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哥尼流蒙主指示

10 在該撒利亞有一個人,名叫哥尼流,是意大利營的百夫長。 他是一個虔誠的人,他和全家都敬畏 神,對人民行過許多善事,常常向 神禱告。 有一天,大約下午三點鐘,他在異象中,清清楚楚看見 神的一位天使來到他那裡,對他說:“哥尼流!” 他定睛一看,害怕起來,說:“主啊,甚麼事?”天使說:“你的禱告和善行,已經達到 神面前,蒙他記念了。 現在你要派人到約帕去,請那個名叫彼得的西門來。 他在一個製皮工人西門的家裡作客,房子就在海邊。” 和他說話的天使走了之後,他就叫了兩個家僕和侍候他的一個虔誠的士兵來, 把一切事向他們講明,然後派他們到約帕去。

彼得見異象(A)

第二天,大約正午,他們走近那座城的時候,彼得上了房頂去禱告。 10 那家人正在預備飯的時候,彼得覺得餓了,很想吃飯。這時候他魂遊象外, 11 看見天開了,有一件東西,好像一塊大布,綁著四角,降在地上。 12 裡面有地上的各樣四足牲畜,還有昆蟲和天空的飛鳥。 13 有聲音對他說:“彼得,起來,宰了吃!” 14 彼得說:“主啊,千萬不可!我從來不吃俗物和不潔的東西。” 15 第二次又有聲音對他說:“ 神所潔淨的,你不可當作俗物。” 16 這樣一連三次,那件東西就立刻收回天上去了。 17 彼得猶豫不定,不明白所看見的異象是甚麼意思,恰好哥尼流派來的人,找到西門的家,站在門口, 18 大聲問:“有沒有一個名叫彼得的西門在這裡作客?” 19 彼得還在思量那異象,聖靈對他說:“你看,有三個人來找你! 20 起來,下去吧,跟他們一起去,不要疑惑,因為是我差他們來的。” 21 於是彼得下樓到他們那裡,說:“看,我就是你們所要找的人。你們是為甚麼來的?” 22 他們說:“百夫長哥尼流是個義人,敬畏 神,全猶太族都稱讚他。他得到一位聖天使的指示,請你到他家裡,要聽你的話。” 23 彼得就請他們進去,留他們住下。

第二天,彼得動身跟他們一同去,另有約帕的幾位弟兄同行。 24 第三天,他們到了該撒利亞。哥尼流已經招聚了自己的親戚好友在恭候他們。 25 彼得一進去,哥尼流就迎接他,俯伏在他腳前叩拜。 26 彼得扶起他,說:“起來,我也是人。” 27 彼得和他說了話,就進去,看見許多人聚集在那裡, 28 就對他們說:“你們知道,猶太人本來是不准和外國人接近來往的,但 神已經指示了我,不可把任何人當作凡俗或不潔的。 29 所以我一被邀請,就毫不推辭地來了。現在請問:你們請我來是為甚麼事?” 30 哥尼流說:“四天以前下午三點鐘,我在家裡禱告的時候,忽然有一位身穿光明衣服的人,站在我面前, 31 說:‘哥尼流,你的禱告已蒙垂聽,你的善行在 神面前已蒙記念。 32 你要派人到約帕去,請那個名叫彼得的西門來。他在海邊一個製皮工人西門的家作客。’ 33 所以我立刻派人去請你,現在你來了,好極了!我們都在 神面前,要聽主吩咐你的一切話。”

彼得對哥尼流全家講道

34 彼得就開口說:“我實在看出 神是不偏待人的。 35 原來在各民族中,凡敬畏他而行義的,都蒙他悅納。 36  神藉著耶穌基督(他是萬有的主)傳和平的福音,把這道傳給以色列人。 37 你們知道:在約翰傳講洗禮之後,這道從加利利傳遍了猶太, 38 並且知道 神怎樣用聖靈和能力膏立拿撒勒人耶穌。他到各處行善事,醫好所有被魔鬼壓制的人,因為 神與他同在。 39 我們就是他在猶太人之地和耶路撒冷所行一切事的見證人;他們竟然把他掛在木頭上,殺了他。 40  神叫他第三天復活,並且使他顯現, 41 不是顯現給所有的人看,而是給 神預先揀選的見證人看,就是我們這些在他從死人中復活之後,與他一同吃喝的人。 42 他吩咐我們向人民傳講,鄭重證明他是 神所立,審判活人死人的主。 43 所有先知都為他作見證:所有信他的,都必藉著他的名,罪得赦免。”

外族人領受聖靈

44 彼得還在說話的時候,聖靈降在所有聽道的人身上, 45 那些受了割禮、跟彼得一同來的信徒,因為聖靈的恩賜(“恩賜”或譯:“恩賞”)也澆灌在外族人的身上,都很驚訝; 46 原來聽見他們講方言,尊 神為大。於是彼得說: 47 “這些人既然領受了聖靈,跟我們一樣,誰能禁止他們受水的洗禮呢?” 48 就吩咐他們奉耶穌基督的名受洗。後來,他們請彼得住了幾天。

哥尼流邀请彼得

10 在凯撒利亚有一位隶属意大利营的百夫长名叫哥尼流。 他和全家都是虔诚敬畏上帝的人,他慷慨周济穷人,常常祷告。 一天,大约下午三点,他在异象中清楚地看见一位上帝的天使进来呼唤他:“哥尼流!”

