你若口裡認耶穌為主，心裡信上帝叫他從死裡復活，就必得救。
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
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我們都盼望被上帝拯救，但是上帝真的樂意拯救我們。祂也在這裡啟示我們，要得上帝拯救的方法就是：「你若口裡認耶穌為主，心裡信上帝叫他從死裡復活！」
然而，這不是口裡說說或心裡想想的作為而已，而是要將自己的一生投入，因為上帝的拯救不是一時，而是永恆的；不是一時的激動，而是一輩子的跟隨！因為上帝是不離不棄的上帝，我們也要用不離不棄來回應上帝！
當然信仰的持守，不只是我們自己的堅忍，更是上帝用他的大能大力來支持，使我們一直到主耶穌再來的時候！正如保羅所說：「就是照他在基督身上所運行的大能大力，使他從死裡復活，叫他在天上坐在自己的右邊， 遠超過一切執政的、掌權的、有能的、主治的，和一切有名的；不但是今世的，連來世的也都超過了。」(以弗所書1:20-21)
1:1 亞哈隨魯作王，從印度直到古實，統管一百二十七省。
1:2 亞哈隨魯王在書珊城的宮登基；
1:3 在位第三年，為他一切首領臣僕設擺筵席，有波斯和米底亞的權貴，就是各省的貴冑與首領，在他面前。
1:4 他把他榮耀之國的豐富和他美好威嚴的尊貴給他們看了許多日，就是一百八十日。
1:5 這日子滿了，又為所有住書珊城的大小人民在御園的院子裡設擺筵席七日。
1:6 有白色、綠色、藍色的帳子，用細麻繩、紫色繩從銀環內繫在白玉石柱上；有金銀的床榻擺在紅、白、黃、黑玉石的鋪石地上。
1:7 用金器皿賜酒，器皿各有不同。御酒甚多，足顯王的厚意。
1:8 喝酒有例，不准勉強人，因王吩咐宮裡的一切臣宰，讓人各隨己意。
1:9 王后瓦實提在亞哈隨魯王的宮內也為婦女設擺筵席。
1:10 第七日，亞哈隨魯王飲酒，心中快樂，就吩咐在他面前侍立的七個太監米戶幔、比斯他、哈波拿、比革他、亞拔他、西達、甲迦，
1:11 請王后瓦實提頭戴王后的冠冕到王面前，使各等臣民看她的美貌，因為她容貌甚美。
1:12 王后瓦實提卻不肯遵太監所傳的王命而來，所以王甚發怒，心如火燒。
1:13 那時，在王左右常見王面、國中坐高位的，有波斯和米底亞的七個大臣，就是甲示拿、示達、押瑪他、他施斯、米力、瑪西拿、米母干，都是達時務的明哲人。按王的常規，辦事必先詢問知例明法的人。王問他們說：
1:14 【併於上節】
1:15 「王后瓦實提不遵太監所傳的王命，照例應當怎樣辦理呢？」
1:16 米母干在王和眾首領面前回答說：「王后瓦實提這事，不但得罪王，並且有害於王各省的臣民；
1:17 因為王后這事必傳到眾婦人的耳中，說：『亞哈隨魯王吩咐王后瓦實提到王面前，她卻不來』，她們就藐視自己的丈夫。
1:18 今日波斯和米底亞的眾夫人聽見王后這事，必向王的大臣照樣行；從此必大開藐視和忿怒之端。
1:19 王若以為美，就降旨寫在波斯和米底亞人的例中，永不更改，不准瓦實提再到王面前，將她王后的位分賜給比她還好的人。
1:20 所降的旨意傳遍通國（國度本來廣大），所有的婦人，無論丈夫貴賤都必尊敬他。」
1:21 王和眾首領都以米母干的話為美，王就照這話去行，
1:22 發詔書，用各省的文字、各族的方言通知各省，使為丈夫的在家中作主，各說本地的方言。
This is what happened during the time of Xerxes,[a] the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush[b]: 2 At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, 3 and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present.
