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使徒行传生命读经 · 第35篇

藉著保罗一班同工的职事，在外邦地的繁殖 ( 一 )

The Propagation in Asia Minor and Europe through the Ministry of Paul’s Company (1)
1读经：使徒行传12:25—13:12。使徒行传论到繁殖的一段（徒二1～二八31，）主要有两部分：藉著彼得一班同工的职事，在犹太地的繁殖；（徒二l～十二24；）以及藉著保罗一班同工的职事，在外邦地的繁殖。（徒十二25～二八31。）我们在本篇信息中要先看十二章二十五节的引进，再看十三章一至十二节。
1Scripture Reading: Acts 12:25—13:12 The section of Acts concerned with propagation (2:1— 28:31) has two main parts: the propagation in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria through the ministry of Peter’s company (2:1—12:24) and the propagation in Asia Minor and Europe through the ministry of Paul’s company (12:25—28:31). In this message we shall first consider the initiation in 12:25 and then begin to consider 13:1-12
引进
the initiation
2十二章二十五节说，『巴拿巴和扫罗办完了供给的事，就从耶路撒冷回去，带著称呼马可的约翰同去。』十二章一至二十四节是一段插进的话，记载彼得受逼迫；二十五节是十一章三十节的继续，十一章二十二至三十节乃是叙述保罗完全进入使徒的职事。我们已经看见，保罗是主直接拯救的，（徒九3～6，）而后藉著亚拿尼亚被带进与基督身体的联合里；（徒九10～19；）后来藉著巴拿巴的引见，与耶路撒冷的门徒有实际的交通；（徒九26～28；）以后又藉著巴拿巴，被引进主的行动里，将神国的福音开展到外邦世界。（徒十一25～26，十三1～3。）二至十一章记载彼得对犹太人的使徒职事，十三至二十八章记载保罗对外邦人的使徒职事，（参加二7～8，）其间从十一章十九节至十二章二十五节，乃是记载彼得与保罗职事之间的过渡时期。
2Acts 12:25 says, “And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, having completed the dispensing, taking along with them John who was surnamed Mark.” Acts 12:1-24 is a parenthetical section, a record of Peter’s persecution. Acts 12:25 is a continuation of 11:30, which, with the preceding verses from 11:22, is a narration of Paul’s full initiation into his apostolic ministry. We have seen that Paul was saved by the Lord directly (9:3-6) and was brought into the identification with the Body of Christ through Ananias (9:10-19). Later he was introduced to practical fellowship with the disciples in Jerusalem through Barnabas (9:26-28). Later, also through Barnabas, he was initiated into the Lord’s move in spreading the gospel of His kingdom to the Gentile world (11:25- 26; 13:1-3). The passage from 11:19 to 12:25 is a transitional record between Peter’s apostolic ministry to the Jews in chapters two through eleven and Paul’s apostolic ministry to the Gentiles in chapters thirteen through twenty-eight (see Gal. 2:7-8
主行动中新的转弯
A NEW TURN IN THE LORD’S MOVE
3我们在十三章一至十二节看见，主在一些有恩赐之人中间的行动。这里没有新的起头，只有主行动中新的转弯。主的行动已经从耶路撒冷开始，水流从那里流到安提阿，现今在安提阿有一个新的转弯。耶路撒冷是犹太宗教的中心，然而安提阿是为著外邦世界的中心。安提阿是这样一个中心，非常有战略性。所以这城被主拣选，来为著祂在地上行动新的转弯，就是转向外邦世界。
3In 13:1-12 we see the Lord’s move among certain of His gifted ones. Here we do not have a new beginning— we have a new turn in the Lord’s move. The beginning had already taken place in Jerusalem, and the stream flowed from there to Antioch. Now at Antioch there is a new turn. Jerusalem was a center of the Jewish religion. Antioch, however, was a center for the Gentile world. As such a center, Antioch was strategic. Therefore, this city was chosen by the Lord for a new turn of His move on earth, the turn to the Gentile world.
