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使徒行传生命读经 · 第22篇

藉著彼得一班同工的职事，在犹太地的繁殖（十七）

The Propagation in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria through the Ministry of Peter’s Company (17)
1读经：使徒行传八章四至十三节。行传八章有我们今天可以跟从的许多榜样。这章的榜样特别与传福音有关。在本篇信息中，我们要来看行传八章的榜样。
1Scripture Reading: Acts 8:4-13 In chapter eight of Acts there are many patterns for us to follow today. In particular, the patterns in this chapter are related to the preaching of the gospel. In this message we shall begin to consider the patterns in Acts 8
the preaching of the gospel
藉圣徒的分散传福音
THROUGH THE SCATTERING OF THE SAINTS
2八章四节说，『那些分散的人就往各处去，传神的话为福音。』这是神的主宰，使信徒因受逼迫，从耶路撒冷分散到其他地方，实行福音的开展，以应验主在一章八节的话。（徒十一19。）
2Acts 8:4 says, “Those therefore who were scattered went about the land bringing the good news of the word.” It was sovereign of God that the scattering of the believers from Jerusalem to other localities through the persecution should carry out the spreading of the gospel for the fulfillment of the Lord’sword in 1:8 (see 11:19
今日传福音的榜样
A Pattern for Today’s Gospel Preaching
3行传八章的第一个榜样，是藉著圣徒的分散传福音。在耶路撒冷，福音的传扬主要是藉著使徒。虽然这也是一个榜样，却不是我们传福音的惟一榜样。倘若这是惟一的榜样，福音的传扬就要受到限制。因此，八章四节有另一个传福音的榜样－藉著圣徒的分散、移民传福音。行传八章没有『移民』一辞。不过，『分散』一辞含示移民这件事。圣徒的分散实际上就是移民。
3The first pattern in Acts 8 is that of the preaching of the gospel through the scattering of the saints. In Jerusalem, the gospel preaching was carried out mainly by the apostles. Although this also is a pattern, it is not the unique pattern for our gospel preaching. If it were the unique pattern, then the preaching of the gospel would be limited. Therefore, in 8:4 we have another pattern of the preaching of the gospel—the preaching of the gospel through the scattering, the migrating, of the saints. In Acts 8 we do not have the words “migrate” or “migration.” Nevertheless, migration is implied by the word “scattered.” The scattering of the saints was actually a migration
4在八章四节圣徒分散以前，耶路撒冷有成千成万的圣徒。像大多数人一样，他们可能不愿迁移，想在耶路撒冷定居。但主是主宰一切的，因祂是首领，君王的元首。撒但煽动逼迫，抵挡召会，主却胜过撒但，凡撒但所作的，都在主的主宰之下。因此，八章的逼迫实际上导致福音的开展，因为成千成万的信徒分散至犹太和撒玛利亚各处。藉这分散，福音得以传到许多城市。这里我们有藉著圣徒移民传福音的榜样。多年来，我们在主的恢复中一直实行移民的事。譬如，从一九六二至1962一九七○年，许多圣徒聚集到洛杉矶。然后在一九七○年，我们开始移民，这次移民非当成功。圣徒移民，福音就随著传出去，移民的圣徒到那里，就把福音传到那里。
4Before the scattering of the saints in 8:4, there were many thousands of believers in Jerusalem. Like most people, they probably did not desire to move; instead, they may have wanted to settle there. But the Lord is sovereign, for He is the Leader, the Ruler of the kings. Although Satan instigated the persecution against the church, the Lord is over Satan, and whatever Satan does is under the Lord’s sovereignty. Therefore, the persecution in chapter eight actually worked out for the spreading of the gospel, because thousands of believers were scattered throughout the lands of Judea and Samaria. Through this scattering the good news was brought to many cities. Here we have the pattern of the preaching of the gospel through the migration of the saints. For many years in the Lord’s recovery we have been practicing the matter of migration. For example, many saints were gathered to Los Angeles from until 1970. Then in 1970 we began to migrate, and the migration was a great success. When the saints migrate, the gospel goes out with them. The migrating saints bring the gospel wherever they may go.
