32我們也報好信息給你們，就是那應許祖宗的話， 33神已經向我們這作兒女的應驗，叫耶穌復活了。正如詩篇第二篇上記着說：
你是我的兒子，
我今日生你。
34論到神叫他從死裏復活，不再歸於朽壞，就這樣說：
我必將所應許大衛那聖潔、
可靠的恩典賜給你們。
35又有一篇上說：
你必不叫你的聖者見朽壞。
36「大衛在世的時候遵行了神的旨意，就睡了，歸到他祖宗那裏，已見朽壞； 37惟獨神所復活的，他並未見朽壞。 38所以，弟兄們，你們當曉得：赦罪的道是由這人傳給你們的。 39你們靠摩西的律法，在一切不得稱義的事上信靠這人，就都得稱義了。 40所以，你們務要小心，免得先知書上所說的臨到你們。 41主說：
你們這輕慢的人要觀看，要驚奇，要滅亡；
因為在你們的時候，我行一件事，
雖有人告訴你們，
你們總是不信。」
42他們出會堂的時候，眾人請他們到下安息日再講這話給他們聽。 43散會以後，猶太人和敬虔進猶太教的人多有跟從保羅、巴拿巴的。二人對他們講道，勸他們務要恆久在神的恩中。
44到下安息日，合城的人幾乎都來聚集，要聽神的道。 45但猶太人看見人這樣多，就滿心嫉妒，硬駁保羅所說的話，並且毀謗。 46保羅和巴拿巴放膽說：「神的道先講給你們原是應當的；只因你們棄絕這道，斷定自己不配得永生，我們就轉向外邦人去。 47因為主曾這樣吩咐我們說：
我已經立你作外邦人的光，
叫你施行救恩，直到地極。」
48外邦人聽見這話，就歡喜了，讚美神的道；凡預定得永生的人都信了。 49於是主的道傳遍了那一帶地方。 50但猶太人挑唆虔敬、尊貴的婦女和城內有名望的人，逼迫保羅、巴拿巴，將他們趕出境外。 51二人對着眾人跺下腳上的塵土，就往以哥念去了。 52門徒滿心喜樂，又被聖靈充滿。
各位弟兄姊妹平安。
我們今天讀的是使徒行傳第13章32節到52節的經文。我們看到保羅所講道的第二部分，他引用了舊約證明耶穌是基督，證明了祂就是猶太人不斷等待的那位彌賽亞。祂是歷史的巔峰，是人類歷史上最重要的一件事情。
這裡我們來多講一下關於比西堤安提這個城市。就如我們昨天所說過的，它是一個很龐大的城市，也是羅馬駐軍的地方。它的歷史可以追溯到大約公元前300年左右，由亞歷山大大帝的一個繼承者創立。猶太人是一個非常敏感的民族，他們在任何新地方開始的時候都會進入那個城市，佔據所謂的有利位置，不論是房地產或者是在城市裡面的新產業。他們都會先去佔位子，所以他們通常都會在一個國家或者一個城市裡成為有錢的人或是佔據重要位置的人。猶太人的生意頭腦真不是蓋的。
當我們看到保羅講出真理之後，有一些人轉向跟隨保羅和巴拿巴，而且很多人表現出想要多聽一點的意思。到了下一個安息日，震動了全城，大量的人要來聽保羅的講道，而猶太人卻因為嫉妒，用偏差的態度來硬跟保羅辯論。
保羅的回應也相當直接。猶太人雖然一開始被交托了上帝的話語，但卻用自己的方式來強解聖經，以至於明明親眼看到救主來臨，卻沒有認出來。更諷刺的是，他們竟然是為了維護舊約的見解——只是維護錯誤的解讀——而親手把這位救主殺了。在耶穌復活以後，他們竟然還繼續硬著頸項，不肯悔改來認識這位救主。保羅就在他們面前宣告，從此以後他要轉向外邦人，而外邦人們聽到這個福音之後，反而歡喜接受。
上帝的旨意就是這麼令人無法捉摸。當我們看某單一事件的時候，往往不能夠了解，所以我們在研讀聖經的時候，也要思考，並且深入去了解聖經的時空背景和話語內容，聽解經的話語。當我們真明白這些故事的背景之後，我們會發現上帝的旨意一直沒有變。從舊約開始隱藏的福音線索，早就一直預告了上帝的旨意。而這一切的預言和旨意，都在耶穌基督的人生裡，在祂的十字架上，在祂的復活中，實現了。
有一句話講得相當精彩：猶太人把外邦人當作上帝要燒去的糠秕，而耶穌卻把外邦人當作上帝要收割的莊稼。猶太教的本質並不是歡迎外來者的，但在這樣一個信仰中，隱藏了一個要大量向外擴展的信仰根基。
接下來，保羅和巴拿巴離開了羅馬政府掌控的城市，將要前往更內陸的以哥念。這是一個古老的城市，也是一個更為野蠻和危險的地方。我們繼續聽故事！
“We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:
“ ‘You are my son;
today I have become your father.’
God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said,
“ ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’
So it is also stated elsewhere:
“ ‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’
“Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.
“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:
“ ‘Look, you scoffers,
wonder and perish,
for I am going to do something in your days
that you would never believe,
even if someone told you.’”
As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.
Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
“ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Dear brothers and sisters, peace be with you. Today we are reading from Acts 13:32 to the end of verse 52. We see the second part of Paul's sermon where he cites the Old Testament to prove that Jesus is the Christ, showing that He is the Messiah the Jews had been waiting for. He is the pinnacle of history, the most significant event in human history.
Let's talk more about the city of Pisidian Antioch. As we mentioned yesterday, it was a large city and a Roman garrison town. Its history dates back to around 300 BC, founded by one of Alexander the Great’s successors. The Jews, being a very sensitive people, would always occupy strategic positions in any new place, whether in real estate or new industries within the city. They often became wealthy or occupied important positions in a country or city. The business acumen of the Jews is indeed remarkable.
After Paul spoke the truth, some people turned to follow Paul and Barnabas, and many expressed a desire to hear more. By the next Sabbath, almost the whole city gathered to hear Paul's sermon. The Jews, however, out of jealousy, argued with Paul with a biased attitude.
Paul’s response was quite direct. Although the Jews were initially entrusted with God’s words, they interpreted the Scriptures in their own way. As a result, they failed to recognize the Savior even when He appeared before them. Ironically, they killed the Savior in an effort to uphold their mistaken interpretations of the Old Testament. Even after Jesus' resurrection, they continued to harden their hearts and refused to repent and acknowledge the Savior. Paul declared in front of them that he would turn to the Gentiles from then on, and the Gentiles, upon hearing this gospel, joyfully accepted it.
God’s will is indeed unfathomable. When we look at a single event, we often cannot understand it. Therefore, we must study the Bible, think deeply, and understand its historical and temporal context, content, and interpretation. When we truly understand the background of these stories, we find that God’s will has never changed. The hidden gospel clues from the Old Testament have long foreshadowed God’s will. All these prophecies and God's will were fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ, on His cross, and in His resurrection.
There is a saying that is quite wonderful: the Jews regarded the Gentiles as chaff to be burned by God, while Jesus saw the Gentiles as the harvest to be gathered by God. The essence of Judaism was not to welcome outsiders, but within this faith was hidden a foundation for a belief that would greatly expand outward.
Paul and Barnabas then left the city under Roman control and headed inland to Iconium, an ancient city that was more barbaric and dangerous. Let's continue to hear the story!
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