使徒行传第十五章里一些信徒原是犹太教法利赛教门的信了福音,但是他们坚持外邦人必须行割礼和遵守律法。辩论了多时,不能达成一致,彼得就站起来重新申明主的福音:神赐圣灵给外邦人正如赐圣灵给使徒们一样,神同样为外邦人作了见证,又借着信洁净了他们的心,并不分是以色列人还是外邦人;不要试探神,不要把律法的轭放在门徒的颈项上。最后,彼得说:“得救乃是因主耶稣的恩”。可见,彼得不愧为主钦点的十二使徒之首,没有辜负主的重托,他掌握并在这里维护了福音的真理:洁净乃是因着主所赐的信心,得救乃是因着主耶稣的恩,而不是必须行割礼和遵守律法。
徒15:5 惟有几个信徒是法利赛教门的人、起来说、必须给外邦人行割礼、吩咐他们遵守摩西的律法。
But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses."
徒15:6 使徒和长老、聚会商议这事。
The apostles and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter.
徒15:7 辩论已经多了、彼得就起来、说、诸位弟兄、你们知道 神早已在你们中间拣选了我、叫外邦人从我口中得听福音之道、而且相信。
When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News, and believe.
徒15:8 知道人心的 神、也为他们作了见证.赐圣灵给他们、正如给我们一样。
God, who knows the heart, testified about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us.
徒15:9 又借着信洁净了他们的心、并不分他们我们。
He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.
徒15:10 现在为甚么试探 神、要把我们祖宗和我们所不能负的轭、放在门徒的颈项上呢。
Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
徒15:11 我们得救、乃是因主耶稣的恩、和他们一样、这是我们所信的。
But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are."