彼得和哥尼流
1在凱撒利亞有一個人，名叫哥尼流，是「意大利營」的百夫長。 2他是個虔誠人，他和全家都敬畏神，多多賙濟百姓，常常禱告神。 3有一天，約在申初，他在異象中明明看見神的一個使者進去，到他那裏，說：「哥尼流。」 4哥尼流定睛看他，驚怕說：「主啊，甚麼事呢？」天使說：「你的禱告和你的賙濟達到神面前，已蒙記念了。 5現在你當打發人往約帕去，請那稱呼彼得的西門來。 6他住在海邊一個硝皮匠西門的家裏，房子在海邊上。」 7向他說話的天使去後，哥尼流叫了兩個家人和常伺候他的一個虔誠兵來， 8把這事都述說給他們聽，就打發他們往約帕去。
9第二天，他們行路將近那城。彼得約在午正，上房頂去禱告， 10覺得餓了，想要吃。那家的人正預備飯的時候，彼得魂遊象外， 11看見天開了，有一物降下，好像一塊大布，繫着四角，縋在地上， 12裏面有地上各樣四足的走獸和昆蟲，並天上的飛鳥； 13又有聲音向他說：「彼得，起來，宰了吃！」 14彼得卻說：「主啊，這是不可的！凡俗物和不潔淨的物，我從來沒有吃過。」 15第二次有聲音向他說：「神所潔淨的，你不可當作俗物。」 16這樣一連三次，那物隨即收回天上去了。
各位弟兄姊妹平安，今天我們讀的《使徒行傳》第十章是一個完整的故事，但因為篇幅較長，我們將其分為三天來講解。這三段故事之間有緊密的呼應和重要的重點。我們從頭開始，認真閱讀這一整篇，因為這段經文與外邦人的得救有非常重大的關係，對猶太人以及全世界來說，這一章記載了極其重要的事情。
從一開始，我們聽到有一個叫做哥尼流的義大利百夫長。他是一個正規軍隊中的領導者，相當於現代的連長。他們是軍隊中重要的一份子，負責管理士兵，並向上級將官匯報。他們通常在第一線作戰，擔任重要的軍官。
而哥尼流這個人很特別，當時羅馬的主流信仰是多神信仰，承接了希臘的各種神明。在這樣的國家裡，哥尼流卻選擇了一神信仰。他和全家都敬畏神，並且賙濟百姓，常常禱告。雖然他不完全認識猶太人的神，但他渴望更多地了解這個信仰。我們看到，上帝會為這樣的人打開信仰的大門。之前我們看到，衣索比亞的太監，一個外邦人，因為渴慕上帝，上帝就差派了腓利去對他說話。而今天，這位百夫長因為渴望神，上帝就派了使徒彼得來對他說話。
接下來我們看到彼得。彼得住在一個硝皮匠西門的家裡。彼得在經歷過許多神蹟奇事後，內心的思想也發生了改變。因為猶太人傳統上有很多規矩，他們不能接觸屍體，不能接觸死人，不能與外邦人來往。而此時彼得住在這個硝皮匠的家裡。什麼是硝皮匠呢？他是專門處理動物皮革的人，自然要接觸到屍體。彼得願意與這個人同住，已經代表他在一定程度上擺脫了過去思想的束縛。但他還是沒有完全理解，我們接著來看。
上帝展現了一個異象給彼得看，各種各樣的走獸、飛鳥和昆蟲。上帝命令他宰了吃。彼得拒絕了，說：“不潔淨的東西我不吃。”而上帝的回應是：“神所潔淨的，你不可當作俗物。”這樣一連三次，那布就收回天上去了。
彼得嚴格遵守著猶太人的傳統，這已經根深蒂固在他心中。在他們看來，潔淨與不潔淨是相當重要的律法，他無法放下心中的既定思想。我們人在接受新事物時，最大的阻礙往往不是來自外部，而是來自我們的習慣和思想。當我們要學習新事物、了解時代潮流、跟上變化時，我們內心的固有思想往往會將我們留在原地。也許是長輩的勸誡、社會壓力，或是不肯學習進步的態度，使我們的思想僵化，變得冥頑不靈，這樣我們的心思就會漸漸老去。一個人老去，往往不是身體的老去，而是心已經老了，無法學習、無法更新自己。
我們後面會看到，保羅曾是一個更嚴謹的猶太教徒，遵守著更嚴格的律法和規條。但後來向外邦人傳揚福音的卻是保羅。他在沈潛的過程中，不僅改變了知識，還改變了自己的認知，對傳統的理解，可以說是完全改變了自己的思想體系。這對一個人來說是極大的挑戰。基督教對成人來說比較難接受，通常是因為我們原本根深蒂固的思想限制了我們接受福音。所以這也是為什麼人在遭受重大打擊，原本的思想體系受到衝擊甚至崩潰時，福音才比較容易進入我們心中。可以說，阻礙我們信仰最大的敵人，一直都是自己。
願我們都能擁有活潑、開放的心靈。在我們批評新思維、新潮流、新觀點之前，能夠有聖經的智慧去分辨理解，同時也保有接受的心，跟隨聖靈的帶領。感謝各位的聆聽，我們明天接著看第二部分的故事。
Cornelius Calls for Peter
At Caesarea, there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon, he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.
