Gentiles, y causaban gran gozo a todos los hermanos.

4 W hen 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.

Cuando llegaron a Jerusalén, fueron recibidos por la iglesia, los apóstoles y los ancianos, e informaron de todo lo que Dios había hecho con ellos.

5 S ome 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.”

Pero algunos de la secta de los Fariseos que habían creído, se levantaron diciendo: “Es necesario circuncidarlos y mandarles que guarden la Ley de Moisés.” El Concilio de Jerusalén

6 T he missionaries and church leaders got together to talk about this.

Entonces los apóstoles y los ancianos se reunieron para considerar este asunto.

7 A fter 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.

Después de mucho debate, Pedro se levantó y les dijo: “Hermanos, ustedes saben que en los primeros días Dios escogió de entre ustedes que por mi boca los Gentiles oyeran la palabra del evangelio y creyeran.

8 G od 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.

Dios, que conoce el corazón, les dio testimonio dándoles el Espíritu Santo, al igual que a nosotros;

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

y ninguna distinción hizo entre nosotros y ellos, purificando por la fe sus corazones.

10 W hy 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.

“Ahora pues, ¿por qué tientan a Dios poniendo sobre el cuello de los discípulos un yugo que ni nuestros padres (antepasados) ni nosotros hemos podido llevar ?

11 W e 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.”

Creemos más bien que somos salvos por la gracia del Señor Jesús, de la misma manera que ellos también lo son.”

12 A ll 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

Toda la multitud hizo silencio, y escuchaban a Bernabé y a Pablo, que relataban las señales (los milagros) y prodigios que Dios había hecho entre los Gentiles por medio de ellos.

13 W hen they finished speaking, James said, “Brothers, listen to me.

Cuando terminaron de hablar, Jacobo (Santiago, hermano de Jesús) tomó la palabra y dijo: “Escúchenme, hermanos.

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

Simón ha relatado cómo Dios al principio tuvo a bien tomar de entre los Gentiles un pueblo para Su nombre.

15 T his agrees with what the early preacher said,

Y con esto concuerdan las palabras de los profetas, tal como está escrito:

16 ’ 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.

‘ Despues de esto volvere, y reedificare el tabernaculo de David que ha caido. Y reedificare sus ruinas, y lo levantare de nuevo,

17 T hen 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.

para que el resto de los hombres busque al Señor, y todos los Gentiles (todas las naciones) que son llamados por Mi nombre,’

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

dice el Señor, que hace saber todo esto desde tiempos antiguos.

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

“Por tanto, yo opino que no debemos molestar a los que de entre los Gentiles se convierten a Dios,

20 W e 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.

sino que les escribamos que se abstengan de cosas contaminadas por los ídolos, de fornicación, de lo estrangulado y de sangre.

21 F or 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.”

Porque Moisés desde generaciones antiguas tiene en cada ciudad quienes lo prediquen, pues todos los días de reposo es leído en las sinagogas.” La Carta del Concilio a los Gentiles

22 T hen 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.

Entonces pareció bien a los apóstoles y a los ancianos, con toda la iglesia, escoger de entre ellos algunos hombres para enviarlos a Antioquía con Pablo y Bernabé: a Judas, llamado Barsabás, y a Silas, hombres prominentes entre los hermanos,

23 T hey 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.

y enviaron esta carta con ellos: “Los apóstoles, y los hermanos que son ancianos (presbíteros), a los hermanos en Antioquía, Siria y Cilicia que son de los Gentiles, saludos.

24 W e 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.

Puesto que hemos oído que algunos de entre nosotros, a quienes no autorizamos, los han inquietado con sus palabras, perturbando sus almas,

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

nos pareció bien, habiendo llegado a un común acuerdo, escoger algunos hombres para enviarlos a ustedes con nuestros amados Bernabé y Pablo.

26 T heir lives have been in danger for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Estos hombres han arriesgado (entregado) su vida por el nombre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo.

27 S o now we send Judas and Silas to you. They will tell you the same things.

Por tanto, hemos enviado a Judas y a Silas, quienes también les informarán las mismas cosas verbalmente.

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

Porque pareció bien al Espíritu Santo y a nosotros no imponerles mayor carga que estas cosas esenciales:

29 Y ou 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

que se abstengan de lo que ha sido sacrificado a los ídolos, de sangre, de la carne de animales que han sido estrangulados y de fornicación. Si se guardan de tales cosas, harán bien. Pásenla bien.” Judas y Silas en Antioquía

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

Así que ellos, después de ser despedidos, descendieron a Antioquía; y reuniendo a la congregación, entregaron la carta.

31 W hen they read it, they were glad for the comfort and strength it brought them.

Cuando los hermanos la leyeron, se regocijaron por el consuelo que les impartía.

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

Siendo Judas y Silas también profetas, exhortaron y confortaron a los hermanos con un largo mensaje.

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

Después de pasar allí algún tiempo, fueron despedidos en paz por los hermanos para volver a aquéllos que los habían enviado.

34 B ut Silas thought he should stay there.

Pero a Silas le pareció bien quedarse allí.

35 P aul 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

También Pablo y Bernabé se quedaron en Antioquía, enseñando y proclamando con muchos otros, las buenas nuevas de la palabra del Señor. Pablo y Bernabé se Separan

36 A fter 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.”

Después de algunos días Pablo dijo a Bernabé: “Volvamos y visitemos a los hermanos en todas las ciudades donde hemos proclamado la palabra del Señor, para ver cómo están.”

37 B arnabas wanted to take John Mark with them.

Bernabé quería llevar también con ellos a Juan, llamado Marcos,

38 P aul 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.

pero Pablo consideraba que no debían llevar consigo a quien los había desertado en Panfilia y no los había acompañado en la obra.

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

Se produjo un desacuerdo tan grande que se separaron el uno del otro. Bernabé tomó consigo a Marcos y se embarcó rumbo a Chipre,

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

pero Pablo escogió a Silas y partió, siendo encomendado por los hermanos a la gracia del Señor.

41 T hey went through Syria and Cilicia making the churches stronger in the faith.

Y viajaba por Siria y Cilicia confirmando a las iglesias.