4在安提阿的申言者和教师十三章一节说，『在安提阿当地的召:会中，有几位申言者和教师，就是巴拿巴和称呼尼结的西面，古利奈人路求，与分封王希律同养的马念，并扫罗。』申言者乃是藉著神的启示，为神说话并说出神的人，有时候他们也受感说豫言。（徒十一27～28。）教师乃是照著使徒的教训（徒二42）和申言者的启示，教导真理的人。申言者和教师是为著地方的，也是为著宇宙的。（弗四11。）
4THE PROPHETS AND TEACHERS IN ANTIOCH Acts 13:1 says, “Now there were in Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers Barnabas and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius the Cyrenian, and Manaen, foster brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.” Prophets are those who speak for God and speak forth God by God’s revelation. They sometimes speak with inspired prediction (11:27-28). Teachers are those who teach the truths according to the apostles’ teaching (2:42) and the prophets’ revelation. Both prophets and teachers are universal as well as local (Eph. 4:11).
5当这流从耶路撒冷的一百二十人开始时，有分于其中的只有道地的犹太人。但是按照十三章一节的记载，在安提阿召会的申言者和教师来自几个不同的源头。巴拿巴是利未人，按籍贯是居比路人。（徒四36。）尼结的意思是黑；表示是个黑人，也许祖先是出自非洲。古利奈人路求来自北非的古利奈。如果他是罗马十六章二十一节保罗的亲属路求，他就可能是犹太人。与希律同养的马念，在行政上与罗马人有关，因此他必定是欧化的。十三章一节的希律曾杀害施浸者约翰。（路九7～9。）这是神主宰的作为，使杀害施浸者约翰之凶手的同养者，成了召会中一个领头尽功用的肢体。十三章一节末了题到扫罗，他是犹太人，生在大数，曾在迦玛列门下按著摩西的律法受教。（徒二二3。）这里所记载的五位申言者和教师，是由犹太人和外邦人组成的，各有不同的背景、教育和身分。这指明召会是由各种不同种族和阶层的人组成的，与他们的背景无关；这也指明神将属灵的恩赐和功用赐给基督身体的肢体，不是根据他们天然的身分。在十三章一节这里，主设立了一个榜样。主的行动从安提阿转弯，到达外邦世界；外邦世界中有许多不同种类的人，文化、种族、身分不同的人。所以就在这转弯的开始，设立了榜样，指明召会是由各种不同种族和阶层的人所组成的。
5When the flow started with the one hundred twenty in Jerusalem, only typical Jews were involved. But according to the record in 13:1, the prophets and teachers in the church in Antioch were from a number of different sources. Barnabas was a Levite, a Cyprian by birth (4:36). Niger, whose name means black and should denote a Negro, was probably of African origin. Lucius the Cyrenian was from Cyrene in North Africa. He may have been a Jew if he was the Lucius in Romans 16:21, who was Paul’skins man. Manaen was the foster brother of Herod and was governmentally related to the Romans. Hence, Manaen must have been Europeanized. The Herod in 13:1 was the one who killed John the Baptist (Luke 9:7-9). It was the Lord’ss ove reign doing that the foster brother of John the Baptist’s murderer became one of the leading functioning members in the church. Finally, 13:1 mentions Saul, a Jew born in Tarsus and taught by Gamaliel according to the law of Moses (22:3). The five prophets and teachers recorded here were composed of Jewish and Gentile peoples with different backgrounds, education, and status. This indicates that the church is composed of all races and classes of people regardless of their background, and that the spiritual gifts and functions given to the members of the Body of Christ are not based upon their natural status. Here in 13:1 the Lord set up a pattern. From Antioch the Lord’s move turned to reach the Gentile world, and in the Gentile world there are many different kinds of people, people of different cultures, races, and status. Therefore, at the very beginning of this turn the pattern was established to indicate that the churches are composed of all races and classes of people
6今天基督徒中间派定理事会、委员会去募集基金，资助一些活动，此外还有许多的组织。但在行传十三章，情况大不相同。在这里我们看不见理事会、委员会、募集基金或组织。
6Among Christians today, boards and committees are appointed to raise funds to support certain activities. In addition, there is a great deal of organization. But in Acts 13 the situation is very different. Here we do not see boards, committees, fund raising, or organization.
