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彼得向耶路撒冷教會報告

11 使徒和在猶太的弟兄們,聽說外族人也接受了 神的道。 彼得上到耶路撒冷的時候,那些守割禮的人與他爭論, 說:“你竟然到未受割禮的人那裡,跟他們一起吃飯!” 彼得就按著次序向他們講解,說: “我在約帕城禱告的時候,魂遊象外,見到異象:有一件東西,好像一塊大布,綁著四角,從天上降下來,一直來到我面前。 我定睛觀察,看見裡面有地上的四足牲畜、走獸,還有昆蟲和天空的飛鳥。 我也聽見有聲音對我說:‘彼得,起來,宰了吃!’ 我說:‘主啊,千萬不可,因為俗物或不潔的東西,從來沒有進過我的口。’ 第二次又有聲音從天上回答:‘ 神所潔淨的,你不可當作俗物。’ 10 這樣一連三次之後,所有的東西都拉回天上去了。 11 就在那個時候,有三個從該撒利亞派到我這裡來的人,站在我住的房子門前。 12 聖靈吩咐我跟他們一起去,一點也不要疑惑。這六位弟兄也跟我一起去,我們就進了那人的家。 13 他告訴我們,他怎樣看見天使站在他家裡說:‘派人到約帕去,請那個名叫彼得的西門來, 14 他有話要告訴你,使你和你全家都可以得救。’ 15 我一開始講話,聖靈就降在他們身上,正像當初降在我們身上一樣。 16 我就想起主所說的話:‘約翰用水施洗,但你們要受聖靈的洗。’ 17  神既然把同樣的恩賜(“恩賜”或譯:“恩賞”)給他們,像給我們這些信了主耶穌基督的人一樣,我是誰,我能夠阻止 神嗎?” 18 眾人聽見這些話,就默然無聲,把榮耀歸給 神,說:“這樣看來, 神也把悔改的心賜給外族人,使他們得生命。”

安提阿的教會

19 那些因司提反事件遭受苦難而四散的門徒,一直走到腓尼基、塞浦路斯、安提阿;他們不對別人傳講,只對猶太人傳講。 20 但其中有些塞浦路斯人和古利奈人,來到安提阿,也對希臘人傳講主耶穌。 21 主的手與他們同在,信而歸主的人就多起來。 22 這事傳到耶路撒冷教會的耳中,他們就派巴拿巴到安提阿去。 23 他到了那裡,看見 神所施的恩,就很歡喜,勸勉眾人堅心靠主。 24 巴拿巴是個好人,滿有聖靈和信心,於是許多人歸了主。 25 後來他到大數去找掃羅, 26 找到了,就帶他來安提阿。足足有一年,他們一同在教會聚集,教導了許多人。門徒稱為基督徒,是從安提阿開始的。

27 那時,有幾位先知從耶路撒冷下到安提阿。 28 其中有一個名叫亞迦布的站起來,藉著聖靈指出天下將要有大饑荒;這事在革老丟時期果然發生了。 29 於是門徒決定按著各人的力量捐款,好送給住在猶太的弟兄。 30 他們就這樣行了,由巴拿巴和掃羅經手送到長老們那裡。

彼得返回耶路撒冷

11 使徒和整个犹太境内的兄弟们听说,非犹太人也接受了上帝的教导。 于是,当彼得一到耶路撒冷,那些犹太人信徒便开始批评他, 说∶“你们进了没有受过割礼 [a]的人的家,竟还与他们一同吃饭!”

彼得便一五一十地向他们解释了所发生的事情∶ “一天,我正在约帕城里做祷告,在恍惚中,看到了异象。我看见好似一大块布的东西被吊住四角,从天而降,落在我的面前。 我仔细向里边看去,看到有四脚动物、野兽、爬行动物和飞禽。 这时,一个声音对我说∶‘彼得,起来。把它们宰了吃吧!’ 但是我却说∶‘主啊,那可不成!因为被玷污与不洁净之物还从未进过我的嘴里。’ 那个声音又从天上说∶‘上帝清洁过的东西,你不要认为不洁净。’

10 这样一连三次,然后所有的东西便被收回了天上。 11 正在那时,三个人到了我住的那所房子。他们是从该撒利亚被派出来找我的。 12 圣灵指示我,毫不犹豫地跟他们走,跟我从约伯来的这六位兄弟也跟我一起去了。我们一起进了哥尼流的家。 13 他告诉我们,他如何看见一个天使站在他家对他说∶‘派一些人到约帕去邀请西门彼得。 14 他讲的话,会使你和你的整个家眷都得拯救。’ 15 我一开口讲话,圣灵便降临到他们的身上了,就像当初 [b]降在我们的身上一样。 16 这时,我记起了主的话∶‘约翰在水中施洗礼,但你们却要受圣灵的洗礼。’ 17 显然,上帝赐给外族人的馈赠正是我们在信仰主耶稣基督时,他给予我们的。那么,我是谁,能反对上帝吗?”