哥尼流惊恐地注视着他,问:“主啊,什么事?”

天使回答说:“你的祷告和周济穷人的善行已经在上帝面前蒙悦纳。 如今你要派人去约帕,请一个叫西门·彼得的人来。 他住在一个叫西门的皮革匠家里,房子在海边。”

向他说话的天使离开后,哥尼流叫来两个家仆和自己的一个敬虔侍卫, 把刚才的事告诉他们,然后差他们去约帕。

彼得见异象

第二天中午,他们快要到达约帕时,彼得上屋顶去祷告。 10 他觉得肚子饿了,想吃东西。那家人正在预备午饭的时候,彼得进入异象, 11 看见天开了,有一样东西好像一大块布,四角吊着降到地上, 12 里面有各种天上的飞禽、地上的爬虫和四足的走兽。 13 然后有声音对他说:“彼得,起来,宰了吃!”

14 彼得却说:“主啊!这可不行!我从未吃过任何污秽不洁之物。”

15 那声音又一次对他说:“上帝已经洁净的,你不可再称之为不洁净。” 16 这样一连三次之后,那块布就被收回天上去了。

17 彼得不知所措,正在猜测这异象到底是什么意思,哥尼流的仆人们刚好找来了, 18 正站在门口大声问西门·彼得是否住在这里。

19 彼得还在苦苦思索的时候,圣灵又对他说:“彼得,外面有三个人来找你, 20 快下楼跟他们去,不必多虑,他们是我差来的。” 21 彼得就下去见他们,说:“我就是你们要找的人,有什么事?”

22 他们说:“哥尼流百夫长是个又正直又敬畏上帝的人,连犹太人都称赞他。上帝的天使指示他请你到他家里去,好听你的指教。”

23 彼得就留他们住了一夜。第二天,彼得和他们以及几个约帕的弟兄一同出发了。 24 又过了一天,他们到达凯撒利亚。哥尼流已经请来亲朋好友,在等候他们。 25 他一看见彼得,就迎上去俯伏在他脚前拜他。 26 彼得连忙把他扶起来,说:“快起来,我只不过是人。”

27 彼得和他边走边谈,进屋后,见聚集了许多人, 28 就对他们说:“你们都知道,按照犹太人的传统,我们不可以和外族人来往。但上帝已经指示我不可把任何人视为污秽不洁。 29 所以,我受到邀请后,毫不犹豫地来了。请问你们为什么请我来?”

30 哥尼流说:“四天前,大约也是下午三点这个时候,我在家里祷告,忽然有一个身穿明亮衣服的人站在我面前, 31 说,‘哥尼流,上帝已经垂听了你的祷告,也悦纳你周济穷人的善行。 32 你派人去约帕把那位叫西门·彼得的人请来,他住在海边一个叫西门的皮革匠家。’ 33 于是我立刻派人去请你。你能来,真是荣幸,现在我们都在上帝面前,想聆听主吩咐你传给我们的话。”

福音临到外族人

34 彼得说:“现在我深深地明白,上帝不偏待人。 35 无论哪一个民族,只要敬畏祂,秉公行义,都会蒙祂接纳。 36 上帝借着万物的主宰——耶稣基督把平安的福音传给以色列人。 37 你们都知道,自从约翰宣讲洗礼以来,从加利利开始,整个犹太地区发生了什么事。 38 你们也知道,拿撒勒人耶稣是上帝用圣灵和大能膏立的。祂周游四方,广行善事,医好被魔鬼压制的人,因为上帝与祂同在。 39 我们亲眼目睹了耶稣在犹太全境和耶路撒冷所做的一切。可是,世人却把祂钉死在十字架上。 40 但第三天,上帝使祂从死里复活,并且向人显现, 41 不是向所有的人显现,而是向被上帝预先拣选为祂做见证的人显现,就是我们这些在祂复活以后与祂一同吃喝过的人。 42 祂命令我们向世人传道,见证祂就是上帝指派来审判活人和死人的那位。 43 所有先知也都为祂做见证说,‘谁信祂,谁的罪就能借着祂的名得到赦免。’”

