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使徒行传生命读经 · 第2篇

使徒行传的主题

THE SUBJECT OF THE BOOK
1读经：路加福章24:44-49，马可福音24:44-49，马太福音28:18-20，使徒行传1:1-2。
1Scripture Reading: Luke 24:44-49; Mark 24:44-49; Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:1-2
2在前一篇信息里我们指出，使徒行传可视为新约的分界线或『背脊。』这卷书把福音书和书信（包括启示录）分开。福音书陈明一位得著完成的救赎主和祂所成就的救赎。在使徒行传里有这位已经得著完成之救赎主的繁殖，以及祂为著产生众召会所成就的救赎。然后在书信里有信徒的造就，和众召会的建造。
2In the foregoing message we pointed out that the book of Acts may be considered the dividing line, or the “backbone,” of the New Testament. This book divides the four Gospels from the Epistles, which include the book of Revelation. The Gospels present a completed Redeemer and His accomplished redemption. In Acts we have the propagation of the completed Redeemer and His accomplished redemption for the producing of the churches. Then in the Epistles we have the edifying of the believers and the building up of the churches
3复活基督的繁殖我们已经看过使徒行传的地位，现在继续来看这卷书的主题。使徒行传的主题乃是复活的基督在升天里，凭著那灵，藉著门徒，为著产生众召会－神的国－的繁殖。使徒行传是说到复活基督的繁殖。基督在祂的升天里，凭著那灵，藉著门徒，正在完成这种繁殖。基督繁殖的目的乃是产生众召会－神的国。
3THE PROPAGATION OF THE RESURRECTED CHRIST Having seen the position of the book of Acts, let us now go on to see the subject of this book. The subject of Acts is the propagation of the resurrected Christ in His ascension, by the Spirit, through the disciples, for the producing of the churches—the kingdom of God. Acts is concerned with the propagation of the resurrected Christ. Christ is carrying out this propagation in His ascension, by the Spirit, and through the disciples. The purpose of Christ’s propagation is the producing of the churches—the kingdom of God
4在使徒行传里，没有单独的一节可当作整本书的提要。要陈明使徒行传的提要或摘要，最好的方法是描述牠的主题。因此，我要再次指出，使徒行传的主题是说到复活基督的繁殖。我们用的『复活基督的繁殖』这样的辞句，是极有价值的。我不知道有那一本关于使徒行传的书，使用『繁殖』一辞。不过，使徒行传的主题乃是复活的基督在升天里，凭著那灵，藉著门徒，为著产生众召会－神的国－的繁殖。在使徒行传里的繁殖，并不是耶稣的繁殖。在使徒行传里所有的，不仅是那生活在拿撒勒木匠家里者的繁殖。更正确的说，我们在行传里所看见的，乃是那复活者的繁殖，复活基督的繁殖。
4In Acts there is not a single verse that can be taken as a summary of the entire book. The best way to present a summary, or extract, of Acts is to describe its subject. Therefore, once again I would point out that the subject of the book of Acts concerns the propagation of the resurrected Christ. It is of great value for us to have such a phrase as “the propagation of the resurrected Christ.” I do not know of any book on Acts that uses the word “propagation.” Nevertheless, the subject of Acts is the propagation of the resurrected Christ in His ascension, by the Spirit, through the disciples, for the producing of the churches—the kingdom of God. The propagation in Acts is not the propagation of Jesus. In Acts we do not have the propagation merely of the One who lived in the home of a carpenter in Nazareth. Rather, in Acts we see the propagation of the resurrected One, the propagation of the resurrected Christ
基督在祂升天里的活动
Christ’s activity in His ascension
5复活基督的繁殖是由基督在祂升天里所完成的。主耶稣在地上生活了三十三年半，但如今祂是在升天里。主在祂的升天里非常活跃。我们绝不该以为升天的基督是被动的坐在宝座上，观看地上可怜的光景而感到失望。不，基督在祂的升天里是非常积极活跃的。祂这位升天者，现今正在作许多的事。司提反被石头打死的事例，是基督在祂升天里活动的例证。行传七章五十五、五十六节题到司提反，说，『司提反满有圣灵，定睛望天，看见神的荣耀，又看见耶稣站在神的右边，就说，看哪，我看见诸天开了，人子站在神的右边。』主在祂的升天里观看地上的光景，那时祂站起来了。祂也许说，『你们这些逼迫者可以用石头打司提反，把他置于死地。但我要在你们中间得著一个大数的扫罗，使他比司提反更强得多。对这事，你们能怎么样？你们扔你们的石头，我看我的。等一段时间，你们就要被击败。』司提反的事例说明，复活的基督在祂的升天里是非常活跃的。基督现今在升天里，这事实的意思不仅是祂在诸天之上，也是祂拥有能力和权柄。基督在祂的升天里，得著宇宙中所有的能力和所有的权柄。按照马太二十八章十八节，复活的基督对祂的门徒说，『天上地上所有的权柄，都赐给我了。』因此，主在祂的升天里，带著这样的权柄和能力，是非当活跃的。祂在作甚么？主这位升天者，正在执行祂宇宙、永远的繁殖。
