提摩太加入福音事工

16 保罗来到特庇,然后又到路司得。那里有个门徒名叫提摩太,母亲是信主的犹太人,父亲是希腊人。 路司得和以哥念的弟兄姊妹都称赞提摩太。 保罗打算带提摩太去传福音。因为当地的犹太人都知道提摩太的父亲是希腊人,保罗就给提摩太行了割礼。 他们走遍各城,把耶路撒冷的使徒和长老所定下的规条教导当地的门徒遵守。 这样,众教会在信仰上得到坚固,人数天天都在增加。

马其顿人的呼求

由于圣灵阻止他们到亚细亚传福音,他们便经过弗吕迦和加拉太地区, 来到每西亚的边界,正要进入庇推尼地区,耶稣的灵又加以拦阻。 他们就越过每西亚,下到特罗亚。 当天晚上,保罗在异象中看见一个马其顿人站在那里恳求他:“请到马其顿来帮助我们!”

10 保罗见了这个异象,确信是上帝呼召我们[a]到马其顿去传福音,就立刻准备动身。 11 我们从特罗亚启航,直接驶往撒摩特喇,第二天抵达尼亚坡里, 12 再从那里来到腓立比。腓立比是马其顿的主要城市,是罗马帝国的殖民地。我们在那里住了几天。 13 安息日那天,我们到城外的河边,知道那里有一个祷告的地方,就坐下来,向已经聚集的妇女讲道。 14 听众中有个卖紫色布匹的妇人名叫吕底亚,是推雅推喇城的人,向来敬拜上帝。上帝开启她的心,她便留心听保罗讲道。 15 吕底亚和家人接受洗礼之后,极力邀请我们,说:“如果你们认为我是真心信主的话,请来我家住。”于是强留我们住下。

保罗和西拉入狱

16 一天,我们又去河边那个祷告的地方,途中遇到一个被巫鬼附身的女奴。她用占卜为她的主人们赚了不少钱。 17 她跟着保罗和我们大喊大叫:“这些人是至高上帝的奴仆,是来向你们宣讲得救之道的。” 18 一连几天,她都这样喊叫。保罗不胜其烦,就转过身来斥责那鬼:“我奉耶稣基督的名命令你从她身上出来!”那鬼立刻从她身上出去了。

19 她的主人们眼见财路断绝了,就把保罗和西拉揪住,拖到广场去见官长。 20 他们在官长面前控告保罗和西拉,说:“这些是犹太人,竟扰乱我们的城市, 21 宣扬我们罗马人不可接受或实行的风俗。” 22 于是,大家都一起攻击他们,官长下令剥掉他们的衣服,杖打他们。 23 他们被毒打一顿,又被关进监狱,官长命狱卒严密看守。 24 狱卒接到命令后把他们关进内牢,双脚上了枷锁。

25 半夜,保罗和西拉祷告、唱诗赞美上帝,其他的囚犯都侧耳倾听。 26 突然间发生大地震,整座监狱的地基都摇动起来,牢门立刻全开了,囚犯的锁链也都松开了。 27 狱卒惊醒后,看见牢门尽开,以为囚犯已经逃走了,就想拔刀自杀。 28 保罗见状,大声喝止:“不要伤害自己,我们都在这里!”

29 狱卒叫人拿灯过来,冲进内牢,战战兢兢地俯伏在保罗和西拉面前。 30 狱卒领他们出来后问道:“两位先生,我该怎样做才能得救?”

31 他们说:“要信主耶稣,你和你一家就必定得救。” 32 于是保罗和西拉向狱卒和他全家传讲主的道。 33 当晚,狱卒把二人带去,为他们清洗伤口。他一家老小都接受了洗礼。 34 他请二人到家里吃饭,他和全家人充满了喜乐,因为都信了上帝。

35 第二天早上,官长派差役来,说:“把他们放了。” 36 狱卒转告保罗说:“官长下令释放你们,现在你们可以平安地走了。” 37 保罗却说:“我们是罗马公民,他们不经审讯就当众打我们,又把我们关进牢里,现在却想偷偷打发掉我们吗?这样不行,叫他们亲自来领我们出去!”

38 差役回报官长。官长得知保罗和西拉都是罗马公民,非常害怕, 39 连忙到狱中向他们道歉,领他们出监,又央求他们离开腓立比。 40 二人离开监狱,来到吕底亚家中,见了弟兄姊妹,劝勉一番之后,便离开了那里。

Footnotes

  1. 16:10 本书作者路加此时加入保罗的行列,故改用第一人称复数“我们”。

16 And he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, there was a certain disciple there named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman that believed; but his father was a Gentile.

To this man the brethren that were in Lystra and Iconium, gave a good testimony.

Him Paul would have to go along with him: and taking him he circumcised him, because of the Jews who were in those places. For they all knew that his father was a Gentile.

And as they passed through the cities, they delivered unto them the decrees for to keep, that were decreed by the apostles and ancients who were at Jerusalem.

And the churches were confirmed in faith, and increased in number daily.

And when they had passed through Phrygia, and the country of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.

And when they were come into Mysia, they attempted to go into Bythynia, and the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not.

And when they had passed through Mysia, they went down to Troas.

And a vision was shewed to Paul in the night, which was a man of Macedonia standing and beseeching him, and saying: Pass over into Macedonia, and help us.

10 And as soon as he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, being assured that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

11 And sailing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the day following to Neapolis;

12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were in this city some days conferring together.

13 And upon the sabbath day, we went forth without the gate by a river side, where it seemed that there was prayer; and sitting down, we spoke to the women that were assembled.

14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, did hear: whose heart the Lord opened to attend to those things which were said by Paul.

15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying: If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain girl, having a pythonical spirit, met us, who brought to her masters much gain by divining.

17 This same following Paul and us, cried out, saying: These men are the servants of the most high God, who preach unto you the way of salvation.

18 And this she did many days. But Paul being grieved, turned, and said to the spirit: I command thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, to go out from her. And he went out the same hour.

19 But her masters, seeing that the hope of their gain was gone, apprehending Paul and Silas, brought them into the marketplace to the rulers.

20 And presenting them to the magistrates, they said: These men disturb our city, being Jews;

21 And preach a fashion which it is not lawful for us to receive nor observe, being Romans.

22 And the people ran together against them; and the magistrates rending off their clothes, commanded them to be beaten with rods.

23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the gaoler to keep them diligently.

24 Who having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

25 And at midnight, Paul and Silas praying, praised God. And they that were in prison, heard them.

26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and the bands of all were loosed.

27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the doors of the prison open, drawing his sword, would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying: Do thyself no harm, for we all are here.

29 Then calling for a light, he went in, and trembling, fell down at the feet of Paul and Silas.

30 And bringing them out, he said: Masters, what must I do, that I may be saved?

31 But they said: Believe in the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

32 And they preached the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house.

33 And he, taking them the same hour of the night, washed their stripes, and himself was baptized, and all his house immediately.

34 And when he had brought them into his own house, he laid the table for them, and rejoiced with all his house, believing God.

35 And when the day was come, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.

36 And the keeper of the prison told these words to Paul: The magistrates have sent to let you go; now therefore depart, and go in peace.

37 But Paul said to them: They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Romans, and have cast us into prison: and now do they thrust us out privately? Not so; but let them come,

38 And let us out themselves. And the serjeants told these words to the magistrates. And they were afraid, hearing that they were Romans.

39 And coming, they besought them; and bringing them out, they desired them to depart out of the city.

40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia; and having seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.