5所有的召会都该跟从八章四节移民的榜样。圣徒不该在一地停留太久。相反的，我们都该作移民，跟随我们祖宗亚伯拉罕的脚踪。亚伯拉罕是过河的人，从迦勒底移民到迦南。像亚伯拉罕一样，我们也不该永久定居。我们都应当学习移民。
5All the churches should follow the pattern in 8:4 concerning migration. The saints should not stay in a certain place for too long. On the contrary, we all should be migrants, following in the footsteps of our father Abraham. Abraham was a river-crosser; he migrated from Chaldea to Canaan. Like Abraham, we should not be permanently settled. We all should learn to migrate
流出与流进
Outflow and Inflow
6好些年来，美国许多圣徒不愿移民。但我们感谢主，最近圣徒又开始了移民。去年，许多召会藉著圣徒的移民而兴起。所有召会的圣徒都该受鼓励去移民。一地的圣徒若不移民，至终该地要成为『死海。』死海是约但河的贮水库。约但河的水一流到死海，就不再流出。倘若一地的召会要避免成为这样的死海，就必须凿出一条『运河，』让『水』流出。也许一地的圣徒每年可以移民百分之十。这会让召会有必要的流出，而不至损害召会。不仅如此，倘若水得以流出，更多的水会流进。
6For some years many of the saints in this country were reluctant to migrate. But we thank the Lord that recently the saints have begun to migrate again. In the last year a number of churches have been raised up through the migrating of the saints. The saints in all the churches should be encouraged to migrate. If the saints in a certain locality do not migrate, eventually that locality will become a “Dead Sea.” The Dead Sea is a reservoir for the water from the river Jordan. Once the water from the Jordan reaches the Dead Sea it does not proceed any farther. If the church in a particular locality is to avoid becoming such a Dead Sea, a “canal” must be dug to allow the “water” to flow out. Perhaps ten percent of the saints in a locality may migrate each year. This will allow for the necessary outflow without devastating the church. Furthermore, if water is allowed to flow out, more water will flow in
7用水管作例证，可以说每个召会都该像两头通的水管。有这样的水管，水才能流进并流出。水若不能从水管流出，也就不能流进。水流进多少，就看水流出多少。我们若要召会扩增，就必须流出。惟有一地的召会有流出，才能蒙保守，不致成为死海。当然，圣徒的移民并不是墨守成规。我们所要指出的，乃是召会需要跟从八章四节的榜样。这就是说，原则上，我们该乐意移民。我从自己的经历可以见证移民的重要。起先我不想移民，只想在一地定居。但主是君王的元首，祂不让我定居，反而使我的一生一直移居。我到处迁移，至终来到美国。在美国过了二十多年，现在我有负担多花时间在台湾，因为那里的召会有需要。
7Using the illustration of a hose, we may say that every church should be like a hose that is open at both ends. When a hose is open in this way, water is able to flow in and out. But if water is not able to flow out of a hose, nothing more will be able to flow in. How much water flows in depends on how much flows out. If we want the church to increase, there must be the outflow. Only when there is an outflow can the church in a certain locality be preserved from becoming a Dead Sea. However, the migration of the saints is not a legality. The point we are making is that the churches need to follow the pattern in 8:4. This means that, in principle, we should be willing to migrate. From my own experience I can testify of the importance of migration. At first, I did not want to move but preferred to settle down in one place. But the Lord is the Ruler of the kings, and He did not allow me to settle down. Instead, He caused my life to be a life of traveling. I moved here and there, and eventually I came to the United States. After spending more than twenty years in this country, I am burdened to spend more time in Taiwan because of the need in the churches there.
为福音的缘故移民
Migrating for the Sake of the Gospel
8我鼓励你们都接受移民的负担。我们不该为生活的缘故移民，却该为福音的缘故移民。主呼召亚伯拉罕，亚伯拉罕就移民。亚伯拉罕跟从主，他一无所缺。同样的，我们为福音的缘故移民，主也会应付我们的需要。为福音移民就是为主移民，因为福音实际上就是主自己。行传八章的第一个榜样，就是圣徒为著福音开展的移民。
8I encourage you all to pick up the burden to migrate. We should migrate not for the sake of our living but for the sake of the gospel. The Lord called Abraham, and Abraham migrated. In following the Lord, Abraham had no lack. Likewise, as we migrate for the gospel’ss ake the Lord will meet our needs. To migrate for the gospel is to migrate for the Lord, since the gospel is actually the Lord Himself. The first pattern found in chapter eight of Acts is the migration of the saints for the spreading of the gospel
腓利在撒玛利亚城的传扬显明为传福音者
PHILIP’SP REACHING IN THE CITY OF SAMARIA Manifested to Be an Evangelist
9八章五节说，『腓利下撒玛利亚城去，向他们传扬基督。』这腓利不是使徒中的腓力，（徒一13，）乃是使徒所指派七个服事饭食之人中的腓利。（徒六5。）因著他传福音的职事，如八章所记，显明他是个传福音者。（徒二一8。）腓利在撒玛利亚传讲基督，是主进一步的福音行动。藉此祂将自己作为神国的种子，从纯血统的犹太人开展到混血的撒玛利亚人，以应验祂在一章八节的豫言。