5The propagation of the resurrected Christ is carried out by Christ in His ascension. The Lord Jesus lived on earth for thirty-three and a half years, but now He is in ascension. In His ascension the Lord is very active. We should never think that the ascended Christ is sitting passively on the throne, observing the pitiful situation on earth and feeling disappointed about it. No, in His ascension Christ is active in a very positive way. As the ascended One, He is now doing many things. The case of the stoning of Stephen is an illustration of Christ’s activity in His ascension. Speaking of Stephen, Acts 7:55 and 56 say, “Being full of the Holy Spirit, looking intently into heaven, he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” As the Lord was looking at the situation on earth in His ascension, He stood up. Perhaps He was saying, “You persecutors may stone Stephen and put him to death. But I will gain one of you—Saul of Tarsus—and make him much stronger than Stephen. What can you do about this? You do your stoning, and I do My observing. Wait for a period of time, and you will be defeated.” Stephen’s case illustrates that the resurrected Christ is very active in His ascension. The fact that Christ is now in ascension means not only that He is in the heavens; it also means that He has power and authority. In His ascension Christ has all the power and all the authority in the universe. According to Matthew 28:18, the resurrected Christ said to His disciples, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Therefore, with such authority and power in His ascension the Lord is very active. What is He doing? The Lord, as the ascended One, is carrying out His universal and eternal propagation.
6谁能说明为甚么今天地上满了基督徒？为甚么世上有这么多相信的人？许多伟人试过要控制全地，但他们失败了。例如，希特勒试过要控制全地，但至终他失去了一切。拿破仑被击败后，据说曾仰脸望天，承认耶稣打败了他。拿破仑承认，即使主耶稣没有争战，祂却得著了一切。这里的点乃是，全地都在这位击不败者的手中，这一位现今正在执行祂的繁殖。
6Who can explain why the earth today is filled with Christians? Why are there so many believers in the world? Great men have tried to gain control of the earth, but they have failed. Hitler, for example, tried to do this, but eventually he lost everything. Napoleon, after he had been defeated, reportedly looked up to the heavens and confessed that Jesus had beaten him. Napoleon admitted that even though the Lord Jesus did not fight, He gained everything. The point here is that the whole earth is in the hands of the undefeatable One, and this One is carrying out His propagation
7当复活的基督在执行祂的繁殖时，祂主要的工作不是争战。升天之主的工作主要的不是争战，而是将祂自己繁殖到全地。在主的恢复里，有黑、白、棕、黄、红各种不同肤色的人。我们都是基督繁殖的一部分。我们已由复活的基督在祂的升天里所产生。
7As the ascended Christ is carrying out His propagation, His main work is not fighting. Instead of fighting, the ascended Lord’s work is mainly propagating Himself throughout the earth. In the Lord’s recovery we have people of different colors: black, white, brown, yellow, and red. We all are part of Christ’s propagation. We have been produced by the resurrected Christ in His ascension.
