我雖然行過死蔭的幽谷，也不怕遭害，因為你與我同在；
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
**************
「死蔭的幽谷」讀起來讓人覺得很浪漫的事情，但是事實上並非如此，應該是說：死亡陰影的山谷！也就是說，死亡如陰影一般籠罩，又身處在山谷中沒有辦法逃跑的感覺！
最近在馬來西亞的親戚，受到變種病毒的威脅，心中的恐懼真的有「死亡陰影的山谷」之感覺，真願主耶穌親自與他們同在，可以度過這樣恐懼的狀態！因為變種病毒的毒性比原先的新冠病毒更強，致死率更高呢！
深願上帝保守一切在病毒威脅下的人，用大衛這個詩句在他們心中安慰他們！也讓他們感受到，上帝與他們一起來面對這兇殘的病毒，而這樣的疫情也能快快過去！
28:1 我們既已得救，才知道那島名叫馬耳他。
28:2 土人看待我們，有非常的情分；因為當時下雨，天氣又冷，就生火接待我們眾人。
28:3 那時，保羅拾起一捆柴，放在火上，有一條毒蛇，因為熱了出來，咬住他的手。
28:4 土人看見那毒蛇懸在他手上，就彼此說：「這人必是個兇手，雖然從海裡救上來，天理還不容他活著。」
28:5 保羅竟把那毒蛇甩在火裡，並沒有受傷。
28:6 土人想他必要腫起來，或是忽然仆倒死了；看了多時，見他無害，就轉念，說：「他是個上帝。」
28:7 離那地方不遠，有田產是島長部百流的；他接納我們，盡情款待三日。
28:8 當時，部百流的父親患熱病和痢疾躺著。保羅進去，為他禱告，按手在他身上，治好了他。
28:9 從此，島上其餘的病人也來，得了醫治。
28:10 他們又多方地尊敬我們；到了開船的時候，也把我們所需用的送到船上。
28:11 過了三個月，我們上了亞歷山大的船往前行；這船以「宙斯雙子」為記，是在那海島過了冬的。
28:12 到了敘拉古，我們停泊三日；
28:13 又從那裡繞行，來到利基翁。過了一天，起了南風，第二天就來到部丟利。
28:14 在那裡遇見弟兄們，請我們與他們同住了七天。這樣，我們來到羅馬。
28:15 那裡的弟兄們一聽見我們的信息就出來，到亞比烏市和三館地方迎接我們。保羅見了他們，就感謝上帝，放心壯膽。
28:16 進了羅馬城，（有古卷加：百夫長把眾囚犯交給御營的統領，惟有）保羅蒙准和一個看守他的兵另住在一處。
28:17 過了三天，保羅請猶太人的首領來。他們來了，就對他們說：「弟兄們，我雖沒有做甚麼事干犯本國的百姓和我們祖宗的規條，卻被鎖綁，從耶路撒冷解在羅馬人的手裡。
28:18 他們審問了我，就願意釋放我；因為在我身上，並沒有該死的罪。
28:19 無奈猶太人不服，我不得已，只好上告於凱撒，並非有甚麼事要控告我本國的百姓。
28:20 因此，我請你們來見面說話，我原為以色列人所指望的，被這鍊子捆鎖。」
28:21 他們說：「我們並沒有接著從猶太來論你的信，也沒有弟兄到這裡來報給我們說你有甚麼不好處。
28:22 但我們願意聽你的意見如何；因為這教門，我們曉得是到處被毀謗的。」
28:23 他們和保羅約定了日子，就有許多人到他的寓處來。保羅從早到晚，對他們講論這事，證明上帝國的道，引摩西的律法和先知的書，以耶穌的事勸勉他們。
28:24 他所說的話，有信的，有不信的。
28:25 他們彼此不合，就散了；未散以先，保羅說了一句話，說：「聖靈藉先知以賽亞向你們祖宗所說的話是不錯的。
28:26 他說：你去告訴這百姓說：你們聽是要聽見，卻不明白；看是要看見，卻不曉得；
28:27 因為這百姓油蒙了心，耳朵發沉，眼睛閉著；恐怕眼睛看見，耳朵聽見，心裡明白，回轉過來，我就醫治他們。
28:28 所以你們當知道，上帝這救恩，如今傳給外邦人，他們也必聽受。」（有古卷加：
28:29 保羅說了這話，猶太人議論紛紛地就走了。）
28:30 保羅在自己所租的房子裡住了足足兩年。凡來見他的人，他全都接待，
28:31 放膽傳講上帝國的道，將主耶穌基督的事教導人，並沒有人禁止。
Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
7 There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. 8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10 They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.
11 After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island—it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. 12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13 From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. 14 There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15 The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. 16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
17 Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: “My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. 19 The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. 20 For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.”
21 They replied, “We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. 22 But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect.”
23 They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
26 “‘Go
to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
27 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’[a]
28 “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” [29] [b]
30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!
