Et quidam descendentes de Judæa docebant fratres: Quia nisi circumcidamini secundum morem Moysi, non potestis salvari.

And some coming down from Judea, taught the brethren: That except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved.

But now some visitors came down from Judaea, who began to tell the brethren, You cannot be saved without being circumcised according to the tradition of Moses.

Facta ergo seditione non minima Paulo et Barnabæ adversus illos, statuerunt ut ascenderent Paulus et Barnabas, et quidam alii ex aliis ad Apostolos et presbyteros in Jerusalem super hac quæstione.

And when Paul and Barnabas had no small contest with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of the other side, should go up to the apostles and priests to Jerusalem about this question.

Paul and Barnabas were drawn into a great controversy with them; and it was decided that Paul and Barnabas and certain of the rest should go up to see the apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem about this question.

Illi ergo deducti ab ecclesia pertransibant Phœnicen et Samariam, narrantes conversionem gentium: et faciebant gaudium magnum omnibus fratribus.

They therefore being brought on their way by the church, passed through Phenice, and Samaria, relating the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.

So the church saw them on their way, and they passed through Phoenice and Samaria, relating how the Gentiles were turning to God, and so brought great rejoicing to all the brethren.

Cum autem venissent Jerosolymam, suscepti sunt ab ecclesia, et ab Apostolis et senioribus, annuntiantes quanta Deus fecisset cum illis.

And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church, and by the apostles and ancients, declaring how great things God had done with them.

When they reached Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, and by the apostles and presbyters; and they told them of all that God had done to aid them.

Surrexerunt autem quidam de hæresi pharisæorum, qui crediderunt, dicentes quia oportet circumcidi eos, præcipere quoque servare legem Moysi.

But there arose some of the sect of the Pharisees that believed, saying: They must be circumcised, and be commanded to observe the law of Moses.

But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees came forward and declared, They must be circumcised; we must call upon them to keep the law of Moses.

Conveneruntque Apostoli et seniores videre de verbo hoc.

And the apostles and ancients assembled to consider of this matter.

When the apostles and presbyters assembled to decide about this matter

Cum autem magna conquisitio fieret, surgens Petrus dixit ad eos: Viri fratres, vos scitis quoniam ab antiquis diebus Deus in nobis elegit, per os meum audire gentes verbum Evangelii et credere.

And when there had been much disputing, Peter, rising up, said to them: Men, brethren, you know, that in former days God made choice among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

there was much disputing over it, until Peter rose and said to them, Brethren, you know well enough how from early days it has been God’s choice that the Gentiles should hear the message of the gospel from my lips, and so learn to believe.

Et qui novit corda Deus, testimonium perhibuit, dans illis Spiritum Sanctum, sicut et nobis,

And God, who knoweth the hearts, gave testimony, giving unto them the Holy Ghost, as well as to us;

God, who can read men’s hearts, has assured them of his favour by giving the Holy Spirit to them as to us.

et nihil discrevit inter nos et illos, fide purificans corda eorum.

And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

He would not make any difference between us and them; he had removed all the uncleanness from their hearts when he gave them faith.

Nunc ergo quid tentatis Deum, imponere jugum super cervices discipulorum quod neque patres nostri, neque nos portare potuimus?

Now therefore, why tempt you God to put a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

How is it, then, that you would now call God in question, by putting a yoke on the necks of the disciples, such as we and our fathers have been too weak to bear?

sed per gratiam Domini Jesu Christi credimus salvari, quemadmodum et illi.

But by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe to be saved, in like manner as they also.

It is by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that we hope to be saved, and they no less.

Tacuit autem omnis multitudo: et audiebant Barnabam et Paulum narrantes quanta Deus fecisset signa et prodigia in gentibus per eos.

And all the multitude held their peace; and they heard Barnabas and Paul telling what great signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

Then the whole company kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul describing all the signs and wonders God had performed among the Gentiles by their means.

Et postquam tacuerunt, respondit Jacobus, dicens: Viri fratres, audite me.

And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying: Men, brethren, hear me.

And when they had finished speaking, James answered thus, Listen, brethren, to what I have to say.