4 For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty. 5 When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king’s palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest who were in the citadel of Susa. 6 The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones. 7 Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king’s liberality. 8 By the king’s command each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished.
9 Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
10 On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas— 11 to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. 12 But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.
13 Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times 14 and were closest to the king—Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukan, the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom.
15 “According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?” he asked. “She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her.”
16 Then Memukan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, “Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes. 17 For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.’ 18 This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen’s conduct will respond to all the king’s nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord.
19 “Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she. 20 Then when the king’s edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.”
21 The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memukan proposed. 22 He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be ruler over his own household, using his native tongue.
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以斯帖記一開始是一個歡樂的場面，亞哈隨魯即位作王時，國是非常強盛，領土非常廣大，可以說是一個很威嚴的王。
然而這威威嚴的王，卻是遇見一件非常掃興或沒有面子的事。就是在位第三年，為他一切首領臣僕設擺筵席，有波斯和米底亞的權貴，就是各省的貴冑與首領，在他面前。他把他榮耀之國的豐富和他美好威嚴的尊貴給他們看了許多日，就是一百八十日。這日子滿了，又為所有住書珊城的大小人民在御園的院子裡設擺筵席七日。
然而在這樣歡樂的日子裡，亞哈隨魯王飲酒，心中快樂，就吩咐在他面前侍立的七個太監米戶幔、比斯他、哈波拿、比革他、亞拔他、西達、甲迦，請王后瓦實提頭戴王后的冠冕到王面前，使各等臣民看她的美貌，因為她容貌甚美。
可是，王后瓦實提卻不肯遵太監所傳的王命而來，所以王甚發怒，心如火燒。而在這種狀況下，卻遇到一群「三寶」的大臣，還自以為聰明，竟然對亞哈隨魯王說：「王后瓦實提這事，不但得罪王，並且有害於王各省的臣民；因為王后這事必傳到眾婦人的耳中，說：『亞哈隨魯王吩咐王后瓦實提到王面前，她卻不來』，她們就藐視自己的丈夫。今日波斯和米底亞的眾夫人聽見王后這事，必向王的大臣照樣行；從此必大開藐視和忿怒之端。王若以為美，就降旨寫在波斯和米底亞人的例中，永不更改，不准瓦實提再到王面前，將她王后的位分賜給比她還好的人。所降的旨意傳遍通國（國度本來廣大），所有的婦人，無論丈夫貴賤都必尊敬他。」
這段言論可謂振振有詞，讓人覺得很有理由似的！而王也傻傻地聽從了他們的建議，就照這話去行，還下詔到全國各地為了要維護丈夫的尊嚴！
