保羅向以弗所長老發表談話
17 保羅從米利都打發人往以弗所去，請教會的長老來。 18他們來了，保羅就說：「你們知道，自從我到亞細亞的日子以來，在你們中間始終為人如何， 19服事主，凡事謙卑，眼中流淚，又因猶太人的謀害，經歷試煉。 20你們也知道，凡與你們有益的，我沒有一樣避諱不說的，或在眾人面前，或在各人家裏，我都教導你們； 21又對猶太人和希臘人證明當向神悔改，信靠我主耶穌基督。 22現在我往耶路撒冷去，心甚迫切，不知道在那裏要遇見甚麼事； 23但知道聖靈在各城裏向我指證，說有捆鎖與患難等待我。 24我卻不以性命為念，也不看為寶貴，只要行完我的路程，成就我從主耶穌所領受的職事，證明神恩惠的福音。
25「我素常在你們中間來往，傳講神國的道；如今我曉得，你們以後都不得再見我的面了。 26所以我今日向你們證明，你們中間無論何人死亡，罪不在我身上。 27因為神的旨意，我並沒有一樣避諱不傳給你們的。 28聖靈立你們作全羣的監督，你們就當為自己謹慎，也為全羣謹慎，牧養神的教會，就是他用自己血所買來的。 29我知道，我去之後必有兇暴的豺狼進入你們中間，不愛惜羊羣。 30就是你們中間，也必有人起來說悖謬的話，要引誘門徒跟從他們。 31所以你們應當警醒，記念我三年之久晝夜不住地流淚、勸戒你們各人。 32如今我把你們交託神和他恩惠的道；這道能建立你們，叫你們和一切成聖的人同得基業。 33我未曾貪圖一個人的金、銀、衣服。 34我這兩隻手常供給我和同人的需用，這是你們自己知道的。 35我凡事給你們作榜樣，叫你們知道應當這樣勞苦，扶助軟弱的人，又當記念主耶穌的話，說：『施比受更為有福。』」
36 保羅說完了這話，就跪下同眾人禱告。 37眾人痛哭，抱着保羅的頸項，和他親嘴。 38叫他們最傷心的，就是他說「以後不能再見我的面」那句話，於是送他上船去了。
保羅在這裡向他的夥伴們，以及他在這裡住了三年的以弗所教會的長老們，做了一次告別的講話，並將他的心聲全部說了出來。在這段發言中，我們可以聽出保羅對於福音、對於這群羊群、對於這個教會的深沉的愛。保羅將一切都交託在神的手中，並且用他的真心說出了這一段話。我們一起來看看吧。
首先，保羅回憶他在以弗所的這三年中，與眾人來往，他們都看著保羅服事主，凡事謙卑，眼中流淚。他們也親眼見到保羅受到迫害，這些事情眾人都是非常清楚的。
接下來，保羅提到他對上帝的話語毫無隱瞞地講述。他沒有為了討好猶太人改變他的信息，也沒有害怕得罪他們而保留不講，而是憑著愛心，誠實地把所有的真道都講給他們聽。
保羅還提到，他沒有接受任何人的奉獻，而是靠自己的手工作。不僅賺取自己所需的金錢，還能供養他身邊的人。因此，他用自己的勞動來養活自己和教會的一部分人。
保羅非常迫切地想要到耶路撒冷去。他也坦言，他不知道會遇到什麼事情，但他清楚地知道，他可能會面臨更多生命的危險以及患難。然而，這些並不是他關心的重點。他不認為自己的生命有什麼值得寶貴的，他的目標是走完他的路程，完成主所賜給他的職責，來見證神的福音。
因此，保羅真的把生死置之度外。他在意的並不是自己的安危，而是福音的傳遞，以及讓更多的人能夠聽見福音。
接著，保羅提到他非常關心並深愛這群他所看顧的羊群。因此，他警告他們要自己謹慎，因為他們一定會碰到假先知和假教師。他稱這些人為豺狼，是不愛惜羊群的，會進到他們中間。他們一定會遇到問題，保羅事先警告他們，會有人說悖逆的話，引誘門徒離開真道。
保羅說：“你們當警醒，記念我這三年來是怎麼樣勸戒你們的。”他將這一切交託在神的手中，希望他們能夠聽從這道，因為這道能建立他們，讓他們與所有信徒同得基業。保羅並沒有只說好聽和勸勉的話，而是告訴他們即將面對更多的困難，但他們要堅守這道。
從字裡行間，我們能夠聽出來保羅真正關心的是這些人的益處。他讓他們回想這三年他與他們共同的生活，這三年應該是保羅對以弗所教會非常重要的建造期，也是他經歷了很多掙扎的一段過程。他們都親眼見證了這一切。
保羅在這裡，就像一位父親一樣語重心長地把這些事情都告訴長老們，有點像是臨終吩咐遺囑一樣的情況。當大家聽完之後，都感到非常難過，因為他們可能再也見不到保羅了。
在這整段話中，保羅提到了一句非常重要的話：“施比受更為有福。”當我們能夠給予時，代表我們擁有更多的資源；當我們在缺乏時仍然堅持給予，則代表我們內心的豐盛。我們所能給予的從來都不在於我們手中的東西，而在於我們內心有多麼願意分享，有多麼渴望把這一切分享給眾人。
因此，當我們明白“施比受更為有福”的時候，真正需要思考的是我們的心。心有多大，我們的手才能做出多少事情。
當我們理解《使徒行傳》從第13章到第21章這段約八章的經文時，會發現這記載了保羅十年間三趟宣教之旅的過程。雖然只有八章，但卻涵蓋了十年的時間。在這期間，保羅的心境不斷改變，他的屬靈生活也逐漸成熟。他的態度和心情一直在變化。
當我們後來讀保羅的書信時，會注意到他心境的改變。他從一開始作為一個傳道人，大聲疾呼宣講福音，到後來像年長的父親一樣諄諄囑服他的兒女們，自己準備迎接將要面對的苦難時，他所說的話、他所表達的感覺和他的說話方式都有改變。在這段經文中，我們可以感受到他已經預備好面對即將到來的苦難，就如保羅在《提摩太後書4:7》裡所說的：“那美好的仗我已經打過了，當跑的路程，我已經跑盡了，當守的信仰，我已經持守了。”一樣的心境。
保羅啟程前往耶路撒冷，等待他的是什麼呢？我們明天繼續講使徒行傳第二十一章的故事，感謝各位的聆聽。
17From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. 20You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
22“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
25“Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. 27For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
32“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
36When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
Paul gave a farewell speech to his companions and the elders of the Ephesian church, where he had lived for three years, expressing all his heartfelt thoughts. In this speech, we can hear Paul's deep love for the gospel, for this flock, and for the church. Paul entrusted everything into God's hands and sincerely shared this message with them. Let's take a look together.
First, Paul reminisced about his three years in Ephesus, interacting with everyone. They witnessed Paul serving the Lord with humility and tears. They also saw firsthand the persecutions Paul faced, and all these things were very clear to them.
Next, Paul mentioned that he spoke God's words without concealment. He did not change his message to please the Jews or avoid offending them, but he spoke the truth honestly and lovingly to them.