44 彼得还在说话的时候,圣灵就降临在每一个听道的人身上。 45 跟彼得一起来的那些严守割礼的信徒,看见圣灵的恩赐也浇灌到外族人身上,都很惊奇。 46 因为他们听见这些人又说方言又赞美上帝。于是彼得说: 47 “既然这些人已经和我们一样领受了圣灵,谁能阻止他们接受洗礼呢?” 48 彼得吩咐他们奉耶稣基督的名受洗。之后,他们又请彼得住了几天。

Peter’s Vision

10 1-3 There was a man named Cornelius who lived in Caesarea, captain of the Italian Guard stationed there. He was a thoroughly good man. He had led everyone in his house to live worshipfully before God, was always helping people in need, and had the habit of prayer. One day about three o’clock in the afternoon he had a vision. An angel of God, as real as his next-door neighbor, came in and said, “Cornelius.”

4-6 Cornelius stared hard, wondering if he was seeing things. Then he said, “What do you want, sir?”

The angel said, “Your prayers and neighborly acts have brought you to God’s attention. Here’s what you are to do. Send men to Joppa to get Simon, the one everyone calls Peter. He is staying with Simon the Tanner, whose house is down by the sea.”

7-8 As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two servants and one particularly devout soldier from the guard. He went over with them in great detail everything that had just happened, and then sent them off to Joppa.

9-13 The next day as the three travelers were approaching the town, Peter went out on the balcony to pray. It was about noon. Peter got hungry and started thinking about lunch. While lunch was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the skies open up. Something that looked like a huge blanket lowered by ropes at its four corners settled on the ground. Every kind of animal and reptile and bird you could think of was on it. Then a voice came: “Go to it, Peter—kill and eat.”

14 Peter said, “Oh, no, Lord. I’ve never so much as tasted food that was not kosher.”

15 The voice came a second time: “If God says it’s okay, it’s okay.”

16 This happened three times, and then the blanket was pulled back up into the skies.

17-20 As Peter, puzzled, sat there trying to figure out what it all meant, the men sent by Cornelius showed up at Simon’s front door. They called in, asking if there was a Simon, also called Peter, staying there. Peter, lost in thought, didn’t hear them, so the Spirit whispered to him, “Three men are knocking at the door looking for you. Get down there and go with them. Don’t ask any questions. I sent them to get you.”

21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I think I’m the man you’re looking for. What’s up?”

22-23 They said, “Captain Cornelius, a God-fearing man well-known for his fair play—ask any Jew in this part of the country—was commanded by a holy angel to get you and bring you to his house so he could hear what you had to say.” Peter invited them in and made them feel at home.

God Plays No Favorites

23-26 The next morning he got up and went with them. Some of his friends from Joppa went along. A day later they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had his relatives and close friends waiting with him. The minute Peter came through the door, Cornelius was up on his feet greeting him—and then down on his face worshiping him! Peter pulled him up and said, “None of that—I’m a man and only a man, no different from you.”

27-29 Talking things over, they went on into the house, where Cornelius introduced Peter to everyone who had come. Peter addressed them, “You know, I’m sure that this is highly irregular. Jews just don’t do this—visit and relax with people of another race. But God has just shown me that no race is better than any other. So the minute I was sent for, I came, no questions asked. But now I’d like to know why you sent for me.”

30-32 Cornelius said, “Four days ago at about this time, midafternoon, I was home praying. Suddenly there was a man right in front of me, flooding the room with light. He said, ‘Cornelius, your daily prayers and neighborly acts have brought you to God’s attention. I want you to send to Joppa to get Simon, the one they call Peter. He’s staying with Simon the Tanner down by the sea.’

33 “So I did it—I sent for you. And you’ve been good enough to come. And now we’re all here in God’s presence, ready to listen to whatever the Master put in your heart to tell us.”

34-36 Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he’s doing it everywhere, among everyone.

37-38 “You know the story of what happened in Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached a total life-change. Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him.

39-43 “And we saw it, saw it all, everything he did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem where they killed him, hung him from a cross. But in three days God had him up, alive, and out where he could be seen. Not everyone saw him—he wasn’t put on public display. Witnesses had been carefully handpicked by God beforehand—us! We were the ones, there to eat and drink with him after he came back from the dead. He commissioned us to announce this in public, to bear solemn witness that he is in fact the One whom God destined as Judge of the living and dead. But we’re not alone in this. Our witness that he is the means to forgiveness of sins is backed up by the witness of all the prophets.”

44-46 No sooner were these words out of Peter’s mouth than the Holy Spirit came on the listeners. The believing Jews who had come with Peter couldn’t believe it, couldn’t believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on “outsider” non-Jews, but there it was—they heard them speaking in tongues, heard them praising God.

46-48 Then Peter said, “Do I hear any objections to baptizing these friends with water? They’ve received the Holy Spirit exactly as we did.” Hearing no objections, he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Then they asked Peter to stay on for a few days.