Simon narravit quemadmodum primum Deus visitavit sumere ex gentibus populum nomini suo.

Simon hath related how God first visited to take of to the Gentiles a people to his name.

Simon has told us, how for the first time God has looked with favour on the Gentiles, and chosen from among them a people dedicated to his name.

Et huic concordant verba prophetarum: sicut scriptum est:

And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written:

This is in agreement with the words of the prophets, where it is written:

Post hæc revertar, et reædificabo tabernaculum David quod decidit: et diruta ejus reædificabo, et erigam illud:

After these things I will return, and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and the ruins thereof I will rebuild, and I will set it up:

Afterwards, I will come back, and build up again David’s tabernacle that has fallen; I will build up its ruins, and raise it afresh;

ut requirant ceteri hominum Dominum, et omnes gentes super quas invocatum est nomen meum, dicit Dominus faciens hæc.

That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all nations upon whom my name is invoked, saith the Lord, who doth these things.

so that all the rest of mankind may find the Lord, all those Gentiles among whom my name is named, says the Lord, who is the doer of all this.

Notum a sæculo est Domino opus suum.

To the Lord was his own work known from the beginning of the world.

God has known from all eternity what he does to-day.

Propter quod ego judico non inquietari eos qui ex gentibus convertuntur ad Deum,

For which cause I judge that they, who from among the Gentiles are converted to God, are not to be disquieted.

And so I give my voice for sparing the consciences of those Gentiles who have found their way to God;

sed scribere ad eos ut abstineant se a contaminationibus simulacrorum, et fornicatione, et suffocatis, et sanguine.

But that we write unto them, that they refrain themselves from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

only writing to bid them abstain from what is contaminated by idolatry, from fornication, and from meat which has been strangled or has the blood in it.

Moyses enim a temporibus antiquis habet in singulis civitatibus qui eum prædicent in synagogis, ubi per omne sabbatum legitur.

For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him in the synagogues, where he is read every sabbath.

As for Moses, ever since the earliest times he has been read, sabbath after sabbath, in the synagogues, and has preachers in every city to expound him.

Tunc placuit Apostolis et senioribus cum omni ecclesia eligere viros ex eis, et mittere Antiochiam cum Paulo et Barnaba: Judam, qui cognominabatur Barsabas, et Silam, viros primos in fratribus:

Then it pleased the apostles and ancients, with the whole church, to choose men of their own company, and to send to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas, who was surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren.

Thereupon it was resolved by the apostles and presbyters, with the agreement of the whole church, to choose out some of their own number and despatch them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas who was called Barsabas, and Silas, who were leading men among the brethren.

scribentes per manus eorum: Apostoli et seniores fratres, his qui sunt Antiochiæ, et Syriæ, et Ciliciæ, fratribus ex gentibus, salutem.

Writing by their hands: The apostles and ancients, brethren, to the brethren of the Gentiles that are at Antioch, and in Syria and Cilicia, greeting.

And they sent, by their hands, this message in writing; To the Gentile brethren in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia, their brethren the apostles and presbyters send greeting.

Quoniam audivimus quia quidam ex nobis exeuntes, turbaverunt vos verbis, evertentes animas vestras, quibus non mandavimus,

Forasmuch as we have heard, that some going out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment:

We hear that some of our number who visited you have disquieted you by what they said, unsettling your consciences, although we had given them no such commission;

placuit nobis collectis in unum eligere viros, et mittere ad vos cum carissimis nostris Barnaba et Paulo,

It hath seemed good to us, being assembled together, to choose out men, and to send them unto you, with our well beloved Barnabas and Paul:

and therefore, meeting together with common purpose of heart, we have resolved to send you chosen messengers, in company with our well-beloved Barnabas and Paul,

hominibus qui tradiderunt animas suas pro nomine Domini nostri Jesu Christi.

Men that have given their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

men who have staked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Misimus ergo Judam et Silam, qui et ipsi vobis verbis referent eadem.

We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also will, by word of mouth, tell you the same things.

We have given this commission to Judas and Silas, who will confirm the message by word of mouth.

