使徒行傳19:23-41

 

19:23 那時，因為這道起的擾亂不小。
19:24 有一個銀匠，名叫底米丟，是製造亞底米神銀龕的，他使這樣手藝人生意發達。
19:25 他聚集他們和同行的工人，說：「眾位，你們知道我們是倚靠這生意發財。
19:26 這保羅不但在以弗所，也幾乎在亞細亞全地，引誘迷惑許多人，說：『人手所做的，不是神。』這是你們所看見所聽見的。
19:27 這樣，不獨我們這事業被人藐視，就是大女神亞底米的廟也要被人輕忽，連亞細亞全地和普天下所敬拜的大女神之威榮也要消滅了。」
19:28 眾人聽見，就怒氣填胸，喊著說：「大哉，以弗所人的亞底米啊！」
19:29 滿城都轟動起來。眾人拿住與保羅同行的馬其頓人該猶和亞里達古，齊心擁進戲園裡去。
19:30 保羅想要進去，到百姓那裡，門徒卻不許他去。
19:31 還有亞細亞幾位首領，是保羅的朋友，打發人來勸他，不要冒險到戲園裡去。
19:32 聚集的人紛紛亂亂，有喊叫這個的，有喊叫那個的；大半不知道是為甚麼聚集。
19:33 有人把亞歷山大從眾人中帶出來，猶太人推他往前，亞歷山大就擺手，要向百姓分訴；
19:34 只因他們認出他是猶太人，就大家同聲喊著說：「大哉！以弗所人的亞底米啊。」如此約有兩小時。
19:35 那城裡的書記安撫了眾人，就說：「以弗所人哪，誰不知道以弗所人的城是看守大亞底米的廟和從宙斯那裡落下來的像呢？
19:36 這事既是駁不倒的，你們就當安靜，不可造次。
19:37 你們把這些人帶來，他們並沒有偷竊廟中之物，也沒有謗讟我們的女神。
19:38 若是底米丟和他同行的人有控告人的事，自有放告的日子（或譯：自有公堂），也有方伯可以彼此對告。
19:39 你們若問別的事，就可以照常例聚集斷定。
19:40 今日的擾亂本是無緣無故，我們難免被查問。論到這樣聚眾，我們也說不出所以然來。」
19:41 說了這話，便叫眾人散去。

 

²³ About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. ²⁴ A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. ²⁵ He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. ²⁶ And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. ²⁷ There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”

²⁸ When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” ²⁹ Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and all of them rushed into the theater together. ³⁰ Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. ³¹ Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.

³² The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. ³³ The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. ³⁴ But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

³⁵ The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Fellow Ephesians, doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? ³⁶ Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. ³⁷ You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. ³⁸ If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. ³⁹ If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. ⁴⁰ As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” ⁴¹ After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

 

***********

 

    從以弗所發生的暴動，讓人感覺群眾是盲目的，常常不知青紅皂白的跟隨別人搖旗吶喊，最後就弄到不可收拾的局面，以弗所發生的這件事也是如此！

 

    教會任何的福音運動，也要有明確的目標、思想清楚的領導人，才不會落到這種下場！

 

 

 

使徒行傳19:8-22

 

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.

 

***********

 

    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！

使徒行傳19章

      使徒行傳19:1-7  ,

      使徒行傳19:8-22  ,

      使徒行傳19:23-41  ,

使徒行傳19:1-7

 

19:1 亞波羅在哥林多的時候，保羅經過了上邊一帶地方，就來到以弗所；在那裡遇見幾個門徒，
19:2 問他們說：「你們信的時候受了聖靈沒有？」他們回答說：「沒有，也未曾聽見有聖靈賜下來。」
19:3 保羅說：「這樣，你們受的是甚麼洗呢？」他們說：「是約翰的洗。」
19:4 保羅說：「約翰所行的是悔改的洗，告訴百姓當信那在他以後要來的，就是耶穌。」
19:5 他們聽見這話，就奉主耶穌的名受洗。
19:6 保羅按手在他們頭上，聖靈便降在他們身上，他們就說方言，又說預言（或譯：又講道）。
19:7 一共約有十二個人。

 

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples ² and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when^[a] you believed?”

They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

³ So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

⁴ Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” ⁵ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues^[b] and prophesied. ⁷ There were about twelve men in all.

