掃羅的轉變
（22‧6－16；26‧12－18）
1 掃羅仍然向主的門徒口吐威嚇凶煞的話，去見大祭司， 2求文書給大馬士革的各會堂，若是找着信奉這道的人，無論男女，都准他捆綁帶到耶路撒冷。 3掃羅行路，將到大馬士革，忽然從天上發光，四面照着他； 4他就仆倒在地，聽見有聲音對他說：「掃羅！掃羅！你為甚麼逼迫我？」 5他說：「主啊！你是誰？」主說：「我就是你所逼迫的耶穌。 6起來！進城去，你所當做的事，必有人告訴你。」 7同行的人站在那裏，說不出話來，聽見聲音，卻看不見人。 8掃羅從地上起來，睜開眼睛，竟不能看見甚麼。有人拉他的手，領他進了大馬士革； 9三日不能看見，也不吃也不喝。
10當下，在大馬士革有一個門徒，名叫亞拿尼亞。主在異象中對他說：「亞拿尼亞。」他說：「主，我在這裏。」 11主對他說：「起來！往直街去，在猶大的家裏，訪問一個大數人，名叫掃羅。他正禱告， 12又看見了一個人，名叫亞拿尼亞，進來按手在他身上，叫他能看見。」 13亞拿尼亞回答說：「主啊，我聽見許多人說，這人怎樣在耶路撒冷多多苦害你的聖徒， 14並且他在這裏有從祭司長得來的權柄捆綁一切求告你名的人。」 15主對亞拿尼亞說：「你只管去！他是我所揀選的器皿，要在外邦人和君王，並以色列人面前宣揚我的名。 16我也要指示他，為我的名必須受許多的苦難。」 17亞拿尼亞就去了，進入那家，把手按在掃羅身上，說：「兄弟掃羅，在你來的路上向你顯現的主，就是耶穌，打發我來，叫你能看見，又被聖靈充滿。」 18掃羅的眼睛上，好像有鱗立刻掉下來，他就能看見。於是起來受了洗； 19吃過飯就健壯了。
各位弟兄姊妹平安，我們今天所讀的這段經文出自於使徒行傳第九章1到19節，這堪稱是基督教歷史上最重要的時刻之一，就是保羅的轉變。從一個原本逼迫基督徒的法利賽人，這個非常熱心於猶太教的法利賽人門徒，在一次奇妙的遇見中碰上了耶穌，並徹底改變了他的人生。他從一個殺害基督徒的兇手，變成了基督教最重要的使徒。這件事是怎麼發生的呢？我們來看看。
在之前的第七章，我們已經看見保羅親眼看著司提反被石頭打死。當時，他是非常敵基督的，他非常認同把基督徒追到天涯海角，將他們殺害，因為他認為基督耶穌是褻瀆上帝的，所有的基督徒都應該被抓回來並被治罪，這才是符合猶太教宗旨的。
在這次特殊的經歷中，耶穌親自對他說話，並告訴他：「你要做的事必有人告訴你。」這就是上帝親自改變了他所認為正確和好的事情。現在作為一個基督徒，他不再以自己為主，而是以耶穌的命令為主。因此，在這裡，他的眼睛瞎了，需要別人扶著他進大馬士革，三天看不見，也無法吃喝。他的心中應該是非常震驚和不知所措，畢竟他所信仰和努力學習了一生的東西，在這時候完全被顛覆了。
這就是上帝最奇妙的事情。上帝在某種程度上顛覆了他原本的認知，但同時上帝並沒有摧毁他的價值觀，而是告訴他正確的價值觀是什麼。上帝開了他的眼，不僅是肉身的眼，也開了他的心靈和靈魂之眼。
我們深入研讀聖經的話，會發現保羅自從與耶穌相遇並轉變後，並不是馬上就出來宣教，而是他回到了阿拉伯，大馬士革、甚至回到大數（加拉太書一章），重新思考他的信仰，重新研讀舊約，反覆思考他年輕時所學的一切。他這段沉潛的時間，可能在教會歷史上有三年到十年之久。他重新讀神學，或說重新思考他所認為的神學，並真正弄懂。
我相信在他沉潛的這段時間，他重新讀經、反覆思考，真正明白了上帝的啟示。所以當我們讀到他所寫的書信中，大量引用舊約經文，並將舊約與新約連結在一起，揭開了真正的奧秘。他說他得了奧秘，這是上帝親自讓他看懂新舊約之間的連結。這也解釋了為什麼舊約不能丟，為什麼新約若是沒有舊約就沒有根基，若舊約沒有新約就沒有盼望。整本聖經是完完整整的一整套啟示。
所以當我們在讀經的時候，要明白聖經是上帝的啟示，沒有多餘也沒有缺乏。
我們看到了另一個重要的人物，亞拿尼亞。雖然他在聖經中的篇幅不多，但他的角色極其重要，因為他是第一個接待保羅的人。這也是上帝的命令。亞拿尼亞不僅勇敢，而且非常友愛，因為他第一句話是「弟兄掃羅」。他清楚地知道這個人曾經是殺害基督徒的兇手，是一個非常危險的人物。當時，他心中可能充滿了害怕和驚懼，甚至會覺得上帝是不是要他去送命。然而，他相信上帝的指示，真誠地去接納了保羅，並且為他禱告。
當亞拿尼亞為保羅禱告後，保羅的眼睛重新看見了，也恢復了力氣，能夠進食。這時候，保羅才真正開始明白上帝和耶穌對他所說的話，並從此成為了一個基督徒。
在這裡，我們看到了兩個順服的榜樣。第一個是保羅的順服榜樣。保羅認真聽了耶穌的啟示，回到了家鄉，真正改變了自己的思考方式，並且聆聽、學習、轉變。正因為他的順服，才有了後來的使徒保羅，才有了後來新約中豐富的啟示。保羅的轉變給他自己帶來了很大的危險，因為他曾經是猶太教的領袖人物，突然之間轉變為敵對陣營的領袖，注定了他一輩子都會受到逼迫和危難。然而，他堅持相信這個信仰是他所追尋的，毅然決然地放棄了舊有的思想，成為新的人。
另一方面，我們看到亞拿尼亞也是非常勇敢的。他順服上帝的命令，而不是與上帝爭論。他清楚地知道保羅是個兇手，至少在這時候，保羅殺死了司提反，也傷害過許多基督徒。如果這時候亞拿尼亞的信心不足，沒有認真執行上帝的命令，保羅可能就不會這麼快得到醫治，甚至會有其他事情發生。但是，亞拿尼亞認真聽從上帝，說：「好，上帝，既然你說了，我就去見保羅。」他把自己的生命交在上帝的手中，相信上帝差派他去必有奇妙的事情發生。正因為這樣，這兩個人的同時順服，才造就了新約聖經中將近三分之二篇章的作者使徒保羅的誕生。
這段故事非常令人驚訝和感動。我們看到，當上帝啟示的時候，人的順服是多麼關鍵。不是上帝需要人的順服，而是當我們順服的時候，我們會得到極大的福氣。感謝上帝，也謝謝各位的聆聽。讓我們明天繼續看保羅接下來的故事。