产生众召会－神的国
PRODUCING THE CHURCHES the kingdom of God
8繁殖是一件生产的事。因此，繁殖就是生产。复活的基督在祂升天里的繁殖，产生众召会。众召会乃是复活的基督在祂升天里的产品。因此，众召会是基督繁殖的产品。使徒行传第一次题到『召会』一辞，是在五章十一节。此后，这卷书多次说到召会。（徒八1，3，九31，十一22，26，十二１，5，十三1，十四23，27，十五3，4，22，41，十六5，十八22，二十17，28。）复活的基督在祂的升天里所产生的众召会，就是神的国。关于国度，有些人宣称今天没有神的国，我们不该跟随这些人的教训。按照这样的教训，国度已经悬起来，要在召会时代以后才来临。在使徒行传里，我们看见众召会与神的国并行。事实上，众召会就是神的国。在使徒行传里，第一次题到神的国是一章三节，以后还有一些别的经节。（徒八12，十四22，十九8，二十25，二八23，31。）
8Propagation is a matter of production. To propagate, therefore, is to produce. The propagation of the resurrected Christ in His ascension produces the churches. The churches are the produce of the resurrected Christ in His ascension. Hence, the churches are the produce of Christ’s propagation. The first mention of the word “church” in Acts is in 5:11. Thereafter, this book speaks of the church many times (8:1, 3; 9:31; 11:22, 26; 12:1, 5; 13:1; 14:23, 27; 15:3, 4, 22, 41; 16:5; 18:22; 20:17, 28). The churches produced by the resurrected Christ in His ascension are the kingdom of God. Concerning the kingdom, we should not follow the teachings of those who claim that the kingdom of God is not present today. According to such teachings, the kingdom has been suspended and will come after the church age. In the book of Acts we see that the churches and the kingdom of God go together. In fact, the churches actually are the kingdom of God. In Acts the kingdom of God is first mentioned in 1:3, and then in a number of other verses (8:12; 14:22; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23, 31
9到现在，我们对于作为新约背脊的使徒行传这卷书的主题，该有深刻的印象。使徒行传揭示基督在祂的升天里，繁殖祂自己，以产生众召会，就是今天地上神的国。在使徒行传之后有书信。书信是使徒行传的延绩，造就圣徒，使众召会完全建造起来，作基督的身体。这个造就和建造的完成将是新耶路撒冷。我们若看见使徒行传在整本新约所占的地位，就会晓得这卷书－新约的背脊－占了极重要的位置。
9By now we should be impressed with the subject of the book of Acts, a book that stands as the backbone of the New Testament. Acts unveils Christ in His ascension propagating Himself to produce the churches, which are the kingdom of God on earth today. Following the book of Acts, we have the Epistles. The Epistles, as the continuation of Acts, edify the saints so that the churches may be fully built up as the Body of Christ. The consummation of this edifying and building up will be the New Jerusalem. If we see the place occupied by the book of Acts in the New Testament, we shall realize that this book, the backbone of the New Testament, stands in a crucial position
在升天里的工作
A WORK IN ASCENSION
10我们已经强调过一个事实：使徒行传的主题是复活的基督在升天里，凭著那灵，藉著门徒，为著产生众召会－神的国－的繁殖。我们已经看过关于复活基督繁殖的事。（徒二24，三15，五30，十三33。）现在我们需要看见这繁殖是主从诸天之上的宝座执行出来的。这就是说，祂繁殖的工作是在升天里。然而，今天许多所谓的基督教工作，并不是在升天里。我们盼望主恢复里的工作是在祂的升天里。升天是主地上工作的性质和范围。因此，主今日的工作该有属天的性质，也该在属天的范图里。
10We have emphasized the fact that the subject of Acts is the propagation of the resurrected Christ in His ascension, by the Spirit, through the disciples, for the producing of the churches—the kingdom of God. We have seen something concerning the propagation of the resurrected Christ (2:24; 3:15; 5:30; 13:33). Now we need to see that this propagation is carried out by the Lord from the throne in the heavens. This means that His work of propagation is in ascension. However, much of today’ss o-called Christian work is not a work in ascension. We hope that the work in the Lord’s recovery will be in His ascension. The ascension is the nature and the sphere of the Lord’s work on earth. Therefore, the work of the Lord today should have a heavenly nature and should be in a heavenly sphere.
