彼得在五旬節的講論
14 彼得和十一個使徒站起，高聲說：「猶太人和一切住在耶路撒冷的人哪，這件事你們當知道，也當側耳聽我的話。 15你們想這些人是醉了；其實不是醉了，因為時候剛到巳初。 16這正是先知約珥所說的：
17神說：在末後的日子，
我要將我的靈澆灌凡有血氣的。
你們的兒女要說預言；
你們的少年人要見異象；
老年人要做異夢。
18在那些日子，
我要將我的靈澆灌我的僕人和使女，
他們就要說預言。
19在天上，我要顯出奇事；
在地下， 我要顯出神蹟；
有血，有火，有煙霧。
20日頭要變為黑暗，
月亮要變為血；
這都在主大而明顯的日子未到以前。
21到那時候，
凡求告主名的，就必得救。
22「以色列人哪，請聽我的話：神藉着拿撒勒人耶穌在你們中間施行異能、奇事、神蹟，將他證明出來，這是你們自己知道的。 23他既按着神的定旨先見被交與人，你們就藉着無法之人的手，把他釘在十字架上，殺了。 24神卻將死的痛苦解釋了，叫他復活，因為他原不能被死拘禁。 25大衛指着他說：
我看見主常在我眼前；
他在我右邊，叫我不至於搖動。
26所以，我心裏歡喜，
我的靈快樂；
並且我的肉身要安居在指望中。
27因你必不將我的靈魂撇在陰間，
也不叫你的聖者見朽壞。
28你已將生命的道路指示我，
必叫我因見你的面
得着滿足的快樂。
29「弟兄們！先祖大衛的事，我可以明明地對你們說：他死了，也葬埋了，並且他的墳墓直到今日還在我們這裏。 30大衛既是先知，又曉得神曾向他起誓，要從他的後裔中立一位坐在他的寶座上， 31就預先看明這事，講論基督復活說：
他的靈魂不撇在陰間；
他的肉身也不見朽壞。
32這耶穌，神已經叫他復活了，我們都為這事作見證。 33他既被神的右手高舉，又從父受了所應許的聖靈，就把你們所看見所聽見的，澆灌下來。 34大衛並沒有升到天上，但自己說：
主對我主說：
你坐在我的右邊，
35等我使你仇敵作你的腳凳。
36「故此，以色列全家當確實地知道，你們釘在十字架上的這位耶穌，神已經立他為主，為基督了。」
五月份開始，我們開始閱讀這本像是小說一樣的聖經經文。這本書讀起來非常有趣。當我們瞭解這些時代背景、故事中的角色以及發生的事情時，我們會覺得這段歷史是完全真實的。因為我們同在其中，這是一段歷史故事，不是一本玄幻小說，不是遙遠的傳說。這是在歷史中真實發生的事情。2023年七月份，我有機會和我太太一起去了一趟土耳其，看了這些使徒行傳中所寫的地方。我感到非常震驚。當我去過之後時，我才發現，哇，這一切都不是傳說，這些都是真實發生過的事情。在未來兩個月裡，當我們聊到地名和記載的事情時，我會挑一些地圖和照片給大家看看。當然，我們也希望不久的將來能夠再次一同去土耳其。因為作為我們教會的身分，一同去讓學習、去看，去看到這一切原來是真正發生過的事情。
而且這段歷史與我們所有人都有關係。它不是外國的歷史，也不是別人的歷史，而是人類的歷史。毫不誇張地說，這段歷史對全人類的影響是極為巨大的。當我們思考基督教會遍布全球的今天，我們應該問，這一切是從何處開始的？事實上，教會在開始時是一個微小、無足輕重、被壓迫的組織，並且並不受歡迎，遭受羅馬政府的打壓和各種迫害。外部壓力包括政府的打壓和攻擊，社會的排斥，而教會內部內部則存在許多矛盾和問題，甚至出現了一些異端，扭曲信仰的真諦。可以說，在教會初期，它充滿了困難和掙扎。
這段歷史長達300多年，直到羅馬帝國將基督教定為國教之前，基督教都是一個在夾縫中求生存的辛苦組織。然而，非常奇妙的是，在這段時間裡，基督教卻出現了巨大的興盛。在短短的30年內，福音從耶路撒冷傳播到了羅馬帝國的首都羅馬，接著在接下來的兩百多年到300年之間，使徒和基督徒們冒著壓迫、破壞和受傷害的風險，將福音傳遞到了歐洲、亞洲和非洲，到了羅馬帝國的每一個角落。這是一個非常奇妙、不可思議的事情。如果沒有耶穌的復活，如果這一切只是謊言，那麼這一切是不可能發生，也不可能完成的。因此，從一開始，這本書所交代的，路加這位作者所傳達的，就是耶穌死而復活的真實事件。
