19:8 保羅進會堂,放膽講道,一連三個月,辯論上帝國的事,勸化眾人。
19:9 後來,有些人心裡剛硬不信,在眾人面前毀謗這道,保羅就離開他們,也叫門徒與他們分離,便在推喇奴的學房天天辯論。
19:10 這樣有兩年之久,叫一切住在亞細亞的,無論是猶太人,是希臘人,都聽見主的道。
19:11 上帝藉保羅的手行了些非常的奇事;
19:12 甚至有人從保羅身上拿手巾或圍裙放在病人身上,病就退了,惡鬼也出去了。
19:13 那時,有幾個遊行各處、念咒趕鬼的猶太人,向那被惡鬼附的人擅自稱主耶穌的名,說:「我奉保羅所傳的耶穌敕令你們出來!」
19:14 做這事的,有猶太祭司長士基瓦的七個兒子。
19:15 惡鬼回答他們說:「耶穌我認識,保羅我也知道。你們卻是誰呢?」
19:16 惡鬼所附的人就跳在他們身上,勝了其中二人,制伏他們,叫他們赤著身子受了傷,從那房子裡逃出去了。
19:17 凡住在以弗所的,無論是猶太人,是希臘人,都知道這事,也都懼怕;主耶穌的名從此就尊大了。
19:18 那已經信的,多有人來承認訴說自己所行的事。
19:19 平素行邪術的,也有許多人把書拿來,堆積在眾人面前焚燒。他們算計書價,便知道共合五萬塊錢。
19:20 主的道大大興旺,而且得勝,就是這樣。
19:21 這些事完了,保羅心裡定意經過了馬其頓、亞該亞,就往耶路撒冷去;又說:「我到了那裡以後,也必須往羅馬去看看。」
19:22 於是從幫助他的人中打發提摩太、以拉都二人往馬其頓去,自己暫時等在亞細亞。
8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.
11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.
13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.[c] 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
21 After all this had happened, Paul decided[d] to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.” 22 He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.
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保羅在以弗所有兩年的時間,而上帝也透過他大大的在當地做工,竟然有件大事發生:平素行邪術的,也有許多人把書拿來,堆積在眾人面前焚燒。他們算計書價,便知道共合五萬塊錢。
可見福音是有改變社會的力量,使行行邪術的人,願意將一些所謂的「魔法書」來燒毀!怪不得保羅可以宣告:「我不以福音為恥;這福音本是上帝的大能,要救一切相信的,先是猶太人,後是希臘人。」(羅馬書:16)
福音的內容就是主耶穌是基督、是上帝的兒子!也因為主耶穌使人和上帝重新連結,得回人該有的地位,使罪和死的勢力從人身上慢慢除去,人就有盼望、有未來,不再前途茫然。
今日主耶穌仍然用祂的大能仍然在改變人心,使人有永生的盼望,讓我們成為耶穌基督的忠僕,來乎召人透過祂與上帝恢復和好的關係,領受上帝兒女的身分!
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