11基督乃是在升天里繁殖祂自己。我们知道祂的升天是在祂死而复活之后。基督在祂升天里的工作，是在祂复活的性质里进行的。因此，这工作不是天然的，没有任何天然人的成分。反之，这工作是出于复活里神圣的生命，也是在基督升天的气氛和光景中进行的。今天，我们是在那里作工？我们都该能说，我们是在基督的升天里作工。
11It is in His ascension that Christ is propagating Himself. We know that His ascension came after His death and resurrection. Christ’s work in His ascension takes place in the nature of His resurrection. Therefore, this work is not natural; it does not have anything of the natural man. Rather, it is of the divine life in resurrection, and it is carried out in the atmosphere and condition of His ascension. Where are we working today? We all should be able to say that we are working in Christ’s ascension
凭著那灵
BY THE SPIRIT
12复活的基督在祂升天里的繁殖乃是凭著那灵。祂的繁殖不是凭著任何花招或人的技巧。但是请看今天基督徒中间基督繁殖的光景。那里有凭著那灵的繁殖？在许多事例中，那灵的成分很少，却大大使用人的方法和技巧。例如，有些人甚至用摇滚音乐传福音。我们需要体认，复活基督的繁殖是凭著那灵，尤其是凭著经纶的灵。在使徒行传，我们看见经纶的灵如何执行基督的繁殖。
12The propagation of the resurrected Christ in His ascension is by the Spirit. His propagation is not by any gimmick or human technique. But consider the situation among Christians today concerning the propagation of Christ. Where is the propagation by the Spirit? In many instances, there is very little of the Spirit but much use of human methods and techniques. For example, some even use rock music in their preaching of the gospel. We need to realize that the propagation of the resurrected Christ is by the Spirit, in particular, the economical Spirit. In the book of Acts we see the economical Spirit for the carrying out of Christ’s propagation
藉著门徒
through the disciples
13基督的繁殖也是藉著门徒。谁是门徒？我们会看见，门徒不仅是传道人；在行传里，他们不是称为传道人。反之，门徒乃是见证人。在使徒行传里，主的门徒乃是那位由灵神成孕，为童女所生，在地上生活、尽职，进入死且征服死，又在复活里从坟墓出来，成为赐生命之灵的奇妙者的见证人。这位复活者已经升到诸天之上，在那里坐在宝座上。当祂坐在那里的时候，祂是非常活跃且积极的进行繁殖的工作。门徒就是这样一位的见证人。这就是为甚么主论到门徒说，『你们…要在耶路撒冷、犹太全地、撒玛利亚，直到地极，作我的见证人。』（徒一8。）
13Christ’s propagation is through the disciples. Who are the disciples? As we shall see, the disciples are not merely preachers, and in Acts they are not called preachers. Rather, the disciples are witnesses. The Lord’s disciples in Acts are witnesses of a wonderful Person, the One who was conceived of God the Spirit, who was born of a human virgin, who lived on earth and ministered, who entered into death and conquered it, and who came out of the tomb in resurrection, becoming the life-giving Spirit. This resurrected One has ascended into the heavens, where He is sitting on the throne. As He is sitting there, He is very active and aggressive in doing the work of propagation. The disciples are witnesses of such a One. This was the reason the Lord said concerning them, “You shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the remotest part of the earth” (1:8).