申言者和教师的产生
THE PRODUCING OF THE PROPHETS AND TEACHERS
7按照十三章一节，在安提阿的召会有申言者和教师。我们需要找出这些申言者和教师是如何产生的。那里没有神学院，也没有按立；那么巴拿巴、尼结、路求、马念和扫罗，如何成为申言者和教师？
7According to 13:1, there were prophets and teachers in the church in Antioch. We need to find out in what way these prophets and teachers were produced. There was neither seminary nor ordination. How, then, were Barnabas, Niger, Lucius, Manean, and Saul produced as prophets and teachers
逐渐显明
Gradually Manifested
8保罗在以弗所四章十一节说，基督，身体的头，将四种恩赐给了身体：使徒、申言者、传福音者、以及牧人和教师。这些恩赐是头所兴起，由祂赐给身体的；不是藉著教育、选举或按立等人为的方法产生，乃是在爱主且寻求主的圣徒中间，有些人逐渐显明为传福音者、申言者或教师。他们的产生，乃是藉著在他们基督徒生命和生活里的显明。比方说，在七章司提反显明为大教师，在八章腓利显明为传福音者。然后在九章，保罗先显明为传福音者，后显明为教师。然而，当他在安提阿召会时，他不是作传福音的工作，乃是作教导的工作。行传十一章二十六节说，他和巴拿巴『在召会里聚集，教训了许多人。』这指明巴拿巴和扫罗都是教师。十三章一节题到名字的另外三个人－尼结、路求和马念－也许是申言者。保罗当然也有传讲的恩赐，但他在安提阿是尽教师的功用。
8In Ephesians 4:11 Paul says that Christ, the Head of the Body, has given four categories of gifts to the Body: apostles, prophets, evangelists, and shepherds and teachers. These gifts are raised up by the Head and given by Him to the Body. They are not produced in a human way by education, selection, or ordination. Rather, among the saints who love the Lord and seek Him, some are gradually manifested to be evangelists, prophets, or teachers. They are produced by their manifestation in their Christian life and living. For example, in chapter seven Stephen was manifested to be a great teacher, and in chapter eight Philip was manifested to be an evangelist. Then in chapter nine Paul was manifested first as an evangelist and then as a teacher. However, when he was in the church in Antioch, he was not carrying out an evangelical work but was doing a teaching work. Acts 11:26 says that he and Barnabas “were gathered in the church and taught a considerable number.” This indicates that both Barnabas and Saul were teachers. Perhaps the other three named in 13:1—Niger, Lucius, and Manean— were prophets. Paul, of course, also had the gift of preaching, but in Antioch he functioned as a teacher
9十三章一节题到的五个人，不是用人为的方式产生为恩赐的。相反的，他们的产生，乃是藉著他们在圣徒中间逐渐的显明。至终，圣徒承认这些人有某些恩赐。然后，因著他们的恩赐，他们成为有恩赐的人。
9The five mentioned in 13:1 were not produced as gifts in a human way. On the contrary, they were produced by their gradual manifestation among the saints. Eventually, the saints recognized that these ones had certain gifts. Then by their gifts they became gifted persons
基督身体生机的路
The Organic Way of the Body
10今天在主的恢复里，我们应当跟从行传十三章的榜样，不以人为的方式产生传道人，不采取人为的选举或组织的方式。我们乃是仰望主，叫祂从祂的身体产生恩赐。我们采取的路不是组织，乃是生机的。如果有些弟兄姊妹全时间事奉主，这事不该以组织的路来作，乃该以基督身体生机的路来作。
10In the Lord’s recovery today we should follow the pattern in Acts 1 3 not to have a human way of producing preachers. We do not take the way of human selection or organization. Instead, we look to the Lord that He would produce something out from His Body. The way we take is not organization— it is organic. If some brothers and sisters serve the Lord full time, this should be done not in the way of organization, but in the organic way of the Body.
