I have a duty both to Greeks and to non- Greeks. I have a duty both to wise people and to foolish people.

无论是希腊人、化外人、聪明人、愚拙人，我都欠他们的债，

无论是希腊人、未开化的人、聪明人、愚拙人，我都欠他们的债，

无论是希腊人、未开化的人、聪明人、愚拙人，我都欠他们的债，

不论是希腊人、非希腊人、智者、愚人，我对他们都有义务。

无论是希腊人或是未开化的人，聪明的人或是愚笨的人，我都欠他们的债。

无论是希腊人或是外族人，有智慧的或是无知的，我都对他们有责任。

無論是希臘人、化外人、聰明人、愚拙人，我都欠他們的債，

無論是希臘人、未開化的人、聰明人、愚拙人，我都欠他們的債，

無論是希臘人、未開化的人、聰明人、愚拙人，我都欠他們的債，

不論是希臘人、非希臘人、智者、愚人，我對他們都有義務。

無論是希臘人或是未開化的人，聰明的人或是愚笨的人，我都欠他們的債。

不但對於希利尼人、也對於蠻野人，不但對於有智識的人、也對於無知識的人，我都是欠債的；

無論是希臘人或是外族人，有智慧的或是無知的，我都對他們有責任。

我於希利尼人、化外人、智者愚者、皆負其債、

蓋我傳道於希利尼及化外人、或智或愚、若償負焉、

無論希拉人、化外人、智人、愚人、我皆如負其債、

吾對希臘人與化外人、智與不智、皆負有傳道之義務。

I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.

I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike.

I am obligated both to Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish.

I am under obligation both to Greeks and to the uncultured, both to the wise and to the foolish.

I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.

I am debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

I am obligated both to Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish.

I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

I am a debtor both to the Greeks and to the barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.

I am debtor both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to the wise and to the foolish.

But the Lord said to Ananias,“ Go! I have chosen this man to work for me. He will announce my name to the Gentiles and to their kings. He will also announce my name to the people of Israel.

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke.“ Set apart Barnabas and Saul for me,” he said.“ I have appointed them to do special work.”The prophets and teachers fasted and prayed. They placed their hands on Barnabas and Saul. Then they sent them off.Barnabas and Saul were sent on their way by the Holy Spirit. They went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.

Here there is no Gentile or Jew. There is no difference between those who are circumcised and those who are not. There is no rude outsider, or even a Scythian. There is no slave or free person. But Christ is everything. And he is in everything.

“ Then the Lord said to me,‘ Go. I will send you far away to people who are not Jews.’ ”

So I put up with everything for the good of God’s chosen people. Then they also can be saved. Christ Jesus saves them. He gives them glory that will last forever.

I will save you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to themto open their eyes. I want you to turn them from darkness to light. I want you to turn them from Satan’s power to God. I want their sins to be forgiven. They will be forgiven when they believe in me. They will have their place among God’s people.’

The people of the island saw the snake hanging from his hand. They said to one another,“ This man must be a murderer. He escaped from the sea. But the female god Justice won’t let him live.”

A wide road will go through the land. It will be called the Way of Holiness. Only those who lead a holy life can use it.“ Unclean” and foolish people can’t walk on it.

But when I preach the good news, I can’t brag. I have to preach it. How terrible it will be for me if I do not preach the good news!If I preach because I want to, I get a reward. If I preach because I have to, I’m only doing my duty.Then what reward do I get? Here is what it is. I am able to preach the good news free of charge. And I can do this without using all my rights as a person who preaches the good news.I am free and don’t belong to anyone. But I have made myself a slave to everyone. I do it to win as many as I can to Christ.To the Jews I became like a Jew. That was to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one who was under the law. I did this even though I myself am not under the law. That was to win those under the law.To those who don’t have the law I became like one who doesn’t have the law. I did this even though I am not free from God’s law. I am under Christ’s law. Now I can win those who don’t have the law.To those who are weak I became weak. That was to win the weak. I have become all things to all people. I have done this so that in all possible ways I might save some.I do all this because of the good news. And I want to share in its blessings.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is pure. That’s the most important thing about it. And that’s not all. It also loves peace. It thinks about others. It obeys. It is full of mercy and good fruit. It is fair. It doesn’t pretend to be what it is not.Those who make peace plant it like a seed. They will harvest a crop of right living.

Everyone has heard that you obey God. So you have filled me with joy. I want you to be wise about what is good. And I want you to have nothing to do with what is evil.

Brothers and sisters, here is a mystery I want you to understand. It will keep you from being proud. Part of Israel has refused to obey God. That will continue until the full number of Gentiles has entered God’s kingdom.

That is what we speak about. We don’t use words taught to us by people. We use words taught to us by the Holy Spirit. We use the words taught by the Spirit to explain spiritual truths.

At one time we too acted like fools. We didn’t obey God. We were tricked. We were controlled by all kinds of desires and pleasures. We were full of evil. We wanted what belongs to others. People hated us, and we hated one another.

Agree with one another. Don’t be proud. Be willing to be a friend of people who aren’t considered important. Don’t think that you are better than others.

It is written,“ I will destroy the wisdom of those who are wise. I will do away with the cleverness of those who think they are so smart.”( Isaiah 29:14)Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where are the great thinkers of our time? Hasn’t God made the wisdom of the world foolish?God wisely planned that the world would not know him through its own wisdom. It pleased God to use the foolish things we preach to save those who believe.Jews require signs. Greeks look for wisdom.

Brothers and sisters, we have a duty. Our duty is not to live under the power of sin.

They claimed to be wise. But they made fools of themselves.

Pay everything you owe. But you can never pay back all the love you owe one another. Whoever loves other people has done everything the law requires.

At that time Jesus was full of joy through the Holy Spirit. He said,“ I praise you, Father. You are Lord of heaven and earth. You have hidden these things from wise and educated people. But you have shown them to little children. Yes, Father. This is what you wanted to do.

I don’t dare to compare myself with those who praise themselves. I’m not that kind of person. They measure themselves by themselves. They compare themselves with themselves. When they do that, they are not wise.

But if I don’t understand what someone is saying, I am a stranger to the person speaking. And that person is a stranger to me.

Don’t fool yourselves. Suppose some of you think you are wise by the standards of the world. Then you should become“ fools” so that you can become wise.

The people of the island were unusually kind. It was raining and cold. So they built a fire and welcomed all of us.

Suppose you are praising God in the Spirit. And suppose there are visitors among you who want to know what’s going on. How can they say“ Amen” when you give thanks? They don’t know what you are saying.

Suppose the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in other languages. And suppose visitors or unbelievers come in. Won’t they say you are out of your minds?But suppose unbelievers or visitors come in while everyone is prophesying. Then they will feel guilty about their sin. They will be judged by all.

You are so wise! You gladly put up with fools!

At that time Jesus said,“ I praise you, Father. You are Lord of heaven and earth. You have hidden these things from wise and educated people. But you have shown them to little children.

“ How long will you childish people love your childish ways? How long will you rude people enjoy making fun of God and others? How long will you foolish people hate knowledge?

So be very careful how you live. Do not live like people who aren’t wise. Live like people who are wise.Make the most of every opportunity. The days are evil.So don’t be foolish. Instead, understand what the Lord wants.

You who are childish, get some good sense. You who are foolish, set your hearts on getting it.