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使徒行傳的結局是完美的，正如經文所說：「保羅在自己所租的房子裡住了足足兩年。凡來見他的人，他全都接待，放膽傳講上帝國的道，將主耶穌基督的事教導人，並沒有人禁止。」
其實不論那個時代、那個地方的基督徒都盼望這個結局。然而感謝上帝，在民主國家似乎享受這樣的福分。然而在共產國家和回教國家中，基督徒可仍然受到許多限制，不只福音的傳揚，甚至人生安全！正如最近的阿富汗，基督徒真的沒有安全！
然而基督徒不是求今世的平安，而是求永世的平安。因為今是的平安如幻影是短暫的，保羅雖有平靜的兩年，後來仍然受迫害，甚至被砍頭而死！但是他相信：「那美好的仗我已經打過了，當跑的路我已經跑盡了，所信的道我已經守住了。從此以後，有公義的冠冕為我存留，就是按著公義審判的主到了那日要賜給我的；不但賜給我，也賜給凡愛慕他顯現的人。」（提摩太後書4:7-8）
27:1 非斯都既然定規了，叫我們坐船往意大利去，便將保羅和別的囚犯交給御營裡的一個百夫長，名叫猶流。
27:2 有一隻亞大米田的船，要沿著亞細亞一帶地方的海邊走，我們就上了那船開行；有馬其頓的帖撒羅尼迦人亞里達古和我們同去。
27:3 第二天，到了西頓；猶流寬待保羅，准他往朋友那裡去，受他們的照應。
27:4 從那裡又開船，因為風不順，就貼著塞浦路斯背風岸行去。
27:5 過了基利家、旁非利亞前面的海，就到了呂家的每拉。
27:6 在那裡，百夫長遇見一隻亞歷山大的船，要往意大利去，便叫我們上了那船。
27:7 一連多日，船行得慢，僅僅來到革尼土的對面。因為被風攔阻，就貼著克里特背風岸，從撒摩尼對面行過。
27:8 我們沿岸行走，僅僅來到一個地方，名叫佳澳；離那裡不遠，有拉西亞城。
27:9 走的日子多了，已經過了禁食的節期，行船又危險，保羅就勸眾人說：
27:10 「眾位，我看這次行船，不但貨物和船要受傷損，大遭破壞，連我們的性命也難保。」
27:11 但百夫長信從掌船的和船主，不信從保羅所說的。
27:12 且因在這海口過冬不便，船上的人就多半說，不如開船離開這地方，或者能到菲尼基過冬。菲尼基是克里特的一個海口，一面朝東北，一面朝東南。
27:13 這時，微微起了南風，他們以為得意，就起了錨，貼近克里特行去。
27:14 不多幾時，狂風從島上撲下來；那風名叫「友拉革羅」。
27:15 船被風抓住，敵不住風，我們就任風颳去。
27:16 貼著一個小島的背風岸奔行，那島名叫高大，在那裡僅僅收住了小船。
27:17 既然把小船拉上來，就用纜索捆綁船底，又恐怕在賽耳底沙灘上擱了淺，就落下篷來，任船飄去。
27:18 我們被風浪逼得甚急，第二天眾人就把貨物拋在海裡。
27:19 到第三天，他們又親手把船上的器具拋棄了。
27:20 太陽和星辰多日不顯露，又有狂風大浪催逼，我們得救的指望就都絕了。
27:21 眾人多日沒有吃甚麼，保羅就出來站在他們中間，說：「眾位，你們本該聽我的話，不離開克里特，免得遭這樣的傷損破壞。
27:22 現在我還勸你們放心，你們的性命一個也不失喪，惟獨失喪這船。
27:23 因我所屬所事奉的上帝，他的使者昨夜站在我旁邊，說：
27:24 『保羅，不要害怕，你必定站在凱撒面前，並且與你同船的人，上帝都賜給你了。』
27:25 所以眾位可以放心，我信上帝他怎樣對我說，事情也要怎樣成就。
27:26 只是我們必要撞在一個島上。」
27:27 到了第十四天夜間，船在亞得里亞海飄來飄去。約到半夜，水手以為漸近旱地，
27:28 就探深淺，探得有十二丈；稍往前行，又探深淺，探得有九丈。
27:29 恐怕撞在石頭上，就從船尾拋下四個錨，盼望天亮。
27:30 水手想要逃出船去，把小船放在海裡，假作要從船頭拋錨的樣子。
27:31 保羅對百夫長和兵丁說：「這些人若不等在船上，你們必不能得救。」
27:32 於是兵丁砍斷小船的繩子，由它飄去。
27:33 天漸亮的時候，保羅勸眾人都吃飯，說：「你們懸望忍餓不吃甚麼，已經十四天了。
27:34 所以我勸你們吃飯，這是關乎你們救命的事；因為你們各人連一根頭髮也不至於損壞。」
27:35 保羅說了這話，就拿著餅，在眾人面前祝謝了上帝，擘開吃。
27:36 於是他們都放下心，也就吃了。
27:37 我們在船上的共有二百七十六個人。
27:38 他們吃飽了，就把船上的麥子拋在海裡，為要叫船輕一點。
27:39 「到了天亮，他們不認識那地方，但見一個海灣，有岸可登，就商議能把船攏進去不能。
27:40 於是砍斷纜索，棄錨在海裡；同時也鬆開舵繩，拉起頭篷，順著風向岸行去。
27:41 但遇著兩水夾流的地方，就把船擱了淺；船頭膠住不動，船尾被浪的猛力衝壞。
27:42 兵丁的意思要把囚犯殺了，恐怕有洑水脫逃的。
27:43 但百夫長要救保羅，不准他們任意而行，就吩咐會洑水的，跳下水去先上岸；
27:44 其餘的人可以用板子或船上的零碎東西上岸。這樣，眾人都得了救，上了岸。
When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. 2 We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.
3 The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs. 4 From there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 5 When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board. 7 We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. 8 We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.
9 Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement.[a] So Paul warned them, 10 “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” 11 But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. 12 Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.
13 When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. 15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure, 17 so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor[b] and let the ship be driven along. 18 We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19 On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.
21 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”
27 On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic[c] Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 28 They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet[d] deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet[e] deep. 29 Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. 30 In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. 31 Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.
33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. 34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38 When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
39 When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 40 Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. 41 But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.
42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43 But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44 The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.
***********
這一路雖然辛苦，船壞了、貨物也丟了，卻每一個人都平安上岸，這真是上帝透過保羅賜福給同船的人。
基督徒在世也要像保羅一般，讓別人透過我們享受上帝的恩福！