11最近台北有几百位圣徒奉献自己全时间事奉主。我们告诉这些圣徒，我们不跟从组织的路。我们在主恢复里的路是生机的，是生命的路。重要的乃是圣徒如何在主里长大，如何让神圣的生命在他们里面发展，产生尽功用的能力。这是生机的路，基于神圣的生命在我们里面的生长和发展。我们都需要看见这个。
11Recently, hundreds of saints in Taipei consecrated themselves to serve the Lord full time. We told these saints that we do not follow the way of organization. Our way in the Lord’s recovery is organic; it is the way of life. What matters is how the saints grow in the Lord and how the divine life develops within them to produce a certain ability for functioning. This is the organic way based on the growth and development of the divine life within us. We all need to see this
没有募集基金的人为方法
No Human Methods of Fund Raising
12撇下这生机的路而采取组织的路乃是堕落，那样作就是堕落回到传统基督教的作法里。所以我们应当弃绝那种组织的路，就是人为的控制与募款的方法。主的职事乃是在组织与人为理财方法之外完成的。不久以前，我告诉台北那些奉献自己全时间事奉主的圣徒，不要讨论财务或募集基金的事。一九四九年，当同工们在倪弟兄的带领之下，决定差遣我离开中国大陆时，他没有给我基金，我也不知道要往那里去。末了我照著主的引导去台湾；我去那里，没有任何人为资助的凭藉。我来美国，情形也非常相似。我到这个国家来，没有人在财务上资助我。事实上，美国有些弟兄以为我有远东圣徒的资助，而远东的弟兄以为我有美国圣徒的资助。有一件事证明我没有人为资助的凭藉；帮我豫备一九六四年所得税的弟兄告诉我，那一整年在洛杉机的召会总共给我六百美元。你也许惊讶我是怎样生活的。我只能见证说，我就是这样生活。我如何生活？我乃是过麻雀和百合花的生活。我分享这事的点乃是，我们全时间事奉主，不该为财务担心，主不会让我们挨饿。
12It would be degradation to leave this organic way and take the organizational way. To do that would be to fall back into the practice of traditional Christianity. Therefore, we should abandon that organizational way, the way of human control and methods of raising money. The Lord’s ministry is to be carried out apart from organization and human methods of finance. Not long ago, I told the saints in Taipei who had given themselves to serve the Lord full time not to discuss the matter of finances or fund raising. In 1949 when the co- workers under the leadership of Brother Nee decided to send me away from mainland China, no funds were given to me, and I did not know where to go. Eventually, according to the Lord’s leading, I went to Taiwan, and I went there without any human means of support. The situation was very similar when I came to the United States. When I came to this country, no one supported me financially. In fact, some of the brothers in the United States thought I was being supported by the saints in the Far East, and those in the Far East thought I was being supported by the saints in the United States. As proof that I was not supported by human means, the brother who helped me to prepare my income taxes in 1964 told me that during the entire year the church in Los Angeles gave me a total of six hundred dollars. Perhaps you are wondering how I lived. I can simply testify that I lived. How did I live? I lived in the way of the sparrows and the lilies. My point in sharing this is that in serving the Lord full time, we should not be concerned about finances. The Lord will not allow us to starve
13行传十三章没有讨论到募集基金，或付给巴拿巴和保罗多少钱。巴拿巴没有说，『保罗弟兄，请放心，我会顾到你的生活费用。』同样的，保罗也没有说，『弟兄们，你们按手在我身上，但我的旅费如何？我如何生活？你们差遣我出去，但是谁资助我？你们要怎样送钱给我？』行传十三章的路实在与今天许多基督教团体的实行大不相同。
13In chapter thirteen of Acts there is no discussion about fund raising or about how much to pay Barnabas and Paul. Barnabas did not say, “Brother Paul, be assured that I will take care of your living expenses.” Likewise, Paul did not say, “Brothers, you lay your hands upon me, but how about my traveling expenses? How will I be able to live? You send me out, but who will support me? How will you send money to me?” The way in Acts 13 is certainly much different from the practice of many Christian groups today.
