使徒行傳 第13章 中英摘要


  使徒行傳從13章開始,保羅登上歷史的宣教舞台,初代教會第一次的差派,就是打發保羅跟巴拿巴出去做神的工。神興起環境,讓門徒們從耶路撒冷開始向外開展,雖然基督徒遭逼迫,甚至殉道,但是神國的原則卻是,越逼迫越興旺,哪裡有逼迫,哪裡就有神蹟。

  弟兄姐妹,我們出去傳福音,就會遇到逼迫與羞辱,但這一切,神都會為我們來抵擋,祂會親自擦乾我們的眼淚,因為摸我們的,就是摸祂眼中的瞳人,神不會坐視不管的;若是我們不傳福音,雖然就不會遭遇逼迫,但不傳福音,我們就有禍了,並且這個禍,我們必須要自己面對、自己擔。

  保羅在帕弗嚴厲的斥責了行法術、敵擋使徒的以呂馬,並叫他瞎眼,暫且不見日光;之後保羅在彼西底的安提阿,對眾人講道,從神揀選亞伯拉罕、以色列民寄居埃及、掃羅王、大衛王到耶穌基督…. 他的道充滿聖靈的能力。保羅是位個性絕對且強烈的人,他得救之前,極力殘害、逼迫基督徒,進各人的家拉人下監;信主後的保羅,個性依舊火熱,為基督耶穌的福音奮不顧身,對神的道絲毫不肯妥協。

  彼得、司提反、保羅、巴拿巴,都有不同的個性及恩賜,神創造每個人都不同,信耶穌後,神所要改變我們的是「生命」,而不是「個性」;神使用不同個性的人來完成祂的使命,所以我不需要變成你,你也不需要變成我,但是我們都需要被神改變來像耶穌。

  這裡記載保羅和巴拿巴,放膽講說神的道;做大事需要有膽識,世人的膽識是用在賺錢、做生意;基督徒的膽識,則是用在為耶穌,賺靈魂。我們傳福音常會怕被笑、怕丟臉,耶穌基督神的兒子,為了我們的罪,赤身露體的被掛在十架上,在人看來才是極盡一切的羞辱;我們常愛講公平,主耶穌無罪,卻為了擔當我們的罪,而被掛在十架上,這才是最不公平。所以我們不要再怕丟臉,不要再講公平,神的兒子來到地上,若是不願受羞辱,若是要講公平,那我們今天都得救無望了。

  耶穌基督為至高神的兒子,祂本有神的形象,卻不以自己與神同等為強奪,反倒虛己,取了奴僕的形象,成為人的樣式….
耶穌告訴我們,為大的要做用人,為首的要做僕人,所以我們都要謙卑的來事奉神、服事人;自抬身價是沒有價值的,我們要神親自來抬舉我們,這才是永恆的真價值。

葉長老 風美小組信息 / 高雄 錦泰 摘錄回應

Acts 13

  From Acts 13 on, Paul started his missionary journey. The first commission of the early church was sending Paul and Barnabas out to do God’s work. God provided the environment so that the disciples were spread beyond Jerusalem. Many Christians were persecuted or even martyred, yet it is God’s principle that His kingdom flourished with every persecution; where there are persecutions, there are miracles.

  Brothers and sisters, we know that when we endeavor to spread the Gospel, we may be oppressed or humiliated, but God will withstand all the hardship with us, and He will dry our tears. We are the apple of His eye, so He will not disregard all the harm done to us. Woe to us if we do not spread the Gospel, because even though we won’t be persecuted in this world, we will have to face the consequential calamities on our own.

  In Paphos, Paul harshly denounced Elymas, the sorcerer who oppressed the Apostles. Paul blinded Elymas, so he was not able to see the light of the sun for a time. Later, Paul preached in Pisidian Antioch, telling people that God had chosen Abraham and that their ancestors once stayed in Egypt. Paul also told them about Saul, David, and Jesus Christ. Paul’s preach was full of power from the Holy Spirit. Paul was a man with strong personality; he gave every effort to persecute Christians before he was saved. He even went from house to house to drag off people and put them in prison. After Paul was saved, he remained enthusiastic, yet for a different end. He became enthusiastic for the Gospel of Jesus Christ; he wouldn’t compromise the Truth, and he was, at all times, ready to give up his life for the Gospel.

  Peter, Stephen, Paul, and Barnabas all had different personalities and gifts, because God gives everyone unique characteristics. After we convert to Christianity, what God will change is our “lives”, not our “personalities.” God uses every different character to complete His work. Therefore, I do not need to be like you, and vice versa. What we all need is to be changed by God so that we can learn to be Christ-like.

  It is recorded that Paul and Barnabas mustered their courage to speak the words of God. Great things take great deal of courage. The courage of the people in this world are used to run business and make money; the courage of Christians are used to win souls for Jesus. We are afraid of being laughed at or of being humiliated if we talk to people about Jesus, yet we seldom think about what a shame it must have been for Jesus, the son of God, to be crucified nakedly in public. We are always seeking fairness, but where is the fairness in Jesus Christ’s, the sinless son of God, crucifying for us? Hence, do not be afraid of humiliation, and do not talk about fairness anymore. If Jesus didn’t come to live among us, if he wouldn’t be humiliated, and if He wouldn’t allow any unfairness, we wouldn’t have been saved!
  He is the son of God, and He is in the form of God, yet He did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage, rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Jesus also told us that the greatest among us will be the servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave. So, let us humble ourselves to serve God and others. Boosting our prestige is worthless. The eternal worth lies in the praise of God.

Message by Elder Yeh / Summary and response by Jim Lin