9Acts 8:5 says, “And Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.” This Philip was not the Philip among the apostles (1:13), but the Philip among the seven appointed by the apostles to serve tables (6:5). But through his ministry in preaching the gospel as recorded in chapter eight, he was manifested to be an evangelist (21:8). Philip’sp reaching Christ in Samaria was a further step in the Lord’s evangelical move. By this He spread Himself as the seed of the kingdom of God from the racially pure Jews to the mixed Samaritans for the fulfillment of His prophecy in 1:8
10按八章四、五节，从耶路撒冷移出的圣徒中，至少有一位是传福音者。腓利有分于这移民，他有杰出的传福音恩赐。因这恩赐，他至终称为『传福音者腓利。』（徒二一8。）
10According to 8:4 and 5, among the saints who migrated from Jerusalem was at least one who was an evangelist. Philip took part in this migration, and he had an outstanding gift of gospel preaching. Because of this gift, he was eventually called “Philip the evangelist” (21:8
传讲基督与神的国
Preaching Christ and the Kingdom
11关于腓利传福音，八章十二节告诉我们，他『传神的国和耶稣基督之名的福音。』腓利传基督为福音；换句话说，他传基督，基督就是他的福音。十二节也指明腓利传扬神的国为福音。他传扬神的国为福音，与主所作的一样。（可一14～，路四43。）我们都该像腓利一样，传扬耶稣基督和神国的福音。实际上，我们该传扬基督就是神的国。神的国乃是救主耶稣作生命的种子，撒在祂的信徒，就是神的选民里面，（可四3，26，）并发展为一个范围，就是神的国，使神在祂神圣的生命里，能在其中掌权。神国的入门是重生，（约三5，）牠的发展是信徒在神圣生命里的长大。（彼后一3～11。）神的国在今天是召会的生活，是忠信的信徒在其中生活的，（罗十四17，）并要发展为要来的国度，作得胜圣徒在千年国里（启二十4，6）所承受的赏赐。（加五21，弗五5。）至终，神的国要完成于新耶路撒冷，作神永远的国，就是神永远生命之永远福分的永远范围，在新天新地里给神所有的赎民享受，直到永远。（启二一1～，二二1～5，14。）这样的国，就是神的国，乃是主耶稣和腓利当作福音、好信息所传扬的。
11Concerning Philip’s gospel preaching, 8:12 tells us that he brought “good news concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.” Philip preached Jesus Christ as the good news. In verse 12 “bringing the good news” is a verbal form of the noun “gospel.” Philip preached Christ as the good news; he preached Christ as the gospel. In other words, he preached Christ, and Christ was his gospel. Acts 8:12 also indicates that Philip preached the kingdom of God as the gospel. He preached the kingdom of God as the gospel just as the Lord did (Mark 1:14-15; Luke 4:43). Like Philip, we should 15 preach the gospel that is Jesus Christ and also the kingdom of God. In fact, we should preach Jesus Christ as the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is the Lord Jesus, the Savior, as the seed of life sown into His believers, God’s chosen people (Mark 4:3, 26), and developing into a realm which God may rule as His kingdom in His divine life. Its entrance is regeneration (John 3:5), and its development is the believers’ growth in the divine life (2 Pet. 1:3-11). The kingdom of God is the church life today, in which the faithful believers live (Rom. 14:17), and it will develop into the coming kingdom as an inheritance reward (Gal. 5:21; Eph. 5:5) to the overcoming saints in the millennium (Rev. 20:4-6). Eventually, it will consummate in the New Jerusalem as the eternal kingdom of God, an eternal realm of the eternal blessing of God’s eternal life for all God’s redeemed to enjoy in the new heaven and new earth for eternity (Rev. 21:1-4; 22:1-5, 14). Such a kingdom, the kingdom of God, is what both the4 Lord Jesus and Philip preached as the gospel, the good news.
12在福音书里，主自己就是神国的种子。在使徒行传里，我们看见这粒种子的开展。这粒种子特别是藉著腓利传耶稣基督和神国的福音得以开展。今天基督徒所传的福音，许多都不包括神的国。因此。我们所传的福音必须有基督为内容，并有基督为国度。我们需要经历，基督不仅是我们的救主和生命，也是神的国。我们接受基督，就接受了救主、生命和国度。我们现今应当过国度的生活。这样，我们就知道怎样传神的国为福音。今天有些传道人很有口才，也知道怎样激动人，鼓舞人。他们说话之中，会使用故事和例证。但你若察验他们信息的内容，会发现没有多少基督或国度。我们的传福音必须有所不同。我们需要传基督为国度这高品且丰富的福音。我们不仅该传讲基督是救主是生命，也该传讲基督是国度。
12In the Gospels the Lord Himself was the seed of the kingdom. In Acts we see the spreading of this seed. In particular, this seed spread through Philip’sp reaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God. Today much of the gospel preaching among Christians does not include the kingdom of God. Therefore, we must preach a gospel that has Christ as the content and also has Christ as the kingdom. We need to experience Christ not only as our Savior and as our life but also as the kingdom of God. When we received Christ, we received a Savior, a life, and a kingdom. Now we should live a kingdom life. Then we shall know how to preach the kingdom of God as the gospel. Certain preachers today are eloquent and know how to stir people and inspire them. In their speaking these preachers may use stories and illustrations. But if you examine the content of their messages, you will find that there is very little of Christ or the kingdom. Our preaching of the gospel must be different. We need to preach a high and rich gospel with Christ as the kingdom. In our preaching we should have Christ not only as the Savior and as life, but also as the kingdom.