14容我对你们见证在美国的文字工作。一九六三年我们开始出版一分小小的刊物－水流报。我们在这工作开始的时候只有二百美元。已过的二十一年，这个文字工作已经有很大的发展。主一直使用这文字的服事，许多人享受到出版的书刊。今天这工作有三个分站－一个在安那翰，一个在欧文，一个在台北－许多圣徒为这文字的服事全时间工作。这一切都是主的作为，不是藉著组织或募集基金而成就的。如果主引导你全时间事奉祂，你要受鼓励接受祂的路。不要谈论金钱或组织，不要考虑你的地位、阶级或头衔。忘记这一切，确信凡事主必眷顾。
14Allow me to give you a testimony concerning the publishing work in this country. In 1963 we began to publish a little magazine The Stream. We began this work with only two hundred dollars. During the past twenty-one years, there has been a great development in this publication work. The Lord has used this publication ministry, and many have enjoyed the printed materials. Today this work has three offices— one in Anaheim, one in Irving, and one in Taipei— and many saints work for this publication ministry full time. All this is the Lord’s doing; it was accomplished without organization or fund raising. If the Lord leads you to serve Him full time, be encouraged to take His way. Do not talk about money or organization, and do not consider your position, rank, or title. Forget all such things and be assured that the Lord will take care of everything
需要全时间的工人
THE NEED FOR FULL-TIME WORKERS
15今天主完成祂恢复的行动，需要许多全时间的工人，在美国尤其需要。美国可能有将近一百个召会，但我们没有足彀的全时间工人来应付这需要。主的行动因著这个短缺，严重的受到限制。我们实在需要全时间的工人。所需要的全时间工人要如何产生？当然不是藉著人的选举，乃是藉著圣徒在生命里长大，而照著他们的所是显明出来。然后有些人会受主引导全时间事奉主，他们要凭信接受主的引导。这样跟随的人不该担心他们的生活费用，他们该简单的将这事交给主。不仅如此，他们不该在意地位、阶级或头衔。他们该单单关心主的行动，渴望在祂的行动里。
15For the Lord’s move in carrying out His recovery today, there is the need for a good number of full- time workers. This is especially true in the United States. In this country there may be as many as nearly one hundred churches, but we do not have enough full-time workers to meet the need. The Lord’s move has been severely restricted by this shortage. There certainly is the need for full-time workers. How will the needed full-time workers be produced? Certainly not by the way of human selection. Rather, they will be produced through the saints growing in life and then being manifested according to what they are. Then certain ones will be led of the Lord to serve Him full time, and they will take His leading by faith. Those who follow the Lord in this way should not be concerned about their living expenses. They should simply leave this with the Lord. Moreover, they should not care for position, rank, or title. They should be concerned only for the Lord’s move and desire to be in His move
16我全时间事奉主已经五十多年，我能见证，这样一个事奉的人不该担心财务或地位。我能见证从我一九三三年放下工作事奉主以来，我从来没有考虑到我的地位、阶级或头衔。这些年来我只知道一件事－昼夜劳苦。我不在意我是谁，也不在意地位、阶级或头衔。我要人简单的称我『李弟兄』就彀了。我只是一个劳苦的弟兄。我们的渴望乃是跟从保罗，为主的权益劳苦，照顾众召会。
16As one who has been serving the Lord full time for more than fifty years, I can testify that such a serving one should not be concerned for either finances or position. From the time I gave up my job in 1933 to serve the Lord, I can testify that I never considered my position, rank, or title. Throughout the years I have known only one thing—to labor day and night. I do not care who I am, and I do not care for position, rank, or title. I want others to refer to me simply as “Brother Lee.” This name is sufficient. I am only a laboring brother. Our desire is to follow Paul to labor for the Lord’sin te rest and to care for all the churches
17我盼望读这篇信息的人，为著全时间工人的缺乏祷告。主会引导你全时间事奉祂么？也许主会这样引导你。不只在美国，在拉丁美洲和欧洲，也非常需要全时间的工人。中、南美洲许多国家一直向主的恢复敞开。在墨西哥和巴西有许多召会，在瓜地马拉、哥伦比亚、阿根廷、智利、秘鲁、玻利维亚、乌拉圭和巴拉圭也有召会。虽然在拉丁美洲有这么多召会，但全时间的工人却非常少。实在需要有许多圣徒乐意全时间事奉主，信靠主应付他们的需要。我们都需要将这件事带到主面前。不要轻率的作任何决定；乃要祷告，向主敞开，寻求主的旨意。但愿主为著今天在地上他恢复的开展，兴起全时间的工人来。
17I hope that those who read this message will pray concerning the need for full-time workers. Will the Lord lead you to serve Him full time? Perhaps He will lead you in this way. There is a great need for full-time workers not only in the United States but also in Latin America and Europe. Many countries in Central and South America have been opened to the Lord’s recovery. There are many churches in Mexico and Brazil; there are also churches in Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Paraguay. Although there are so many churches in Latin America, there are very few full-time workers. Surely there is the need for a good number of saints to be willing to serve the Lord full time, trusting in Him to meet the need. There also is the need for full-time workers in Europe. We all need to bring this matter to the Lord. Do not make any decision in a light way. Rather, pray, open to the Lord, and seek His will. May the Lord meet the need for full-time workers for the spread of His recovery on the earth today