Paul also mentioned that he did not accept anyone's offerings but worked with his own hands. Not only did he earn the money he needed, but he also supported those around him. Therefore, he sustained himself and part of the church through his labor.
Paul was eager to go to Jerusalem. He admitted that he did not know what would happen, but he was aware that he might face more dangers and hardships. However, these were not his main concerns. He did not regard his life as precious but aimed to complete his mission from the Lord and testify to the gospel of God's grace.
Thus, Paul truly put his life on the line. He cared not for his own safety but for the spread of the gospel and for more people to hear it.
Paul then expressed his deep concern and love for the flock he cared for. He warned them to be on guard because false prophets and false teachers, whom he called wolves, would come among them and not spare the flock. They would face problems, and Paul warned them in advance that some would speak perverse things to draw away the disciples.
Paul said, "Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears." He entrusted everything to God, hoping they would listen to the word which could build them up and give them an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Paul did not merely say pleasant or encouraging words but told them they would face more challenges and that they must hold firmly to the word.
From his words, we can see that Paul truly cared about their well-being. He asked them to recall the three years he lived among them, which were crucial for the building up of the Ephesian church and a time of significant struggle for him. They witnessed all these things firsthand.
Paul spoke to the elders with the earnestness of a father, similar to giving a last will and testament. After hearing him, everyone felt very sad, knowing they might never see Paul again.
In this entire speech, Paul mentioned a very important phrase: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." When we can give, it means we have more resources; when we persist in giving even in times of lack, it shows the richness of our hearts. What we can give is never just what is in our hands, but how willing we are to share from our hearts.
Therefore, when we understand "It is more blessed to give than to receive," the true reflection should be on our hearts. The greater our hearts, the more we can achieve with our hands.
When we understand the passage from Acts 13 to Acts 21, we find that it records Paul's ten years and three missionary journeys. Although it spans only eight chapters, it covers a decade. During this time, Paul's mindset constantly changed, and his spiritual life matured. His attitude and feelings evolved over time.
When we later read Paul's letters, we notice changes in his mindset. He started as a passionate preacher of the gospel and later became like an elder father advising his children, ready to face the upcoming sufferings. His words, expressions, and writing style changed significantly. In this passage, we can feel that he was prepared to face the impending suffering, just as he said in 2 Timothy 4:7: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." This is the same mindset.
As Paul set off for Jerusalem, what awaited him? We will continue with the story in Acts chapter 21 tomorrow. Thank you all for listening.
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