Acts

« Chapter 15 »

Some Yahud came to Antioch from Yahudia. They began teaching the brothers, "You do not have a portion in salvation unless you are circumcised according to the sunnah of Musa."

وَأَتَى بَعْضُ الْيَهُودِ إِلَى أَنْطَاكِيَةَ قَادِمِينَ مِنْ مُحَافَظَةِ الْقُدْسِ، وَشَرَعُوا يُعَلِّمُونَ الْإِخْوَةَ قَائِلِينَ: «بِدُونِ الْخِتَانِ حَسَبَ سُنَّةِ مُوسَى، لَا نَصِيبَ لَكُمْ فِي النَّجَاةِ.»

There was a strong disagreement and argument between them and Paul and Ibn Naba. So it was decided to appoint those two along with other people to go to Al-Quds to argue the matter with the hawariyun and sheikhs there.

فَأُثِيرَ خِلَافٌ وَجِدَالٌ شَدِيدٌ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ بَاوُلَ وَابْنِ نَابَا. ثُمَّ تَمَّ الْقَرَارُ عَلَى تَعْيِينِهِمَا مَعَ آخَرِينَ لِلذَّهَابِ إِلَى الْقُدْسِ بِقَصْدِ بَحْثِ الْمَسْأَلَةِ مَعَ الْحَوَارِيِّينَ وَالشُّيُوخِ هُنَاكَ،

So the jama'a sent them off and they went to Yahudia, passing by Phoenicia and Samaria. There they told the believers about other nations who had turned to Allah. So the brothers rejoiced greatly.

فَوَدَّعَتْهُمُ الْجَمَاعَةُ وَانْطَلَقُوا إِلَى مُحَافَظَةِ الْقُدْسِ مُرُورًا بِفِينِيقِيَةَ وَالسَّامِرَةِ، حَيْثُ أَخْبَرُوا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِيهَا عَنِ اهْتِدَاءِ غَيْرِ الْيَهُودِ وَتَوْبَتِهِمْ، فَفَرِحَ الْإِخْوَةُ فَرَحًا جَمًّا،

When they arrived in Al-Quds, the jama'a, the hawariyun, and the sheikhs welcomed them. So they told them about the ayat which Allah had done by their hands.

وَعِنْدَ وُصُولِهِمْ إِلَى الْقُدْسِ اسْتَقْبَلَتْهُمُ الْجَمَاعَةُ وَالْحَوَارِيُّونَ وَالشُّيُوخُ، فَرَوَيَا لَهُمْ كُلَّ الْآيَاتِ الَّتِي أَتَى اللهُ بِهَا عَلَى أَيْدِيهِمَا،

But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees said, "They must be circumcised and obey the Tawrat of Musa."

وَلَكِنَّ بَعْضَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْمُنْتَمِينَ إِلَى حِزْبِ الْمُتَشَدِّدِينَ قَالُوا: «يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِمِ الْخِتَانُ وَالِالْتِزَامُ بِشَرِيعَةِ مُوسَى.»

So the hawariyun and the sheikhs met to discuss the matter.

فَاجْتَمَعَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ وَالشُّيُوخُ لِيَبْحَثُوا هَذِهِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ.

After much argument, Peter stood up and told them, "Brothers, you know that Allah chose me in the beginning of the message, that other nations would hear the word of the good news from my mouth and believe.

وَبَعْدَ نِقَاشَاتٍ كَثِيرَةٍ، قَامَ صَخْرٌ وَقَالَ لَهُمْ: «أَيُّهَا الْإِخْوَةُ، إِنَّكُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ اللهَ اخْتَارَنِي فِي بِدَايَةِ الرِّسَالَةِ لِيَسْمَعَ غَيْرُ الْيَهُودِ مِنْ فَمِي كَلِمَةَ الْبُشْرَى وَيُؤْمِنُونَ.

Allah, Al-Alim of what is in the heart, has given them shahada, since he gave them Holy Ruh Allah like he gave him to us.

وَقَدْ شَهِدَ لَهُمُ اللهُ الْعَلِيمُ بِمَا فِي الْقُلُوبِ بِأَنْ وَهَبَ لَهُمْ رُوحَ اللهِ الْقُدُّوسَ مِثْلَمَا وَهَبَهُ لَنَا نَحْنُ،

He did not distinguish between us and them when he made their hearts tahir by faith.

