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”。

提摩太加入福音事工

16 保羅來到特庇,然後又到路司得。那裡有個門徒名叫提摩太,母親是信主的猶太人,父親是希臘人。 路司得和以哥念的弟兄姊妹都稱讚提摩太。 保羅打算帶提摩太去傳福音。因為當地的猶太人都知道提摩太的父親是希臘人,保羅就給提摩太行了割禮。 他們走遍各城,把耶路撒冷的使徒和長老所定下的規條教導當地的門徒遵守。 這樣,眾教會在信仰上得到堅固,人數天天都在增加。

馬其頓人的呼求

由於聖靈阻止他們到亞細亞傳福音,他們便經過弗呂迦和加拉太地區, 來到每西亞的邊界,正要進入庇推尼地區,耶穌的靈又加以攔阻。 他們就越過每西亞,下到特羅亞。 當天晚上,保羅在異象中看見一個馬其頓人站在那裡懇求他:「請到馬其頓來幫助我們!」

10 保羅見了這個異象,確信是上帝呼召我們[a]到馬其頓去傳福音,就立刻準備動身。 11 我們從特羅亞啟航,直接駛往撒摩特喇,第二天抵達尼亞坡里, 12 再從那裡來到腓立比。腓立比是馬其頓的主要城市,是羅馬帝國的殖民地。我們在那裡住了幾天。 13 安息日那天,我們到城外的河邊,知道那裡有一個禱告的地方,就坐下來,向已經聚集的婦女講道。 14 聽眾中有個賣紫色布匹的婦人名叫呂底亞,是推雅推喇城的人,向來敬拜上帝。上帝開啟她的心,她便留心聽保羅講道。 15 呂底亞和家人接受洗禮之後,極力邀請我們,說:「如果你們認為我是真心信主的話,請來我家住。」於是強留我們住下。

保羅和西拉入獄

16 一天,我們又去河邊那個禱告的地方,途中遇到一個被巫鬼附身的女奴。她用占卜為她的主人們賺了不少錢。 17 她跟著保羅和我們大喊大叫:「這些人是至高上帝的奴僕,是來向你們宣講得救之道的。」 18 一連幾天,她都這樣喊叫。保羅不勝其煩,就轉過身來斥責那鬼:「我奉耶穌基督的名命令你從她身上出來!」那鬼立刻從她身上出去了。

19 她的主人們眼見財路斷絕了,就把保羅和西拉揪住,拖到廣場去見官長。 20 他們在官長面前控告保羅和西拉,說:「這些是猶太人,竟擾亂我們的城市, 21 宣揚我們羅馬人不可接受或實行的風俗。」 22 於是,大家都一起攻擊他們,官長下令剝掉他們的衣服,杖打他們。 23 他們被毒打一頓,又被關進監獄,官長命獄卒嚴密看守。 24 獄卒接到命令後把他們關進內牢,雙腳上了枷鎖。

25 半夜,保羅和西拉禱告、唱詩讚美上帝,其他的囚犯都側耳傾聽。 26 突然間發生大地震,整座監獄的地基都搖動起來,牢門立刻全開了,囚犯的鎖鏈也都鬆開了。 27 獄卒驚醒後,看見牢門盡開,以為囚犯已經逃走了,就想拔刀自殺。 28 保羅見狀,大聲喝止:「不要傷害自己,我們都在這裡!」

29 獄卒叫人拿燈過來,衝進內牢,戰戰兢兢地俯伏在保羅和西拉面前。 30 獄卒領他們出來後問道:「兩位先生,我該怎樣做才能得救?」

31 他們說:「要信主耶穌,你和你一家就必定得救。」 32 於是保羅和西拉向獄卒和他全家傳講主的道。 33 當晚,獄卒把二人帶去,為他們清洗傷口。他一家老小都接受了洗禮。 34 他請二人到家裡吃飯,他和全家人充滿了喜樂,因為都信了上帝。

