使徒行傳5:33-42

 

5:33 公會的人聽見就極其惱怒，想要殺他們。
5:34 但有一個法利賽人，名叫迦瑪列，是眾百姓所敬重的教法師，在公會中站起來，吩咐人把使徒暫且帶到外面去，
5:35 就對眾人說：「以色列人哪，論到這些人，你們應當小心怎樣辦理。
5:36 從前杜達起來，自誇為大；附從他的人約有四百，他被殺後，附從他的全都散了，歸於無有。
5:37 此後，報名上冊的時候，又有加利利的猶大起來，引誘些百姓跟從他；他也滅亡，附從他的人也都四散了。
5:38 現在，我勸你們不要管這些人，任憑他們吧！他們所謀的、所行的，若是出於人，必要敗壞；
5:39 若是出於上帝，你們就不能敗壞他們，恐怕你們倒是攻擊上帝了。」
5:40 公會的人聽從了他，便叫使徒來，把他們打了，又吩咐他們不可奉耶穌的名講道，就把他們釋放了。
5:41 他們離開公會，心裡歡喜，因被算是配為這名受辱。
5:42 他們就每日在殿裡、在家裡不住地教訓人，傳耶穌是基督。

 

³³ When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. ³⁴ But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. ³⁵ Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. ³⁶ Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. ³⁷ After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. ³⁸ Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. ³⁹ But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

⁴⁰ His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

⁴¹ The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. ⁴² Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

 

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    使徒們站在公會前，為主耶穌作見證。因為這群人不信耶穌是基督，更是不能接受耶穌基督從死人中復活的事實，也因此他們的反應是：「極其惱怒，想要殺他們。」

 

    但是上帝卻用人想不到的方式保守他們的性命，就是透過當時最有智慧的法利賽人，名叫迦瑪列，是眾百姓所敬重的教法師，他也是保羅的老師，提出一個卸責的說法：「現在，我勸你們不要管這些人，任憑他們吧！他們所謀的、所行的，若是出於人，必要敗壞；若是出於上帝，你們就不能敗壞他們，恐怕你們倒是攻擊上帝了。」

 

    然而這樣的處理方式，反而讓使徒們得著激勵！雖然公會禁止他們傳揚主耶穌，但是照聖經記載：「他們離開公會，心裡歡喜，因被算是配為這名受辱。他們就每日在殿裡、在家裡不住地教訓人，傳耶穌是基督。」

 

    從使徒們的見證，我們學習到一個重要的功課，我們當靠著主耶穌存著勇敢的心！雖然世界會用各樣的勢力和壓力禁止我們宣揚福音，我們不可退縮，上帝必定會為我們開一條路，好讓主的道可以傳揚出去，因為主的道是不受綑鎖的，是大有能力的！