18 他们听到这番话后,就不再说什么了,而是都赞美上帝说∶“上帝甚至把带来生命的悔改机会赐给了外族人。”

福音传到安提阿

19 那些和司提反一起受到迫害的人们四散在外,有的甚至远走腓尼基、塞浦路斯和安提阿。他们只向犹太人传教。 20 这些信徒中的一些人是塞浦路斯人和古利奈人。他们到安提阿后,也开始向非犹太人传教,告诉他们关于主耶稣的福音。 21 主的力量与他们同在。很多人相信了他们,归顺了主。

22 这个消息传到了耶路撒冷的教会,他们便派巴拿巴到安提阿去了。 23 巴拿巴到后,看见上帝赐福给了那些人,感到非常高兴。他鼓励所有的人,要继续全心全意地忠于主。 24 因为,巴拿巴是个好人,充满了圣灵和信仰。很多人加入到了主的信徒的行列。 25 巴拿巴动身到大数去找扫罗。 26 找到扫罗后,就把他带到安提阿。整整一年,他们和那里的教会聚会,教导了一大批人。在安提阿,门徒们第一次被称为基督教徒。

27 与此同时,一些先知从耶路撒冷来到了安提阿。 28 其中有一个叫亚迦布的人,站起身来,借着圣灵预言,全世界将发生一场大饥荒。(在克劳迪执政时,发生了大饥荒。) 29 于是每个信徒决定都尽自己的所能给住在犹太的弟兄们送去他们的帮助。 30 他们也是这么做的。他们派巴拿巴和扫罗把募捐转交给了长老。

Footnotes

  1. 使 徒 行 傳 11:3 割礼: 割去包皮。每个犹太男孩都行割礼。它是上帝与亚伯拉罕所定的契约的标记。
  2. 使 徒 行 傳 11:15 当初: 五旬节那天,教会开始了。见《使徒行传》2。

彼得的解釋

11 使徒和猶太全境的弟兄姊妹都聽說外族人接受了上帝的道。 彼得一回到耶路撒冷,嚴守割禮的門徒就指責他: 「你竟然去未受割禮之人的家,還和他們一同吃飯!」

彼得就把事情的經過一一向他們解釋,說: 「我在約帕城禱告的時候,看見一個異象,有一大塊像布的東西四個角吊著從天上降到我面前。 我定睛一看,裡面有牲畜、野獸、爬蟲和飛禽。 接著,我聽見有聲音對我說,『彼得,起來,宰了吃!』 我說,『主啊,這可不行!我從未吃過任何污穢不潔之物!』 那從天上來的聲音又說,『上帝已經潔淨的,你不可再稱之為不潔淨。』 10 這樣一連三次,然後一切都被收回天上去了。 11 就在那時候,有三個從凱撒利亞來的人到我住處的門口來找我。 12 聖靈吩咐我跟他們同去,不要猶豫。就這樣,我和這六位弟兄一同到了哥尼流家。 13 他告訴我們天使如何在他家中向他顯現,並對他說,『你派人去約帕,請一位名叫西門·彼得的人來。 14 他有話告訴你,能使你和你的全家得救。』

15 「我開口講話時,聖靈降在他們身上,跟當初降在我們身上的情形一模一樣。 16 我就想起主的話,『約翰用水施洗,但你們要受聖靈的洗禮。』 17 既然上帝給他們恩賜,就如我們信主耶穌基督時給我們一樣,我是誰,怎能攔阻上帝?」 18 大家聽了便安靜下來,轉而歸榮耀給上帝,說:「如此看來,上帝把悔改得永生的機會也賜給了外族人。」

安提阿的教會

19 司提凡殉道後,信徒們因受迫害而四散到各處,遠至腓尼基、塞浦路斯和安提阿,他們只向那裡的猶太人傳福音。 20 不過,有些塞浦路斯和古利奈的信徒到了安提阿之後,也向希臘人傳講主耶穌的福音。 21 上帝的能力伴隨著他們,有許多人信了主。

22 耶路撒冷教會的人聽到這消息後,就派巴拿巴去安提阿。 23 他到達後,看見上帝所賜的恩典,就萬分高興,勸勉他們要全心地忠於主。

24 巴拿巴是個被聖靈充滿、信心堅定的好人。那時信主的人大大增加。 25 他又到大數去找掃羅, 26 找到後,便帶他回安提阿。他們在教會待了一年之久,教導了許多人。門徒被稱為「基督徒」就是從安提阿開始的。

27 當時,有幾位先知從耶路撒冷下到安提阿。 28 其中一位名叫亞迦布,他得到聖靈的啟示,站起來預言天下將有嚴重的饑荒。後來,這事果然在克勞狄執政期間發生了。 29 門徒決定各盡所能,捐款救濟住在猶太境內的弟兄姊妹。 30 他們捐完後,委託巴拿巴和掃羅將款項送交耶路撒冷教會的長老。

Peter Explains His Actions

11 The apostles and the believers(A) throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.(B) So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers(C) criticized him and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”(D)

Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision.(E) I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’

“I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

“The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’(F) 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.

11 “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea(G) stopped at the house where I was staying. 12 The Spirit told(H) me to have no hesitation about going with them.(I) These six brothers(J) also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen an angel(K) appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message(L) through which you and all your household(M) will be saved.’

15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on(N) them as he had come on us at the beginning.(O) 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with[a] water,(P) but you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.’(Q) 17 So if God gave them the same gift(R) he gave us(S) who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”

18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”(T)

The Church in Antioch

19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed(U) traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch,(V) spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus(W) and Cyrene,(X) went to Antioch(Y) and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news(Z) about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them,(AA) and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.(AB)

22 News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas(AC) to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done,(AD) he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.(AE) 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit(AF) and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.(AG)

25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus(AH) to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples(AI) were called Christians first(AJ) at Antioch.

27 During this time some prophets(AK) came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus,(AL) stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world.(AM) (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)(AN) 29 The disciples,(AO) as each one was able, decided to provide help(AP) for the brothers and sisters(AQ) living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders(AR) by Barnabas(AS) and Saul.(AT)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 11:16 Or in
  2. Acts 11:16 Or in

11 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.

10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.

11 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.

12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:

13 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;

14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

16 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.

17 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?

18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

19 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.

20 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.

21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

22 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.

23 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.

24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:

26 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.

27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

28 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.

29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:

30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.