35 第二天早上,官長派差役來,說:「把他們放了。」 36 獄卒轉告保羅說:「官長下令釋放你們,現在你們可以平安地走了。」 37 保羅卻說:「我們是羅馬公民,他們不經審訊就當眾打我們,又把我們關進牢裡,現在卻想偷偷打發掉我們嗎?這樣不行,叫他們親自來領我們出去!」

38 差役回報官長。官長得知保羅和西拉都是羅馬公民,非常害怕, 39 連忙到獄中向他們道歉,領他們出監,又央求他們離開腓立比。 40 二人離開監獄,來到呂底亞家中,見了弟兄姊妹,勸勉一番之後,便離開了那裡。

Footnotes

  1. 16·10 本書作者路加此時加入保羅的行列,故改用第一人稱複數「我們」。

Timothy Goes with Paul

16 Paul came to Derbe and Lystra [14:6], where a ·follower [disciple] named Timothy lived. Timothy’s mother was Jewish [C her name was Eunice (2 Tim. 1:5; 3:15)] and a believer, but his father was a Greek.

The ·believers [L brothers (and sisters)] in Lystra and Iconium [13:51] ·respected Timothy and ·said good things about [spoke well of; L testified about] him. Paul wanted Timothy to travel with him, but all the people living in that area knew that Timothy’s father was Greek. So Paul circumcised Timothy ·to please his mother’s people [L because of the Jews in those places]. ·Paul and those with him [L They] traveled from town to town and ·gave [delivered; passed on] the ·decisions [decrees] made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. So the churches became stronger in the faith and grew larger every day.

Paul Is Called to Macedonia

·Paul and those with him [L They] went through the areas of Phrygia [C a region in north central Asia Minor; 18:23] and Galatia [C either the Roman province of Galatia or the old kingdom of Galatia in its north] since the Holy Spirit ·did not let them [prohibited them to; C either through circumstances or divine revelation] ·preach the Good News [L speak the word] in Asia [C a Roman province, in present-day Turkey]. When they came ·near [or opposite] the country of Mysia [C the northwest section of Asia Minor, present-day Turkey], they tried to go into Bithynia [C northern Asia Minor further east than Mysia], but the Spirit of Jesus did not let them. So they passed by Mysia and went to Troas [C a city in northwest Asia Minor]. That night Paul saw in a vision a man from Macedonia [C an area across the Aegean Sea in mainland Greece]. The man stood and ·begged [urged; encouraged], “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we [C the switch to first person plural (“we”) indicates that the author, Luke, joined them (see also 20:5—21:18; 27:1—28:16)] immediately ·prepared [made plans; attempted] to leave for Macedonia, ·understanding [or convinced] that God had called us to ·tell the Good News [preach the Gospel] to those people.

Lydia Becomes a Christian

11 We ·left [embarked/put out to sea from] Troas and sailed straight to the island of Samothrace [C a mountainous island in the north Aegean]. The next day we sailed to Neapolis [C city in Macedonia, the first city Paul visited on the continent of Europe]. 12 Then we went by land to Philippi, a Roman colony [C a town begun by Romans with Roman laws, customs, and privileges] and ·the leading city in that part [or one of the leading cities in that district; or a city in the first district] of Macedonia. We stayed there for several days.

13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate to the river where we ·thought [expected] we would find a special place for prayer [C Philippi evidently had no synagogue because of its small Jewish population]. Some women had gathered there, so we sat down and talked with them. 14 One of the listeners was a woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira [C in western Asia Minor] ·whose job was selling [who was a dealer/merchant in] purple cloth [C the most expensive type of material]. She was a worshiper of God [C a God-fearing Gentile; 10:2], and the Lord opened her ·mind [L heart] to pay attention to what Paul was saying. 15 She and ·all the people in her house [her household] were baptized. Then she ·invited us to her home [L urged us], saying, “If you ·think I am truly [L have judged me to be] ·a believer in [or faithful to] the Lord, then come stay in my house.” And she ·persuaded us [urged us strongly] to stay with her.