這也是基督教的信仰核心，耶穌不是過去存在過，而是今天依然活著，依然在帶領教會的真神。任何不認真對待耶穌復活這一件事情的基督徒，都要仔細思考這一個磐石一般不可動搖的歷史事實。有一些近代自由派的基督徒為了不要讓非信徒覺得這一個復活的事情太過具有爭議性，就想要少講關於復活的事情，說復活這一件事情不是基督教信仰的重點，這是大錯特錯的。
如果沒有耶穌的復活，他就不是神的兒子，他所說的一切不過是一個狂妄的人的胡言亂語，不值得相信，那基督教就只是一個虛妄的迷信罷了。但因為他從死裡復活，他的身份被驗證，被確定他真是神的兒子，接下來他應許的聖靈降臨，繼續他已經開始的工作。事實上，如果沒有耶穌的復活，今天這一切都不可能發生。所以當我們去思考已經擺在眼前的這一切事實的時候，就算你還不相信，我們都無法否認，這個耶穌所說的話語必然值得每一個人去聆聽，去思考。
讓我們稍微介紹一下作者路加這個人。根據歷史記載，他是一位醫生，曾與保羅一同宣教，是保羅旅行的夥伴之一。他記錄了他與保羅一起旅行和傳福音的過程，詳細描述了風土民情、路程和地理位置。因此，在歷代研究者眼中，路加是一位非常優秀的歷史學家。他精通希臘文，敘述非常詳盡且有邏輯性，用詞優美。在路加福音和使徒行傳中，他所描繪的一切都非常優雅，並且有很完整、清晰的記載，讓我們能夠清楚地了解到初代教會的情況。我們幾乎可以看到當時教會所經歷的一切，就像是觀看一部完整的電影情節一樣清晰。
曾經有許多未信者的歷史學家試圖挑戰路加的文筆和他所記載的事情。據說，他們指出杜撰的地方，包括錯誤、誤差、不合理之處，以及時間、風土、文化等方面的錯誤。然而，隨著考古學的不斷挖掘和研究，新的證據和記載不斷浮現，一再驗證了路加所記載的是真實的歷史。儘管在歷史中存在爭議，但隨著時間的推移，我們發現越來越多的證據和正確之處，更加確定了路加所記載的一切都是真實而可靠的歷史，而不是虛構的。
接下來我們看看路加寫使徒行傳的動機和目的。其中第一個原因，可能就是要推薦基督教給羅馬政府，也許是為了基督教辯護，讓羅馬帝國知道這不是一個邪教，而是一個純正，勸人為善的良善宗教。他開頭寫給 “提阿非羅大人”這個人是誰並不清楚，但是可以確定的是一個尊貴的人，使用 “大人”或 “閣下”稱呼這一位官員。在使徒行傳裡面，路加對於羅馬帝國的官員奉公守法是有記載的。在幾次官員審判基督徒的時候，也的確是用正確，合理合法的方式對待，如果有出錯的地方，官員們也會出面道歉並且賠償。
其次，路加是一個外邦人，他和外邦人的使徒保羅要把這一個重要的信息傳給後世：基督教的上帝不是猶太人的上帝，而是屬於全人類的上帝。耶穌所傳的福音也不僅僅是給猶太人的，而是從猶太人開始，傳揚給萬國萬民的福音。耶穌的降臨，死在十架上，三天後復活，因信他而得赦罪，擁有進天國的門票，這樣的福音是要給萬民聽見的。
猶太人一直都是以政治的方式去解讀福音，所以當他們聽到耶穌要建立他的國度時，他們的本能反應就是問，主啊，你這時候要復興以色列國嗎？他們想的是一個偉大的帝國，耶穌要把以色列建造成為地上的一個強大國家。到今天以色列人仍然抱持這個想法，所以他們對於復興以色列國有一個不可思議的堅持，而到了1947年竟然真的重新建國一直到今天。今天的以色列也的確是一個強大的國家。但是耶穌所說的並不是靠著武力建立一個國家。
在第八節，耶穌所說的： 8但聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必得着能力，並要在耶路撒冷、猶太全地，和撒馬利亞，直到地極，作我的見證。耶穌說的是從猶太人的中心 – 椰路撒冷，到猶太人的全部境界 – 到一半猶太一半其他民族的撒馬利亞 – 到地極，當時說的是羅馬帝國的邊界，而在使徒行傳的故事中，保羅最後在羅馬受審，這已經是把整個羅馬帝國都涵蓋了。而今天我身處於紐西蘭，這已經是地球的地極，到了南極了。這一個重要訊息歷世歷代不斷地傳揚，帶領一代一代的宣教士不斷擴張福音的境界。一如保羅所說，雖然有人是為了私利，有人是為了自身的目的，但終究，福音被傳開了 – 而教會，也不斷地在世界各地被建立，這一切，都是聖靈的帶領，一件一件的事情就成就了。