وَلَمْ يُمَيِّزْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ لَمَّا طَهَّرَ قُلُوبَهُمْ بِالْإِيمَانِ.

So why are you opposed to the will of Allah by putting a heavy yoke on the necks of the followers that our fathers and we were not able to bear?

فَلِمَاذَا تُعَارِضُونَ مَشِيئَةَ اللهِ وَتُحَمِّلُونَ عَلَى رِقَابِ الْأَتْبَاعِ نِيرًا ثَقِيلًا عَجَزَ آبَاؤُنَا الْأَوَّلُونَ وَعَجَزْنَا نَحْنُ عَنْ حَمْلِهِ؟

We believe that Allah blessed us with his saving mercy just as he also blessed them with it, by the grace of our mawla Isa."

إِنَّنَا نُؤْمِنُ أَنَّ اللهَ أَنْعَمَ عَلَيْنَا بِرَحْمَتِهِ الْمُنْجِيَةِ كَمَا أَنْعَمَ بِهَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَيْضًا بِفَضْلِ مَوْلَانَا عِيسَى.»

Then everyone listened in silence to the account of Ibn Naba and Paul about the ayat and miracles of Allah through them among the other nations.

ثُمَّ اسْتَمَعُوا جَمِيعًا فِي صَمْتٍ لِرِوَايَةِ ابْنِ نَابَا وَبَاوُلَ حَوْلَ آيَاتِ اللهِ وَبَيِّنَاتِهِ مِنْ خِلَالِهِمَا بَيْنَ غَيْرِ الْيَهُودِ.

When they finished talking, Yacoub said, "Listen, brothers!

وَعِنْدَمَا أَكْمَلَا حَدِيثَهُمَا قَالَ يَعْقُوبُ: «اِسْمَعُوا، يَا إِخْوَتِي!

Simon told us how Allah cared for those from other nations in the beginning of the message, and chose some of them as an umma especially for his name.

لَقَدْ أَخْبَرَنَا سَمْعَانُ كَيْفَ اعْتَنَى اللهُ فِي بِدَايَةِ الرِّسَالَةِ بِغَيْرِ الْيَهُودِ، لِيَصْطَفِيَ مِنْهُمْ أُمَّةً خَاصَّةً لِاسْمِهِ،

This confirms what was in the scroll of the anbiya in the kitab of Allah:

مِصْدَاقًا لِمَا وَرَدَ فِي كِتَابِ اللهِ فِي سِفْرِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ:

'I will return after this and restore the tent of Dawood that was torn down. I will restore their ruins and set them up.

سَأَعُودُ بَعْدَ هَذَا وَأُرَمِّمُ خَيْمَةَ دَاوُدَ الْمُنْهَارَةَ، وَسَأُرَمِّمُ حُطَامَهَا وَأُقِيمُهَا،

Then the rest of humanity (all the inhabitants of the nations that I have called by my name) will seek the face of Rabb Al-Alamin. Thus Allah, the inspirer, has said.'

حَتَّى يَبْتَغِيَ وَجْهَ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ سَائِرُ بَنِي آدَمَ، كُلُّ أَهَالِي الْأُمَمِ الَّذِينَ دَعَوْتُهُمْ بِاسْمِي، صَدَقَ اللهِ الْمُوحِي

He is the one who has shown these matters since ancient times.

الَّذِي أَظْهَرَ هَذِهِ الْأُمُورَ مُنْذُ قَدِيمِ الزَّمَانِ.

So it is my judgment that we should not make it difficult for people from the other nations who have turned to Allah.

فَإِذًا حُكْمِي هُوَ أَلَّا نُضَيِّقَ عَلَى التَّائِبِينَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ مِنْ غَيْرِ الْيَهُودِ،

Rather, we should send them a letter and warn them to avoid the uncleanness of what has been sacrificed to idols, adultery, meat from strangled animals, and blood.