Paul and Silas in Jail

16 Once, while we were going to the place for prayer, a ·servant [slave] girl met us. She had a ·special spirit [spirit/demon of divination/prediction; L Python spirit; C Python was the serpent god that guarded the Delphic oracle; the term came to be used of the ability to predict the future] in her, and she earned a lot of money for her owners by telling fortunes. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, shouting, “These men are ·servants [slaves] of the Most High God. They are telling you ·how you can be saved [L the way/path of salvation].”

18 She kept this up for many days. This ·bothered [annoyed; exasperated] Paul, so he turned and said to the spirit, “By the ·power [L name] of Jesus Christ, I command you to come out of her!” ·Immediately, [L That very hour] the spirit came out.

19 When the owners of the ·servant [slave] girl saw that their ·source for making money [hope of profit] was gone, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the ·city rulers [leaders; authorities] in the marketplace. 20 They brought Paul and Silas to the ·Roman rulers [magistrates] and said, “These men are Jews and are ·making trouble in [disturbing] our city. 21 They are ·teaching things [advocating customs] that are not ·right [permitted; lawful] for us as Romans to [L adopt/accept or to] do.”

22 The crowd joined the attack against them. The ·Roman officers [magistrates] ·tore [stripped off] the clothes of Paul and Silas and ·had [ordered] them beaten with rods [2 Cor. 11:25]. 23 After ·being severely beaten [L many blows were laid on them], ·Paul and Silas [L they] were thrown into ·jail [prison], and the jailer was ordered to guard them ·carefully [securely]. 24 When he heard this order, he put them far inside the ·jail [prison] and ·pinned [secured; fastened] their feet ·down between large blocks of wood [in stocks; L in wood].

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing ·songs [hymns; praise songs] to God as the other prisoners listened. 26 Suddenly, there was a ·strong [great; violent] earthquake that shook the foundation of the ·jail [prison]. Then all the doors of the ·jail [prison] broke open, and all the prisoners were freed from their chains. 27 The jailer woke up and saw that the ·jail [prison] doors were open. Thinking that the prisoners had already escaped, he got his sword and was about to kill himself [C being responsible, he would suffer punishment and shame for their escape]. 28 But [L with a great/loud voice] Paul shouted, “Don’t hurt yourself! We are all here.”

29 The jailer ·told someone to bring a light [L asked for lights]. Then he ·ran [rushed] inside and, shaking with fear, fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 He brought them outside and said, “·Men [L Lords; Sirs], what must I do to be saved?”

31 They said to him, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved—you and ·all the people in your house [your household].” 32 So ·Paul and Silas [L they] told the ·message [word] of the Lord to the jailer and all the people in his ·house [household]. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took Paul and Silas and washed their wounds. Then he and all his ·people [or family; household] were baptized immediately. 34 After this the jailer took Paul and Silas home and gave them food. He and his ·family [L household] ·were very happy [rejoiced; celebrated] because they now believed in God.

35 The next morning, the ·Roman officers [magistrates] sent the police to tell the jailer, “Let these men go free.”

36 The jailer ·said [L reported these words] to Paul, “The ·officers [magistrates] have sent an order to let you go free. You can leave now. Go in peace.”

37 But Paul said to ·the police [L them], “They beat us in public ·without a trial [L uncondemned], even though we are Roman citizens [C Roman law stated that citizens could not be beaten without a trial]. And they threw us in ·jail [prison]. Now they want to ·make us go away [get rid of us; throw us out] ·quietly [in secret]. No! Let them come themselves and bring us out.”

38 The police ·told [reported to] the ·Roman officers [magistrates] what Paul said. When ·the officers [L they] heard that ·Paul and Silas [L they] were Roman citizens, they were afraid. 39 So they came and ·told Paul and Silas they were sorry [apologized to them; appeased them] and took them out of ·jail [prison] and asked them to leave the city. 40 So when they came out of the ·jail [prison], they went to Lydia’s house where they saw some of the ·believers [L brothers (and sisters)] and encouraged them. Then they left.