巴拿巴和掃羅奉差遣
1在安提阿的教會中,有幾位先知和教師,就是巴拿巴和稱呼尼結的西面、古利奈人路求,與分封之王希律同養的馬念,並掃羅。 2他們事奉主、禁食的時候,聖靈說:「要為我分派巴拿巴和掃羅,去做我召他們所做的工。」 3於是禁食禱告,按手在他們頭上,就打發他們去了。
在塞浦路斯傳道
4他們既被聖靈差遣,就下到西流基,從那裏坐船往塞浦路斯去。 5到了撒拉米,就在猶太人各會堂裏傳講神的道,也有約翰作他們的幫手。 6經過全島,直到帕弗,在那裏遇見一個有法術、假充先知的猶太人,名叫巴‧耶穌。 7這人常和方伯士求‧保羅同在。士求‧保羅是個通達人,他請了巴拿巴和掃羅來,要聽神的道。 8只是那行法術的以呂馬(這名翻出來就是行法術的意思)敵擋使徒,要叫方伯不信真道。 9掃羅又名保羅,被聖靈充滿,定睛看他, 10說:「你這充滿各樣詭詐奸惡,魔鬼的兒子,眾善的仇敵,你混亂主的正道還不止住嗎? 11現在主的手加在你身上,你要瞎眼,暫且不見日光。」他的眼睛立刻昏蒙黑暗,四下裏求人拉着手領他。 12方伯看見所做的事,很希奇主的道,就信了。
各位弟兄姊妹平安,我們今天在閱讀的是使徒行傳的第13章1到12節。我們把13章分成兩個部分來講,下一部分會特別長。我們先來看看這12節中有什麼樣的教訓和智慧。
在一開始這段經文中提到一些人名。在聖經裡面,其實每一個人名都頗為重要。當我們了解這些人的背景時,就知道為什麼路加要把這些人全部寫進來。例如,我們看到巴拿巴,還有稱為尼結的西面,他來自古利奈,這是位於非洲利比亞的一個城市。在公元前300年由托勒密統治期間,有十萬猶太人居住在這裡,這裡也是基督教的早期活動中心。還有和希律王一起長大的馬念,與掃羅。這幾個人名湊在一起,有什麼特別呢?
巴拿巴是一個來自居比路的猶太人,而尼結,又稱為西面,是從古利奈來的猶太人。他的名字“西面”是羅馬名字,代表他一定經常與羅馬人交往。馬念和希律王一起長大,必定是貴族,才有這樣的資格。而保羅自己是猶太人又是法利賽人,並且是受過聖經訓練的拉比。在過去的世界中,這五個人原本是八竿子打不著一起的一群人。猶太人是不與外邦人來往的,法利賽人更是嚴格,連與羅馬人交往的猶太人都不來往,更不用說貴族和平民之間毫無關聯。但就是這樣的一群人,因著同一個緣故——耶穌基督的福音——在他們“事奉主,禁食的時候”,看得出這群人關係相當親近,是同工,一起禱告,一起禁食。他們同感一靈,同受聖靈的引導,差派巴拿巴和保羅出去宣教,開始第一次的宣教之旅。因著福音的緣故,人與人的階級被超越,人與人的差異被彌補,在上帝面前同為蒙恩的罪人,無論背景如何,在耶穌基督裡成為一樣的人。
保羅的第一次宣教之旅,走了超過一千四百英里,有一段是坐船,但其他部分都是步行。你可以想像一下公元50年的古代,雖然羅馬帝國當時的道路建築技術相當高明,一路上也有驛站供人民和軍隊使用,但這是超過兩千公里的路程,有一段是高山,炎熱的天氣,寒冷的夜晚,加上盜賊出沒的危險區域。這可不是我們今天有巴士、飛機可坐的旅行,這是一場用生命進行的宣教之旅啊。保羅在哥林多後書十一章說到:
“23 他們是基督的僕人嗎?(我說句狂話,)我更是。我比他們多受勞苦,多下監牢,受鞭打是過重的,冒死是屢次有的。24 被猶太人鞭打五次,每次四十減去一下;25 被棍打了三次;被石頭打了一次;遇着船壞三次,一晝一夜在深海裏。26 又屢次行遠路,遭江河的危險、盜賊的危險、同族的危險、外邦人的危險、城裏的危險、曠野的危險、海中的危險、假弟兄的危險。27 受勞碌、受困苦,多次不得睡,又飢又渴,多次不得食,受寒冷,赤身露體。28 除了這外面的事,還有為眾教會掛心的事,天天壓在我身上。29 有誰軟弱,我不軟弱呢?有誰跌倒,我不焦急呢?”