The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
Peter’s Vision
About noon the following day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
Peace be with you, brothers and sisters. Today, we are reading Acts chapter 10, which is a complete story. Due to its length, we will divide it into three days for explanation. These three parts are closely related and highlight important points. Let’s begin by reading this entire chapter carefully, as it is significantly related to the salvation of Gentiles. For the Jews and the entire world, this chapter records extremely important events.
From the beginning, we hear about a man named Cornelius, an Italian centurion. He was a leader in the formal army, equivalent to a modern-day company commander. They were important members of the military, responsible for managing soldiers and reporting to higher officers. They usually fought on the front lines and held key positions.
Cornelius was unique. In a country where the mainstream faith was polytheism, inherited from Greek gods, Cornelius chose monotheism. He and his entire household feared God, gave alms generously, and prayed constantly. Although he didn’t fully understand the Jewish God, he longed to learn more about this faith. We see that God opens the door of faith for such individuals. Previously, we saw that an Ethiopian eunuch, a Gentile, was eager to know God, and God sent Philip to speak to him. Today, because this centurion longed for God, He sent the apostle Peter to speak to him.
Next, we see Peter. Peter was staying in the house of Simon the tanner. After experiencing many miracles, Peter's thoughts also changed. Traditionally, Jews had many rules: they couldn’t touch corpses, couldn’t interact with the dead, and couldn’t associate with Gentiles. At this time, Peter was staying in the house of a tanner. What is a tanner? He is someone who processes animal hides, naturally dealing with corpses. Peter’s willingness to stay with this man already indicated he had partially broken free from past restrictions. But he still didn’t fully understand, so let’s continue.
God showed Peter a vision of various animals, birds, and insects. God commanded him to kill and eat. Peter refused, saying, “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” God’s response was, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” This happened three times, and then the sheet was taken back to heaven.
Peter strictly adhered to Jewish traditions, which were deeply ingrained in him. For Jews, the laws regarding cleanliness and uncleanliness were very important. He couldn’t let go of his ingrained thoughts. Often, when we encounter new things, the biggest obstacles come from within, from our habits and thoughts. When we learn new things, understand trends, and keep up with changes, our ingrained thoughts often hold us back. It might be the advice of elders, societal pressure, or an unwillingness to learn and improve that makes our thoughts rigid and stubborn. As a result, our minds age. Aging is not about the body but about the mind’s inability to learn and renew.
Later, we will see that Paul, who was once a more rigorous Jew, strictly observing the laws and regulations, became the one to spread the gospel to the Gentiles. During his process of transformation, he not only changed his knowledge but also his understanding of traditions, completely altering his thought system. This is a significant challenge for a person. Christianity is harder for adults to accept often because our deeply ingrained thoughts hinder us from accepting the gospel. This is why people are more receptive to the gospel when they undergo major upheavals and their thought systems are shattered or collapsed. We can say that the greatest enemy of our faith has always been ourselves.
May we all have lively, open minds. Before criticizing new thoughts, trends, or perspectives, may we have the wisdom of the Bible to discern and understand, while maintaining a heart open to following the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for listening, and we will continue with the second part of the story tomorrow.
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