新约 - 使徒行传(Acts)第11章

And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,
Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.
But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,
I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.
But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.
But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.
And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.
And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:
And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the LORD Jesus.
And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
使徒行传第十一章   第 11 章 

  徒 11:1-2> 只有犹太人才可以得救?只有遵守所有规条的人才可以得救?我所听的救恩是…… 

  11:1-2 外邦人是指所有不属于犹太民族的人,犹太信徒有时被称为“受割礼的门徒”。大多数犹太信徒都认为只有他们才会得到神的拯救,因为神把律法赐给他们(参出 19-20 章);在耶路撒冷另有一群信徒相信外邦人也可以得救,但要他们遵守所有犹太人律法和传统,才可得救,即是说要他们成为犹太人。这两种想法都是错的,神拣选犹太人,将律法教导他们,是要他们将救恩传给世上“所有”的人(参创 12:3 ;诗 22:27 ;赛 42:4 ; 60:1-3 ;玛 1:11 ;罗 15:9-12 )。 

  徒 11:2-18> 信徒争论,口舌不停?与人意见不同时,你会…… 

  11:2-18 彼得带着哥尼流悔改信主的消息回到耶路撒冷,信徒因为他曾经和外邦人一同吃饭而感到震惊,然而,当他们听到整件事情的始末后,就赞美神( 11:18 )。他们的反应教导我们如何处理与其他信徒之间的争论。在判断其他信徒的行为之前,必须听取他们的解释,圣灵也许藉着他们来教导我们重要的功课。 

  徒 11:12-18> 彼得要为自己与外邦人同席辩护,只用将经过述说一遍便成,何用见证人? 

  11:12-18 彼得为与外邦人一同吃饭这件事所作的辩护,不过是再简述整件事情而已。他带着六位见证人来支持自己,然后引用耶稣说过有关圣灵降临的应许( 11:16 )。彼得和其他信徒所需要的证据,就是这些外邦人的生命已经改变了。改变了的生命在今天仍然是有力的证据。 

  徒 11:18> 他们何等欢喜快乐,也许福音可否给外邦人这个问题可以解决了吧? 

  11:18 随着神也赐下圣灵给外邦人这消息传来,理性上和教义上的问题都得到解答。这是初期教会的一个转捩点:神所拣选的,即使是外邦人,他们也要接纳。不过,并非每一个犹太信徒都因外邦人悔改而欢欣。在整个第一世纪中,一直都有犹太基督徒为这个问题而争论。 

  巴拿巴与扫罗在安提阿 

  徒 11:19-21> 从前因司提反殉道而四散的信徒,今则大有用处,为何? 

  11:19-21 当教会接受彼得的见证,认为外邦人也可以接受福音后,基督教开始迅速地传到外邦人的地区,并且有许多外邦人成为信徒。这宣教工作的种子在司提反殉道时开始播下,当时许多犹太信徒都受到迫害,分散各处在远方城市定居下来传扬福音。 

  徒 11:20-21> 他们真的没有忘记耶稣的吩咐,你看他们所行的…… 

  11:20-21 在安提阿,信徒开始实践向普世传扬基督的使命,积极地向外邦人传福音。腓利曾在撒马利亚传道,其实撒马利亚人有部分犹太人血统( 8:5 );彼得向哥尼流传道时,他已经是敬拜神的( 10:2 )。在耶路撒冷爆发大迫害后,分散到各处的信徒向在他们避难的地方的犹太人传福音( 11:19 );这时信徒开始热切地与外邦人分享福音。 

  徒 11:22> 拜偶像的地方,竟也是初期教会的重要地方,安提阿这地方也真特别…… 

  11:22 除耶路撒冷外,在初期教会中,安提阿比其他城市重要。在安提阿,第一所外邦人教会建立起来,信徒首次被称为基督徒( 11:26 )。保罗在他的布道旅程中,以这个城市为他的根据地。安提阿是敬拜外邦偶像的中心,也是跟外邦宗教连在一起的淫乱和邪恶行为的滋生地。安提阿也是一个重要的商业中心──通往东方世界的大门。不论是对于罗马或初期教会来说,安提阿都是一个重要城市。 

  徒 11:22-24> 初信者当遇到巴拿巴,何解?你说呢?你愿意成为一个“巴拿巴”吗? 

  11:22-24 巴拿巴在教导我们如何帮助初信者上是一个极好的榜样。巴拿巴以他坚定的信心,喜乐的事奉,以及仁爱来劝慰及教导初信者( 9:26-30 )。当你遇到初信者时,要记起巴拿巴,想想有什么方法可以帮助他们的信心成长。 

  徒 11:26> 门徒首次被称为基督徒!但,这有何重要? 

  11:26 年轻的安提阿教会把犹太人和外邦人集聚在一起。有一点很重要的,信徒是由这里开始被称为基督徒,他们的共通点就是基督──不是种族、文化甚或语言。基督能越过一切障碍,把所有人联合在一起。 

  徒 11:26> 为到栽培的缘故,扫罗他们留下了;信了不就成了么?为何要栽培? 

  11:26 巴拿巴和扫罗在安提阿逗留了一整年的时间,教导初信者。他们本可以离开这里到其他城市去,但他们看见栽培和训练的重要而留下。你曾帮助人信靠神吗?花点时间教导和鼓励他。你是不是初信的呢?记着,你的基督徒生命不过刚刚起步,你需要不断地读圣经和学习,你的信心才能长大和成熟。 

  徒 11:29> 慷慨捐献,常挂嘴上,但要我落实去行就…… 

  11:29 安提阿的人能够这样慷慨地捐献,是因为他们关心别人的需要。这是圣经所命令的“捐得甘心乐意”(林后 9:7 );勉强的捐献显出对人缺乏关怀。你要注意关心那些有需要的人,这样你便能乐意捐献。──《灵修版圣经注释》