13我很高兴路加在他的叙述里指出，腓利传耶稣基督和神国的福音。虽然路加没有记载腓利传讲的细节，但他却告诉我们腓利传基督和神的国为福音。这该是我们今天传福音的榜样。圣徒传神的话为福音
13I am happy that Luke pointed out in his narrative that Philip preached the gospel concerning Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God. Although Luke did not give the details of Philip’sp reaching, he does tell us that Philip preached Christ and the kingdom of God as the gospel. This should be a pattern for our gospel preaching today. THE SAINTS BRINGING THE GOOD NEWS OF THE WORD
14按照八章四节，那些分散的人往各处去，传神的话为福音。我们已经看见，这节包括圣徒移民以开展福音的榜样。现在我们需要来看这节的另一个榜样－圣徒传神的话为福音。
14We have seen that according to 8:4, those who were scattered went about the land bringing the good news of the word. We have seen that this verse contains the pattern of the saints migrating for the spread of the gospel. Now we need to consider another pattern found in this verse—the saints bringing the good news of the word
被主的话充满
Filled with the Lord’sWord
15今天在许多的传讲中，很少神的话，取而代之的是故事和例证。我们不该这样。我们需要学习新约的话语。我们需要研读新约，被新约的话浸透。这样，当我们开口，神的话就自然而然的从口里说出来。不需要用许多的故事和例证，我们该单单把神的话给人。传道人的故事和例证也许能使人笑一笑，却不能叫人得著多少神的话。这就是今天许多教训和传讲的贫乏。
15Among much of today’sp reaching there is little of the Word of God. Instead of the word, there are stories and illustrations. Our speaking should not be like this. Rather, we need to learn the word in the New Testament. We need to study the New Testament and be saturated with it. If we are saturated with the New Testament in this way, when we open our mouths to speak the word will come forth spontaneously. There will not be the need to use so many stories and illustrations. We should simply give people the word. People may be entertained by a preacher’s stories and illustrations, but they may not receive much of the word. This is the poverty of a great deal of today’ste aching and preaching
16我们在主的恢复里，该满了主的话。生命读经的信息没有许多故事，却满了神丰富的话。圣徒不是从故事得到帮助，乃是从扎实、神圣的话语得到帮助。
16We in the Lord’s recovery should be full of the Lord’sword. The Life-study Messages do not contain many stories, but these messages are full of the rich Word of God. The saints do not receive help from stories; they receive help from the solid, divine word
传输基督与国度的话
The Word That Conveys Christ and the Kingdom
17我们出去开展福音时，该带著神话语中基督与国度的福音而去。只有神圣的话语能包含并传输基督与神的国。孔夫子的教训不能传输基督。这样的教训不能成为将基督传输给人的器皿。惟有神圣的话语能用以将基督为神的国传输给人。我们将神的话撒到人里面，也就将基督撒到人里面。按照福音书，我们不能将基督与神的话分开。基督是种子，而种子是神的话。因此，我们需要被神的话充满，并将牠撒到人里面。
17As we go forth for the spreading of the gospel, we should go with the gospel of Christ and the kingdom in the word. Only the divine word can contain and convey Christ and the kingdom of God. The teachings of Confucius certainly cannot convey Christ. Such teachings cannot be vessels to convey Christ to others. Only the holy word, the divine word, is useful in conveying Christ as the kingdom of God to others. When we sow the word into others, we also sow Christ into them. According to the Gospels, we cannot separate Christ from the word. Christ is the seed, and the seed is the word. Therefore, we need to be filled with the word and sow it into others
18在本篇信息中，我们已经看见传福音的一些要点。我们福音的内容必须是耶稣基督与神的国。不仅如此，我们需要在神的话里并用神的话，传讲基督与神的国。我们要传基督与国度，甚至传基督就是神的国，就需要非常熟悉圣经。我们需要被新约中神圣的话语所充满并浸透。
18In this message we have seen some crucial points concerning our preaching of the gospel. The content of our gospel must be Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God. Furthermore, we need to preach Christ and the kingdom of God in the word and with the word. In order to preach Christ and the kingdom, and even to preach Christ as the kingdom of God, in this way, we need to be very familiar with the Scriptures. We need to be filled and saturated with the divine word in the New Testament