使徒行傳 第26章 中英摘要


  接續第二十五章,這章節保羅開始在亞基帕王、非斯都、和眾人前為自己所行的一切辯論,這場辯論會無疑也是保羅的一場佈道會,他將自己自幼被教導如何做法利賽人,又運用自身所擁有的權柄攻擊耶穌的名,逼迫相信耶穌的人,直到他在往大馬色的路上,真實經歷耶穌並接受所領受的異象,他將所經歷的一切事與大家說明並見證耶穌已為我們釘上十字架,並從死裡復活。我們只要因著信,願意在神面前認罪悔改,就能得蒙赦罪。

  保羅對亞基帕王說,他沒有違背從天上來的異象,其實這句話也同樣是對著我們所說的。我們是否也同樣領受了神所託付給我們的異象,但卻仍沒有任何行動呢? 保羅緊抓住神所給他的異象,他從沒有放棄或妥協過,仍堅持神所託付的使命。神知道我們會害怕,所以在整本聖經中,祂不斷提醒著我們 「不要怕」。我們要練習靠著神的話語和弟兄姊妹的相互扶持將我們心中的害怕除去。

  保羅不斷的強調耶穌已從死裡復活,而神也藉由祂的愛子來到世上為我們捨命而後復活這件事,讓我們不再害怕死亡,不再被死亡挾制,讓我們從死亡恐懼中得著釋放。

  保羅也在這場佈道會中表明,他的前半段人生看似非常美好,也一直在做他所認為對的事,但當他認識耶穌後,才發現原先的那些熱情全用錯了地方!弟兄姊妹們,我們是否也將我們的生命放錯了位置,將熱情浪費在完全不重要的事上呢?身為基督徒,在我們的身上是被賦予責任的,雖然這些責任看似艱難,我們也不一定能完成,但神卻說我們所擔的擔子是輕省的、所負的軛是容易的,因我們靠著祂的恩典和幫助就能成就一切超乎我們所求所想的。

  我們從亞帕基王回答保羅的話中,可以發現他是一個驕傲的人;而非斯都因著自己的不信,就說保羅癲狂了,他們都心裡剛硬而錯失了福音的美好。
  但願我們都能如同保羅般對神癲狂,將神放在我們生命中的首位,時刻對祂有敬畏的心,做祂的軍隊,為神打場美好得勝的屬靈爭戰!

2015/7/9 葉長老 風美小組信息/宜薰 摘錄整理

storm-600581-1000

Acts 26

  Following the event in chapter 25, Paul started to speak for himself before King Agrippa, Festus, and other people. This defense is no doubt another sermon of Paul. He told the crowd how he was taught to be a Pharisee, how he attacked the name of Jesus and persecuted those who believed in Him, and how he met Jesus and receive a vision on his way to Damascus. Paul recounted all his experiences to the crowd and testified for Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection for our sins. If we believe in Jesus and confess our sins in front of Him, we will be forgiven.

  Paul said to King Agrippa, “I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.” Actually, Paul was saying this to us as well. Have we received any vision from heaven, and yet failed to obey it? Paul hold on to the vision God had given him; he never gave up or yielded, instead, he was persistent in the mission God had entrusted him. God knew Paul would be afraid, so He reminds us, throughout the entire Bible, “be not afraid.” We need to practice to cast fear out of our hearts through God’s words and the support of our brothers and sisters.

  Paul emphasis over and over again that Jesus had resurrected. God removed the fear of death from us by sending His son to this world to be crucified for us. We are no longer bounded by death, and we are released from the fear of death.

  In this sermon, Paul also stated that the first part of his life had seemed wonderful to him, and he had always thought that he had been doing the right thing. However, after he met Jesus, he realized he had used his passion for the wrong end. Brothers and sisters, have we also put our lives in the wrong place? Have we wasted our enthusiasm for the unimportant things? As Christians, we are given great responsibilities. These responsibilities may seem difficult and we may not be able to fulfill them, but God says that our yoke is easy and our burden is light, because God, with his power and grace, will help us achieve great things beyond our imaginations.

  We can see from King Agrippa’s response to Paul that he is very proud. As for Festus, he said Paul was insane because of his disbelief. They both lost the glory of the Gospel because of their obstinacies.

  May we all be crazy about God like Paul. Let us put God in the first place of our lives. May we hold awe toward God at all times. May we become God’s army and fight the good fight for Him.

2015/7/9 Message by Elder Yeh