這邊還有一個關鍵字 – 做我的見證。做見證人，必定是需要親身經歷的“自身體驗”而不是別人跟你說的“別人的體驗”在法庭上作見證，必定是要你親身經歷，親眼所見，才足以作為 “見證人”。我們能夠有影響力的事情在於 “親身體驗”。當我們分享我們的生命，讓別人感受到我們的愛，而不是單單只聽到我們說，而是看到我們行出愛的行為，這才是真正建立了初代教會，在困苦和艱難中，信徒們彼此付出愛心，真心對待，甚至不惜用生命去為彼此付出，才帶出了如此堅固的信仰。
所以當我們一同來閱讀《使徒行傳》時，更貼切的稱呼可能是「聖靈與使徒的合作」，或者是「聖靈如何帶領使徒將福音傳遍羅馬帝國」的記載。在閱讀時，我們不應只看到人的行動，而是應該看到上帝聖靈如何在背後引導著一切。當我們將整個歷史視為一本書，將整個歷史看作一個完整的故事時，我們才會看到上帝從始至今的行動。從創世記到今天，上帝都在我們每個人的生命中親自引導著我們。這不僅僅是屬於別人的故事，而是上帝與每個人單獨交織的故事。每個人的生命都有著特別的目的，都是上帝要使用的工具，都是上帝要在其中創造美妙奇蹟的一部分。因此，我們的生命都應該成為別人的祝福的一部分，成為一個故事。
各位弟兄姊妹我非常的期待能夠跟各位來分享這一段的經文這一段的聖經，因為這是與我們每一個人都切身相關的在這其中我每科學習到相當多的關於領導力的關於個人成長的關於目標的關於許多人生中一些重要的智慧和能力的書。 當我們來看這個改變了，全世界的組織教會的時候我們就會發現到上帝的作為在其中一直不停而我們都能夠在其中成為重要的一員我非常興奮，我希望你們也能夠跟我一同感受這趟旅程之中你們在其中的角色感謝上帝，願我們一起同行！
Peter Addresses the Crowd
14Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17“ ‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
22“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25David said about him:
“ ‘I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest in hope,
27because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
you will not let your holy one see decay.
28You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
29“Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
“ ‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
35until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.” ’
36“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
Brothers and sisters, peace be with you! Did you have a pleasant holiday? Our students' vacation has ended, and they will be returning to school tomorrow. How have the children been during their break?