بَلْ نُرْسِلُ لَهُمْ كِتَابًا نُحَذِّرُهُمْ فِيهِ أَنْ يَجْتَنِبُوا نَجَاسَةَ مَا ذُبِحَ لِلْأَصْنَامِ وَيَجْتَنِبُوا الزِّنَى وَاللَّحْمَ الْمَخْنُوقَ غَيْرَ الْمَذْبُوحِ وَالدَّمَ،

For the book of Musa has been announced when it is read every Sabt in the houses of salat in all cities since ancient generations."

لِأَنَّ تَوْرَاةَ مُوسَى مُعْلَنَةٌ إِذْ تُقْرَأُ كُلَّ سَبْتٍ فِي مُصَلَّيَاتِ جَمِيعِ الْمُدُنِ مُنْذُ الْأَجْيَالِ الْقَدِيمَةِ.»

So the hawariyun, the sheikhs, and all the jama'a decided to appoint a delegation from among them to accompany Paul and Ibn Naba to Antioch. They were Yahuda and Silas. They were leaders of the brothers.

فَقَرَّرَ الْحَوَارِيُّونَ وَالشُّيُوخُ وَالْجَمَاعَةُ كُلُّهَا أَنْ يُعَيِّنُوا بِعْثَةً مِنْ بَيْنِهِمْ تُرَافِقُ بَاوُلَ وَابْنَ نَابَا إِلَى أَنْطَاكِيَةَ وَهُمَا يُودَا الْمُسَمَّى ابْنَ سَابَا وَسِيلَا، وَهُمَا مِنْ قَادَةِ الْإِخْوَةِ.

So they sent them all off with this letter: "From your brothers the hawariyun and sheikhs, to the brothers from other nations in the provinces of Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Assalamu Alaykum.

فَأَرْسَلُوهُمْ مَعَ هَذِهِ الرِّسَالَةِ: «مِنَ الْحَوَارِيِّينَ وَالشُّيُوخِ إِخْوَتِكُمْ، إِلَى الْإِخْوَةِ غَيْرِ الْيَهُودِ فِي مُحَافَظَاتِ أَنْطَاكِيَةَ وَسُورْيَا وَكِيلِيكِيَّةَ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَبَعْدُ:

We have heard that some people came to you from our group and confused you, shaking your souls by their words. We did not tell them to do that.

لَقَدْ سَمِعْنَا أَنَّهُ قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ مِنْ جَمَاعَتِنَا نَاسٌ أَرْبَكُوكُمْ وَزَعْزَعُوا نُفُوسَكُمْ بِكَلَامِهِمْ، وَنَحْنُ لَمْ نُوصِهِمْ بِذَلِكَ.

We have unanimously agreed to appoint two men and send them to you with our beloved Ibn Naba and Paul,

فَأَجْمَعْنَا عَلَى أَنْ نُعَيِّنَ رَجُلَيْنِ نَبْعَثُهُمَا إِلَيْكُمْ مَعَ حَبِيبَيْنَا ابْنِ نَابَا وَبَاوُلَ،

who are men who risked their lives in the path of our mawla Isa Al-Masih.

رَجُلَيْنِ خَاطَرَا بِحَيَاتِهِمَا فِي سَبِيلِ مَوْلَانَا عِيسَى الْمَسِيحِ.

So we are sending Yahuda and Silas to you. They will confirm to you the same message personally.

لِهَذَا بَعَثْنَا لَكُمْ يُودَا وَسِيلَا اللَّذَيْنِ سَيُؤَكِّدَانِ لَكُمْ نَفْسَ الرِّسَالَةِ شَخْصِيًّا.

Holy Ruh Allah and we agreed not to burden you with regulations except these necessary ones:

لَقَدْ رَضِيَ رُوحُ اللهِ الْقُدُّوسُ وَرَضِينَا نَحْنُ عَدَمَ تَحْمِيلِكُمْ مِنَ الْفَرَائِضِ إِلَّا بِهَذِهِ الضَّرُورِيَّاتِ:

Avoid meat from strangled animals, meat sacrificed to idols, blood, and adultery. If you do not do these things, you will do well. May Allah be with you."

أَنْ تَجْتَنِبُوا اللَّحْمَ الْمَخْنُوقَ وَالْمَذْبُوحَ لِلْأَصْنَامِ وَالدَّمَ وَالزِّنَى. فَإِذَا امْتَنَعْتُمْ عَنْ هَذِهِ الْأُمُورِ، فَتَعْمَلُونَ صَلَاحًا. وَاللهُ مَعَكُمْ.»