這或許聽來十分荒謬，但是上帝藉由這樣的事為以斯帖將來做王后的事來開場白，讓人覺得很有戲劇效果！
26:1 亞基帕對保羅說：「准你為自己辯明。」於是保羅伸手分訴，說：
26:2 「亞基帕王啊，猶太人所告我的一切事，今日得在你面前分訴，實為萬幸；
26:3 更可幸的，是你熟悉猶太人的規矩和他們的辯論；所以求你耐心聽我。
26:4 我從起初在本國的民中，並在耶路撒冷，自幼為人如何，猶太人都知道。
26:5 他們若肯作見證就曉得，我從起初是按著我們教中最嚴緊的教門作了法利賽人。
26:6 現在我站在這裡受審，是因為指望上帝向我們祖宗所應許的；
26:7 這應許，我們十二個支派，晝夜切切地事奉上帝，都指望得著。王啊，我被猶太人控告，就是因這指望。
26:8 上帝叫死人復活，你們為甚麼看作不可信的呢？
26:9 從前我自己以為應當多方攻擊拿撒勒人耶穌的名，
26:10 我在耶路撒冷也曾這樣行了。既從祭司長得了權柄，我就把許多聖徒囚在監裡。他們被殺，我也出名定案。
26:11 在各會堂，我屢次用刑強逼他們說褻瀆的話，又分外惱恨他們，甚至追逼他們，直到外邦的城邑。」
26:12 「那時，我領了祭司長的權柄和命令，往大馬士革去。
26:13 王啊，我在路上，晌午的時候，看見從天發光，比日頭還亮，四面照著我並與我同行的人。
26:14 我們都仆倒在地，我就聽見有聲音用希伯來話向我說：『掃羅！掃羅！為甚麼逼迫我？你用腳踢刺是難的！』
26:15 我說：『主啊，你是誰？』主說：『我就是你所逼迫的耶穌。
26:16 你起來站著，我特意向你顯現，要派你作執事，作見證，將你所看見的事和我將要指示你的事證明出來。
26:17 我也要救你脫離百姓和外邦人的手。
26:18 我差你到他們那裡去，要叫他們的眼睛得開，從黑暗中歸向光明，從撒但權下歸向上帝；又因信我，得蒙赦罪，和一切成聖的人同得基業。』」
26:19 「亞基帕王啊，我故此沒有違背那從天上來的異象；
26:20 先在大馬士革，後在耶路撒冷和猶太全地，以及外邦，勸勉他們應當悔改歸向上帝，行事與悔改的心相稱。
26:21 因此，猶太人在殿裡拿住我，想要殺我。
26:22 然而我蒙上帝的幫助，直到今日還站得住，對著尊貴、卑賤、老幼作見證；所講的並不外乎眾先知和摩西所說將來必成的事，
26:23 就是基督必須受害，並且因從死裡復活，要首先把光明的道傳給百姓和外邦人。」
26:24 保羅這樣分訴，非斯都大聲說：「保羅，你癲狂了吧。你的學問太大，反叫你癲狂了！」
26:25 保羅說：「非斯都大人，我不是癲狂，我說的乃是真實明白話。
26:26 王也曉得這些事，所以我向王放膽直言，我深信這些事沒有一件向王隱藏的，因都不是在背地裡做的。
26:27 亞基帕王啊，你信先知嗎？我知道你是信的。」
26:28 亞基帕對保羅說：「你想少微一勸，便叫我作基督徒啊（或譯：你這樣勸我，幾乎叫我作基督徒了）！」
26:29 保羅說：「無論是少勸是多勸，我向上帝所求的，不但你一個人，就是今天一切聽我的，都要像我一樣，只是不要像我有這些鎖鍊。」
26:30 於是，王和巡撫並百妮基與同坐的人都起來，
26:31 退到裡面，彼此談論說：「這人並沒有犯甚麼該死該綁的罪。」
26:32 亞基帕又對非斯都說：「這人若沒有上告於凱撒，就可以釋放了。」
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”
So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4 “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
9 “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,[a] ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’
“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 21 That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”
25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”
32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
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保羅在亞基帕王和非斯都大人面前見證自己的得救過程，雖然簡短卻是明確的。而且保羅勇敢地宣告：「「亞基帕王啊，我故此沒有違背那從天上來的異象！」
保羅從天上來的異象是什麼？這不是他用自己的想法揣摩出來的，也不是甚麼神聖的想像力而得的產物，完全是從主耶穌來的，主耶穌用大光呼召他的時候說：「你起來站著，我特意向你顯現，要派你作執事，作見證，將你所看見的事和我將要指示你的事證明出來。我也要救你脫離百姓和外邦人的手。我差你到他們那裡去，要叫他們的眼睛得開，從黑暗中歸向光明，從撒但權下歸向上帝；又因信我，得蒙赦罪，和一切成聖的人同得基業。」
保羅宣告自己的異象不是要高抬自己、彰顯自己，而是要完成主給他的使命，就是讓上帝使用來拯救人脫離魔鬼的權勢，使人可以透過耶穌基督的恩典歸向上帝，並且承受上帝所賜永遠的基業！
許多基督徒忘記信主的目的是要「歸向上帝，得蒙赦罪，和一切成聖的人同得基業」。和別人一樣看重今世的豐盛，將時間花在其上，忘記要親近主，以主為榮，並永遠享受祂的同在！求主保守我們，從「今世豐盛―的迷失走出來，邁向上帝要賜給我們永遠的國！