Starting from May, we began reading this scripture, which reads like a novel. It's been quite fascinating. As we delve into the backgrounds of these times, the characters in the stories, and the events that unfolded, we feel that this history is completely real. Because we were there, this is a historical narrative, not a fantasy novel or a distant legend. These are events that truly occurred in history. Last year, I had the opportunity to visit Turkey with Patrice and witness everything that took place in those places. I was truly amazed. It wasn't until I reflected upon it that I realized, "Wow, all of this isn't just legend; these are real events that happened." Over the next two months, as we discuss place names and recorded events, I'll share some maps and photos with everyone. Of course, we also hope that in the near future, we can once again visit Turkey together. As members of our church, going together allows us to learn, to witness firsthand that these events did indeed occur.
And this period of history is relevant to each and every one of us. It's not just foreign history, nor is it someone else's history—it's human history. It's not an exaggeration to say that this period of history has had an immense impact on all of humanity. As we contemplate the global spread of the Christian church today, we should ask ourselves, where did it all begin? In fact, the church began as a small, insignificant, oppressed organization that was not welcomed and faced persecution from the Roman government. External pressures included government oppression and attacks, as well as social exclusion, while internally, the church faced many conflicts and issues, and even some heresies emerged, distorting the true essence of faith. It can be said that in the early days of the church, it was filled with difficulties and struggles.
This period of history lasted for more than 300 years, until the Roman Empire declared Christianity as the state religion. Before that, Christianity was an organization struggling to survive in adversity. However, what's truly remarkable is that during this time, Christianity experienced tremendous growth. Within just 30 years, the Gospel spread from Jerusalem to the capital of the Roman Empire, Rome. Over the next two hundred years to three hundred years, apostles and Christians risked persecution, destruction, and harm to spread the Gospel to every corner of Europe, Asia, and Africa, reaching every corner of the Roman Empire. This is an incredibly miraculous and unbelievable phenomenon. If it weren't for the resurrection of Jesus, if it were all just a lie, then none of this would have been possible. Therefore, from the very beginning, what this book narrates, what the author Luke conveys, is the true event of Jesus' death and resurrection.
This is also the core belief of Christianity: Jesus is not just a figure from the past, but He is alive today, still leading His church as the true God. Any Christian who does not take the resurrection of Jesus seriously must carefully consider this unshakable historical fact, which is like a cornerstone of our faith. Some modern liberal Christians, in order to avoid controversy and not to make non-believers feel uncomfortable, tend to downplay the significance of the resurrection. They say that the resurrection is not the focal point of Christian faith, but this is a grave mistake.
If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then He would not be the Son of God, and everything He said would be nothing more than the ramblings of a deluded man, not worthy of belief. Christianity would then be nothing but a vain superstition. However, because He rose from the dead, His identity is confirmed, and it is affirmed that He truly is the Son of God. Following His resurrection, He promised the coming of the Holy Spirit to continue the work He had already begun. In fact, without the resurrection of Jesus, none of what is happening today would be possible. So, as we contemplate these undeniable facts laid before us, even if you do not yet believe, we cannot deny that the words spoken by Jesus are worth listening to and contemplating for every person.
Let's briefly introduce the author Luke. According to historical records, he was a physician who traveled and preached alongside Paul, serving as one of Paul's companions during his journeys. Luke meticulously documented their travels and the spread of the Gospel, providing detailed descriptions of the customs, journeys, and geographical locations. Therefore, in the eyes of historians throughout the ages, Luke is regarded as an exceptionally talented historian. He was proficient in Greek, his narratives were detailed and logical, and his choice of words was elegant. In the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, everything he depicted was graceful, with comprehensive and clear accounts, allowing us to gain a clear understanding of the situation of the early church. We can almost visualize everything the church went through at that time, as if watching a complete movie scene.
Many unbelieving historians have attempted to challenge Luke's writing style and the events he recorded. It is said that they pointed out fabricated elements, including errors, discrepancies, inconsistencies, as well as inaccuracies regarding time, geography, culture, and so forth. However, with the continuous excavation and study of archaeology, new evidence and records continue to emerge, repeatedly affirming that what Luke recorded is indeed true history. Despite the controversies in history, as time progresses, we discover more and more evidence and accuracies, further confirming that everything Luke recorded is genuine and reliable history, rather than fiction.