在2023年我去土耳其時,正值盛夏,四十度是常有的天氣。當年保羅是如何大的熱心,用雙腳和搭船,完成了三次宣教之旅,走過了一萬公里的路程。
還有一個有趣的傳說,有人認為西面就是幫耶穌背十字架的古利奈人西門(原文同一個字)。如果這是真的,那這段故事就太奇妙了。一個心不甘情不願被拉來幫耶穌背十字架的路人,竟然後來成為將十字架的信息帶到天下的門徒,這真的是一段很美的傳說。
明天,我們會看到保羅和巴拿巴進入另一個安提阿——比西底的安提阿——並發生的故事。感謝各位的聆聽!
Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
On Cyprus
The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.
They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”
Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.
Peace be with you, brothers and sisters. Today we are reading Acts 13:1-12. We will divide chapter 13 into two parts, as the next section is particularly long. Let's first see what lessons and wisdom we can glean from these 12 verses.
At the beginning of this passage, several names are mentioned. In the Bible, every name is significant. Understanding these individuals' backgrounds helps us see why Luke included them. We see Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, from Cyrene (a city in Libya, Africa), Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch), and Saul. What is special about this group of names?
Barnabas was a Jew from Cyprus, while Niger, also called Simeon, was from Cyrene. Simeon was also a Jew, and his name, a Roman name, indicates he interacted with Romans. Manaen, brought up with Herod, must have been of noble birth. Paul himself was a Jew and a Pharisee, trained as a rabbi. In the past, these five individuals would never have come together. Jews did not associate with Gentiles, and Pharisees, even stricter, would not associate with Jews who interacted with Romans. There was also a vast gap between nobles and commoners. Yet, this diverse group came together for one reason—the gospel of Jesus Christ. When they were "worshiping the Lord and fasting," it is clear they were close, praying and fasting together. They were of one spirit, guided by the Holy Spirit, who sent Barnabas and Paul on their first missionary journey. Because of the gospel, social classes were transcended, differences were reconciled, and people stood equal before God as sinners saved by grace. Regardless of their backgrounds, they became one in Jesus Christ.
Paul's first missionary journey covered over 1,400 miles, part of which he traveled by sea, but most on foot. Imagine the ancient world around 50 AD. Though the Roman Empire's road-building techniques were advanced, with rest stations for people and the military, this journey spanned over 2,000 kilometers, including mountainous regions. The weather could be scorching hot by day, freezing by night, with dangerous areas frequented by robbers. This was not a journey with modern conveniences like buses and planes; it was a mission carried out with one's life at stake. Paul described his hardships in 2 Corinthians 11:
“23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?”
In 2023, I visited Turkey during the peak of summer, where temperatures often reached forty degrees Celsius. Imagine the zeal with which Paul undertook his missionary journeys, covering a total distance of 10,000 kilometers by foot and boat over three journeys.
There is also an interesting legend about Simeon. Some believe he is the same Cyrenian Simon who helped carry Jesus' cross (the original text uses the same word). If this is true, the story is even more remarkable. A man reluctantly pulled to help carry the cross later became a disciple who carried the message of the cross to the world. This indeed is a beautiful legend.
Tomorrow, we will see Paul and Barnabas enter another Antioch—Pisidian Antioch—and the stories that unfold during this journey. Thank you all for listening!
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