應許聖靈降臨

提阿非羅啊,在前一封信中,我從耶穌的生平和教導開始, 一直談到祂藉著聖靈吩咐了自己選立的使徒,然後被接回天上。 祂受難後用許多確鑿的證據證實自己活著,在四十天之內屢次向使徒顯現,與他們談論上帝的國。 有一次,耶穌和他們在一起吃飯的時候,叮囑他們:「你們不要離開耶路撒冷,要在那裡等候我對你們說過的天父的應許。 因為從前約翰用水給你們施洗,但再過幾天,你們要受聖靈的洗。」

他們跟耶穌在一起的時候問祂:「主啊,你要在這時候復興以色列國嗎?」 耶穌回答說:「天父照祂的權柄定下的時間、日期不是你們可以知道的。 但聖靈降臨在你們身上後,你們必得到能力,在耶路撒冷、猶太全境和撒瑪利亞,直到地極,作我的見證人。」

耶穌說完這番話,就在他們眼前被提升天,被一朵雲彩接去,離開了他們的視線。 10 祂上升時,他們都定睛望著天空,忽然有兩個身穿白衣的人站在他們身旁, 11 說:「加利利人啊!你們為什麼站在這裡望著天空呢?這位離開你們被接到天上的耶穌,你們看見祂怎樣升天,將來祂還要怎樣回來。」

選立新使徒

12 於是,他們從橄欖山回到耶路撒冷。橄欖山距離耶路撒冷不遠,約是安息日允許走的路程[a] 13 他們進城後,來到樓上自己住的房間。當時有彼得、約翰、雅各、安得烈、腓力、多馬、巴多羅買、馬太、亞勒腓的兒子雅各、激進黨人西門、雅各的兒子猶大。 14 他們和耶穌的母親瑪麗亞、耶穌的弟弟們及幾個婦女在一起同心合意地恆切禱告。

15 那時,約有一百二十人在聚會,彼得站起來說: 16 「弟兄們,關於帶人抓耶穌的猶大,聖靈藉著大衛的口早已預言,這經文必須要應驗。 17 這人原本是我們中間的一員,與我們同擔使徒的職分。」

18 猶大用作惡得來的錢買了一塊田,他頭朝下栽倒在那裡,肚破腸流。 19 這消息很快傳遍了耶路撒冷,當地人稱那塊田為「亞革大馬」,就是「血田」的意思。

20 彼得繼續說:「詩篇上寫道,『願他的家園一片荒涼,無人居住』,又說,『願別人取代他的職位。』 21-22 所以,我們必須另選一個人代替猶大,與我們一同為主耶穌的復活做見證。他必須是從主耶穌接受約翰的洗禮起一直到主升天,始終與我們在一起的人。」

23 被提名的有別號巴撒巴又叫猶士都的約瑟和馬提亞兩個人。 24-25 大家便禱告說:「主啊!你洞悉人的內心,求你指明這兩個人中你要揀選哪一個來擔負使徒的職分。猶大丟棄了這職分,去了他該去的地方。」 26 然後,他們抽籤,抽中了馬提亞,就把他列入十一使徒中。

Footnotes

  1. 1·12 按猶太人的傳統,在安息日只能走約一公里遠。

[Thou] Theophilus, first I made a sermon of all [the] things, that Jesus began to do and teach,

[till] into the day of his ascension, in which he commanded by the Holy Ghost to his apostles, whom he had chosen; [till into the day, in which he commanding to the apostles by the Holy Ghost, whom he chose, was taken up;]

to whom [and] he showed himself alive after his passion, by many arguments [by many arguments, or provings], appearing to them forty days, and speaking of the realm of God.

And he ate with them, and commanded [to them], that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but abide the promise of the Father, which ye heard, he said [he saith], by my mouth;

for [soothly] John baptized in water, but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Ghost, after these few days [not after these many days].

Therefore they that were come together, asked him, and said, Lord, whether in this time thou shalt restore the kingdom of Israel? [Therefore they that had come together, asked him, saying, Lord, if in this time shalt thou restore the kingdom of Israel?]

And he said to them, It is not yours to know the times either moments [to know the times or moments], which the Father hath put in his power;

but ye shall take the virtue of the Holy Ghost coming from above into you, and ye shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and Samaria, and to the utmost of the earth [and ye shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and Samaria, and unto the uttermost of the earth].

And when he had said these things, in their sight he was lifted up, and a cloud received him from their eyes.

10 And when they beheld him going into heaven, lo! two men stood beside them in white clothing, [And when they beheld into heaven him going, lo! two men stood nigh beside them in white clothes,]

11 [which] and said, Men of Galilee, what stand ye beholding into heaven? This Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall come [so], as ye saw him going into heaven.

12 Then they turned again to Jerusalem, from the hill that is called of Olivet, which is beside Jerusalem an holiday's journey. [Then they turned again to Jerusalem, from the hill that is called Olivet, the which is beside Jerusalem, having the journey of a sabbath.]

13 And when they were entered into the house, where they dwelled, they went up into the solar [And when they had entered into the supping place, they went up into the higher things, where they dwelt], Peter and John, and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas of James.

14 All these were lastingly continuing with one will in prayer [All these were dwelling, or lasting, together in prayer], with women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

15 In those days Peter rose up in the middle of the brethren, and said; and there was a company of men together, almost an hundred and twenty;

16 Brethren, it behooveth that the scripture be filled [Men brethren it behooveth the scripture to be fulfilled], which the Holy Ghost before-said by the mouth of David, of Judas that was leader of them that took Jesus;

17 and was numbered among us, and got a part of this service.[a]

18 And this Judas had a field of the hire of wickedness, and he was hanged, and burst apart the middle [And forsooth this wielded a field of the hire of wickedness, and he hanged, burst apart the middle], and all his entrails were shed abroad.

19 And it was made known to all men that dwelt in Jerusalem [And it was made known to all men dwelling in Jerusalem], so that that field was called Aceldama in the language of them [in the tongue of them], that is, the field of blood.

20 And it is written in the book of Psalms, The habitation of them be made desert [The habitation of him be made desert], and be there none that dwell in it, and another take his bishopric.

21 Therefore it behooveth of these men, that be gathered together with us in all the time [in all time], in which the Lord Jesus entered [in], and went out among us,

22 and began from the baptism of John till into the day in which he was taken up from us [beginning from the baptism of John unto the day in which he was taken up from us], that one of these be made a witness of his resurrection with us.

23 And they ordained twain [And they ordained two], Joseph, that was called Barsabas, that was named Justus, and Matthias.

24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, that knowest the hearts of all men, show whom thou hast chosen of these twain [of these two],

25 that one take the place of this service and apostlehood [one to take the place of this ministry and apostlehood], of which Judas trespassed, that he should go into his place.

26 And they gave lots to them, and the lot felled on Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Footnotes

  1. Acts 1:17 which was numbered among us, and got the part of this ministry.