Visum est enim Spiritui Sancto et nobis nihil ultra imponere vobis oneris quam hæc necessaria:

For it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay no further burden upon you than these necessary things:

It is the Holy Spirit’s pleasure and ours that no burden should be laid upon you beyond these, which cannot be avoided;

ut abstineatis vos ab immolatis simulacrorum, et sanguine, et suffocato, et fornicatione: a quibus custodientes vos, bene agetis. Valete.

That you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which things keeping yourselves, you shall do well. Fare ye well.

you are to abstain from what is sacrificed to idols, from blood-meat and meat which has been strangled, and from fornication. If you keep away from such things, you will have done your part. Farewell.

Illi ergo dimissi, descenderunt Antiochiam: et congregata multitudine tradiderunt epistolam.

They therefore being dismissed, went down to Antioch; and gathering together the multitude, delivered the epistle.

So they took their leave and went down to Antioch, where they called the multitude together and delivered the letter to them;

Quam cum legissent, gavisi sunt super consolatione.

Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

and they, upon reading it, were rejoiced at this encouragement.

Judas autem et Silas, et ipsi cum essent prophetæ, verbo plurimo consolati sunt fratres, et confirmaverunt.

But Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, with many words comforted the brethren, and confirmed them.

Judas and Silas, for they were prophets too, said much to encourage the brethren and establish their faith;

Facto autem ibi aliquanto tempore, dimissi sunt cum pace a fratribus ad eos qui miserant illos.

And after they had spent some time there, they were let go with peace by the brethren, unto them that had sent them.

they stayed there for some time before the brethren let them go home, in peace, to those who had sent them.

Visum est autem Silæ ibi remanere: Judas autem solus abiit Jerusalem.

But it seemed good unto Silas to remain there; and Judas alone departed to Jerusalem.

But Silas had a mind to remain there; so Judas went back alone to Jerusalem.

Paulus autem et Barnabas demorabantur Antiochiæ, docentes et evangelizantes cum aliis pluribus verbum Domini.

And Paul and Barnabas continued at Antioch, teaching and preaching, with many others, the word of the Lord.

Paul and Barnabas waited at Antioch, teaching and preaching God’s word, with many others to help them;

Post aliquot autem dies, dixit ad Barnabam Paulus: Revertentes visitemus fratres per universas civitates in quibus prædicavimus verbum Domini, quomodo se habeant.

And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas: Let us return and visit our brethren in all the cities wherein we have preached the word of the Lord, to see how they do.

and then, after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, Let us go back and visit the brethren in all the cities where we have preached the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.

Barnabas autem volebat secum assumere et Joannem, qui cognominabatur Marcus.

And Barnabas would have taken with them John also, that was surnamed Mark;

And Barnabas was for taking John, also called Mark, with them.

Paulus autem rogabat eum (ut qui discessisset ab eis de Pamphylia, et non isset cum eis in opus) non debere recipi.

But Paul desired that he (as having departed from them out of Pamphylia, and not gone with them to the work) might not be received.

But Paul said, here was a man who left them when they reached Pamphylia, and took no part with them in the work; it was not right to admit such a man to their company.

Facta est autem dissensio, ita ut discederent ab invicem, et Barnabas quidem, assumpto Marco, navigaret Cyprum.

And there arose a dissension, so that they departed one from another; and Barnabas indeed taking Mark, sailed to Cyprus.

So sharp was their disagreement, that they separated from each other; Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed off to Cyprus,

Paulus vero, electo Sila, profectus est, traditus gratiæ Dei a fratribus.

But Paul choosing Silas, departed, being delivered by the brethren to the grace of God.

while Paul chose Silas for his companion and went on his journey, commended by the brethren to the Lord’s grace.

Perambulabat autem Syriam et Ciliciam, confirmans ecclesias: præcipiens custodire præcepta Apostolorum et seniorum.

And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches, commanding them to keep the precepts of the apostles and the ancients.

And he travelled all through Syria and Cilicia, establishing the churches in the faith, and bidding them observe the commands which the apostles and presbyters had given.