Next, let's examine Luke's motivation and purpose in writing the Acts of the Apostles. One possible reason is to commend Christianity to the Roman government, perhaps as a defense of Christianity, to make the Roman Empire aware that it is not a cult but a legitimate, benevolent religion that promotes goodness. At the beginning, he addresses "Theophilus," whose identity is unclear but is presumed to be a person of prominence, addressing this official with terms of respect such as "Sir" or "Your Excellency." In the Acts of the Apostles, Luke records instances of Roman officials acting in accordance with the law. During several trials of Christians by officials, they were indeed treated with correctness, fairness, and legality. If any mistakes occurred, officials would apologize and compensate accordingly.
The Jewish people have always interpreted the gospel in political terms. So when they heard Jesus talk about establishing his kingdom, their instinctive response was to ask, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" They envisioned a great empire, with Jesus building Israel into a powerful nation on earth. Even today, Israelis still hold onto this idea, maintaining an incredible persistence for the restoration of the nation of Israel, which astonishingly came to fruition in 1947 and continues to this day. Present-day Israel is indeed a formidable nation. However, what Jesus meant was not the establishment of a kingdom through military might.
Furthermore, Luke, being a non-Jew, along with the Apostle Paul, who ministered to the Gentiles, aimed to convey this crucial message to future generations: the God of Christianity is not exclusively the God of the Jews but belongs to all humanity. The gospel preached by Jesus is not only for the Jews but is to be proclaimed to all nations and peoples, starting from the Jews. The gospel message of Jesus' coming, crucifixion, resurrection after three days, and forgiveness of sins through faith in Him, granting access to the kingdom of heaven, is meant for all people to hear.
In verse 8, Jesus said, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Jesus spoke from the heart of the Jewish people - Jerusalem, to the entirety of Jewish territory - including the Samaritans, who were half-Jewish and half-other ethnicity, and to the ends of the earth, which at that time referred to the borders of the Roman Empire. In the story of Acts, we see Paul ultimately facing trial in Rome, covering the entire Roman Empire. Today, we find ourselves in New Zealand, which represents the ends of the earth, even reaching Antarctica. This crucial message has been continually spread throughout generations, guiding missionaries to expand the boundaries of the Gospel. As Paul said, though some may act out of selfish ambition or personal agendas, ultimately, the Gospel is preached, and churches continue to be established worldwide, all guided by the Holy Spirit, bringing about one accomplishment after another.
Another key phrase here is "be my witnesses." Being a witness undoubtedly requires personal experience, not just hearing about others' experiences. When testifying in court, you must have firsthand experience and firsthand observation to be a credible witness. We can have an impact through our personal experiences. When we share our lives and let others feel our love, not just hear about it, but see it demonstrated through our actions, that is when we truly build the early church. In times of hardship and difficulty, believers showed genuine love for one another, treating each other sincerely, and even sacrificing their lives for one another, which resulted in such a strong faith.
So when we come together to read "Acts of the Apostles," a more fitting title might be "The Collaboration of the Holy Spirit and the Apostles" or "How the Holy Spirit Led the Apostles to Spread the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire." When reading, we shouldn't just see human actions; rather, we should see how the Holy Spirit of God is guiding everything behind the scenes. When we view the entire history as a book, as a complete story, we can see God's actions from the beginning until now. From Genesis to today, God has been personally guiding each one of us in our lives. This isn't just someone else's story; it's the story that God is intricately weaving with each person. Every individual's life has a special purpose, is a tool that God wants to use, and is a part of the wonderful miracles that God wants to create within. Therefore, our lives should all become a part of blessing others, becoming a story.
Dear brothers and sisters, I am incredibly excited to share this passage of scripture with you all. It is relevant to each and every one of us, touching on topics such as leadership, personal growth, goals, and many important insights and abilities we encounter in life. As we delve into the transformative journey of the global body of believers, we'll discover that God's hand is constantly at work within it, and each of us has a vital role to play. I am filled with anticipation, and I hope you all can join me in experiencing the significance of your roles in this journey. Let us journey together in gratitude to God. May we walk together in unity!
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