After they were sent off, they traveled to Antioch. There they gathered all the believers and delivered the message to them.

وَبَعْدَ انْصِرَافِهِمْ، سَافَرُوا إِلَى أَنْطَاكِيَةَ، وَهُنَاكَ جَمَعُوا كُلَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَسَلَّمُوا إِلَيْهِمِ الرِّسَالَةَ،

They read it and rejoiced at the encouragement in it.

فَقَرَأُوهَا وَفَرِحُوا بِمَا تَحْمِلُهُ مِنْ تَشْجِيعٍ،

Yahuda and Silas had the gift of prophesying also, and they encouraged and strengthened the brothers with their speaking.

وَكَانَ يُودَا وَسِيلَا يَمْتَلِكَانِ هِبَةَ التَّنَبُّؤِ أَيْضًا، فَشَجَّعَا الْإِخْوَةَ بِخِطَابَاتِهِمَا وَقَوَّيَاهُمْ.

They after spending some time with them, the brothers sent them back to the people who had sent them in Al-Quds, with the peace of Allah.

ثُمَّ بَعْدَ قَضَاءِ فَتْرَةٍ مَعَهُمْ، وَدَّعَهُمَا الْإِخْوَةُ بِسَلَامِ اللهِ إِلَى الَّذِينَ بَعَثُوهُمَا مِنَ الْقُدْسِ.

But Paul and Ibn Naba remained in Antioch.

أَمَّا بَاوُلُ وَابْنُ نَابَا فَبَقِيَا فِي أَنْطَاكِيَةَ،

They and many other teachers taught and announced the word of our mawla.

يُعَلِّمَانِ وَيُعْلِنَانِ كَلِمَةَ مَوْلَانَا مَعَ مُعَلِّمِينَ آخَرِينَ كَثِيرِينَ.

Then after several days, Paul said to Ibn Naba, "Let us return and visit the brothers in all the cities where we proclaimed the good news of our mawla, and see how they are doing."

ثُمَّ بَعْدَ بِضْعَةِ أَيَّامٍ، قَالَ بَاوُلُ لِابْنِ نَابَا: «لِنَرْجِعْ وَنَزُرِ الْإِخْوَةَ فِي كُلِّ الْمُدُنِ الَّتِي بَشَّرْنَا فِيهَا بِكَلِمَةِ مَوْلَانَا لِنَتَفَقَّدَ أَحْوَالَهُمْ.»

Ibn Naba wanted John Mark to accompany them.

فَأَرَادَ ابْنُ نَابَا أَنْ يُرَافِقَهُمَا حَنَّا مَرْقُسُ،

But Paul was opposed taking him with them, because he had returned from them in Pamphilia. He had not accompanied them in their work.

وَلَكِنَّ بَاوُلَ عَارَضَ اصْطِحَابَهُ مَعَهُمَا، لِأَنَّهُ كَانَ قَدْ رَجَعَ عَنْهُمَا فِي بَمْفِيلِيَّةَ وَلَمْ يُرَافِقْهُمَا فِي عَمَلِهِمَا.

Then they had a dispute about the matter, and separated. Ibn Naba took Mark and sailed to Cyprus.

ثُمَّ تَنَازَعَا فِي الْأَمْرِ وَافْتَرَقَا، فَأَخَذَ ابْنُ نَابَا مَرْقُسَ وَأَبْحَرَا إِلَى قُبْرُصَ.

But Paul chose Silas to accompany him, and the brothers delivered him to the grace of our mawla.

وَأَمَّا بَاوُلُ فَاخْتَارَ أَنْ يُرَافِقَهُ سِيلَا، ثُمَّ أَسْلَمَهُ الْإِخْوَةُ إِلَى فَضْلِ مَوْلَانَا،

So Paul went around in Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the jama'as of chosen people.

فَطَافَ بَاوُلُ فِي سُورْيَا وَكِيلِيكِيَّةَ يُقَوِّي جَمَاعَاتِ الْمُصْطَفَيْنَ.

« Chapter 14

Chapter 16 »