 

***********

 

    領受聖靈使信耶穌之後的記號，正如保羅在以弗所書中有說到：「你們既聽見真理的道，就是那叫你們得救的福音，也信了基督，既然信他，就受了所應許的聖靈為印記。」(1:13)

 

     因此基督徒與其他宗教的信徒是不同的，不是認為：透過好行為才可上天堂得永生。基督是認為：我們必須先接受耶穌基督為救主，才能夠有能力行善，蒙上帝的喜悅。

 

    我們行善的力量不是來自於自己的本能，因為原本的人已經因為亞當夏娃犯罪之後而敗壞！必須因為信靠主耶穌之後，有聖靈為印記，才能夠有真正行善的能力！並且也凗有透過主耶穌，才能與上帝和好，才能回到上帝的家中，並在上帝國實現時得以進入那榮耀境！

 

 

 

   

 

尼希米記4:7-23

4:7 參巴拉、多比雅、阿拉伯人、亞捫人、亞實突人聽見修造耶路撒冷城牆，著手進行堵塞破裂的地方，就甚發怒。
4:8 大家同謀要來攻擊耶路撒冷，使城內擾亂。
4:9 然而，我們禱告我們的上帝，又因他們的緣故，就派人看守，晝夜防備。
4:10 猶大人說：「灰土尚多，扛抬的人力氣已經衰敗，所以我們不能建造城牆。」
4:11 我們的敵人且說：「趁他們不知不見，我們進入他們中間，殺他們，使工作止住。」
4:12 那靠近敵人居住的猶大人十次從各處來見我們，說：「你們必要回到我們那裡。」
4:13 所以我使百姓各按宗族拿刀、拿槍、拿弓站在城牆後邊低窪的空處。
4:14 我察看了，就起來對貴冑、官長，和其餘的人說：「不要怕他們！當記念主是大而可畏的。你們要為弟兄、兒女、妻子、家產爭戰。」
4:15 仇敵聽見我們知道他們的心意，見上帝也破壞他們的計謀，就不來了。我們都回到城牆那裡，各做各的工。
4:16 從那日起，我的僕人一半做工，一半拿槍、拿盾牌、拿弓、穿（或譯：拿）鎧甲，官長都站在猶大眾人的後邊。
4:17 修造城牆的，扛抬材料的，都一手做工一手拿兵器。
4:18 修造的人都腰間佩刀修造，吹角的人在我旁邊。
4:19 我對貴冑、官長，和其餘的人說：「這工程浩大，我們在城牆上相離甚遠；
4:20 你們聽見角聲在哪裡，就聚集到我們那裡去。我們的上帝必為我們爭戰。」
4:21 於是，我們做工，一半拿兵器，從天亮直到星宿出現的時候。
4:22 那時，我又對百姓說：「各人和他的僕人當在耶路撒冷住宿，好在夜間保守我們，白晝做工。」
4:23 這樣，我和弟兄僕人，並跟從我的護兵都不脫衣服，出去打水也帶兵器。

 

⁷ But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. ⁸ They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. ⁹ But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.

¹⁰ Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.”

¹¹ Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.”

¹² Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”

¹³ Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. ¹⁴ After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”

¹⁵ When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.

¹⁶ From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah ¹⁷ who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, ¹⁸ and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me.

¹⁹ Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. ²⁰ Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!”

²¹ So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out. ²² At that time I also said to the people, “Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve us as guards by night and as workers by day.” ²³ Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water.^[c]

 

**************

 

    尼希米建造城牆，不只有外患，也有內憂。敵人在外部破壞，內部是最惰性。也因此尼希米不僅要面對外敵的破壞，也要對內鼓勵弟兄姊妹。而他們這要的刻苦耐勞，上帝也幫他們抵擋外敵，而他們自己也一刻不懈怠！

 

    其實我們在教會的建造也是如此，要面對世界來的攻擊和影響，也要基地弟兄姊妹在靈性上的追求。也因為這樣，我們要不斷提醒弟兄姊妹：要面對世界來的征戰，要遵主為大；對內要加強靈修生活的建立，勝過自己的軟弱！

 

    相信我們這樣的刻苦與努力，更是需要聖靈的扶持！所以在禱告中不斷的求上帝加添心力，讓聖靈的大能不斷支持我們，讓我們盼望上帝的國快快實現，得著在基督裡的榮耀到永遠！