为著产生众召会
for the producing of the churches
14复活的基督在祂的升天里，藉著祂的见证人繁殖祂自己，乃是为著产生众召会。这指明众召会不该仅仅由人手兴起并建立。每个地方召会都该是基督的繁殖所产生的。每个地方召会都必须由基督所生，由基督在祂神圣、复活生命里的繁殖所产生。
14Through His witnesses the resurrected Christ in His ascension propagates Himself for the producing of the churches. This indicates that the churches should not be raised up and established merely by human hands. Every local church should be produced by Christ’s propagation. Every local church must be born of Christ, brought forth by Christ’s propagation in His divine and resurrected life
神的国
the kingdom of God
15由基督的繁殖所产生的众召会就是神的国。神的国乃是由基督的繁殖所产生的生命范围。事实上，国度就是这复活、繁殖者的扩大。这位在升天里，凭著那灵，藉著门徒，繁殖祂自己的复活基督，乃是神国的实际。神的国就是祂的扩大。
15The churches produced by Christ’s propagation are the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is a sphere of life produced by the propagation of Christ. Actually the kingdom is the expansion of this resurrected, propagating One. The resurrected Christ, who is propagating Himself in His ascension, by the Spirit, and through the disciples, is the reality of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is His expansion
16我们可以用人的国为例，说明神的国是基督的扩大。起初，只有一个人，就是亚当。然后，亚当开始扩大、扩增。人的国先是一对夫妇，然后这对夫妇生了孩子。这样，人的国就从一个人扩大到一个家。如今全人类都是人国的一部分。人的国就是人类，就是亚当这人的扩大。由此我们看见，人的国乃是人的扩大。甚么是神的国？神的国就是神的扩大，而这位神的具体化身就是基督。这基督的扩大就是众召会。众召会就是这位来把自己当作神国种子撒播出去之基督的扩大。这是四福音里所启示的。在福音书里，基督乃是国度的种子。在使徒行传里有这种子的繁殖，以产生众召会，就是神的国。你能说出使徒行传有多少章么？也许你说，使徒行传有二十八章。这当然是对的。然而，我们也可以说，使徒行传还在继续写，因为复活基督的繁殖还在进行。到现在，使徒行传可能有数千章了。甚至今天，也许就写下了某一章的某一段。这个写就是复活基督的繁殖，这繁殖就是基督的扩大，成为神的国。我们在众召会里乃是基督的繁殖，基督的扩大，并且我们正在扩展神的国。
16We may use the kingdom of man, the human kingdom, for an illustration of the kingdom of God as the expansion of Christ. In the beginning, there was just one man, Adam. Then Adam began to expand, to increase. The kingdom of man was a couple, and then this couple brought forth children. In this way the kingdom of man expanded from one man to a family. Now the entire human race is part of the kingdom of man. The kingdom of man is simply mankind as the expansion of the man, Adam. From this we see that the kingdom of man is man’sex pans i on. What is the kingdom of God? The kingdom of God is the expansion of God, whose embodiment is Christ. This expansion of Christ is the churches. The churches are the expansion of Christ as the One who came to sow Himself as the seed of the kingdom of God. This is revealed in the four Gospels. In the Gospels Christ was the seed of the kingdom. In the book of Acts we have the propagation of this seed to produce the churches as the kingdom of God. Can you say how many chapters are in the book of Acts? Perhaps you would say that Acts has twenty-eight chapters. This, of course, is correct. However, it is also true to say that the book of Acts is still being written because the propagation of the resurrected Christ is still taking place. By now Acts may have thousands of chapters. Even today a portion of a chapter may have been written. This writing is the propagation of the resurrected Christ, and this propagation is the expansion of Christ to be the kingdom of God. We in the churches are the propagation of Christ and the expansion of Christ, and we are enlarging the kingdom of God
17我盼望大家都能背诵使徒行传的主题：复活的基督在升天里，凭著那灵，藉著门徒，为著产生众召会－神的国－的繁殖。这里有三个同义辞：繁殖、众召会、国。国就是众召会，众召会就是基督的繁殖。我们对使徒行传的主题印象越深，就越会说，『主，我们敬拜你这位复活升天者。为著你的繁殖，我们赞美你。主，我们感谢你，我们乃是你今天的繁殖。感谢你，我们与你一同在诸天之上，众召会就是神的国。』让我们向全宇宙宣告：主耶稣现今是在诸天之上，祂这位被高举者，现今正藉著我们作祂的见证人，在地上繁殖祂自己。
17I hope that we all shall be able to say from memory the subject of the book of Acts: the propagation of the resurrected Christ in His ascension, by the Spirit, through the disciples, for the producing of the churches— the kingdom of God. Here three words are synonyms: propagation, churches, and kingdom. The kingdom is the churches, and the churches are the propagation of Christ. The more we are impressed with the subject of Acts, the more we shall say, “Lord, we worship You as the resurrected One and the ascended One. We praise You for Your propagation. We thank You, Lord, that we are Your propagation today. We thank You that we are with You in the heavens and that the churches are the kingdom of God.” Let us declare to the whole universe that the Lord Jesus is now in the heavens, and that as the exalted One He is now propagating Himself on earth through us as His witnesses