Saul’s Conversion
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
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Dear brothers and sisters, peace be with you. Today, we are reading from Acts 9:1-19, which marks one of the most pivotal moments in Christian history—the conversion of Paul. Once a Pharisee fervently persecuting Christians, this devoted disciple of Judaism had a miraculous encounter with Jesus that completely transformed his life. He went from being a murderer of Christians to becoming one of the most important apostles in Christianity. How did this happen? Let’s take a closer look.
In the previous chapter, we saw Paul witnessing the stoning of Stephen. At that time, Paul was vehemently against Christ. He was determined to hunt down Christians to the ends of the earth to kill them, believing that Jesus Christ was blasphemous against God and that all Christians needed to be captured and punished, which he thought aligned with the tenets of Judaism.
During this extraordinary experience, Jesus spoke directly to him, telling him, "You will be told what you must do." This was God Himself changing Paul's perception of what was right and good. As a new Christian, Paul no longer prioritized his own will but followed Jesus' commands. Thus, he was blinded, needing others to lead him to Damascus. For three days, he could not see, eat, or drink. His heart must have been filled with shock and confusion as his lifelong beliefs and studies were completely overturned.
This is the most marvelous work of God. God overturned Paul's original understanding but did not destroy his values; instead, He showed Paul the correct values. God opened his eyes, not only physically but also spiritually and soulfully.
As we delve deeper into the Bible, we find that after Paul’s encounter with Jesus, he did not immediately start preaching. Instead, he returned to Arabia, Damascus, and even Tarsus (Galatians 1), to rethink his faith and re-study the Old Testament, repeatedly reflecting on everything he had learned in his youth. This period of retreat could have lasted three to ten years in church history. He went back to studying theology or rethinking what he believed in and finally understood it correctly.
I believe that during his period of retreat, Paul read the Scriptures again, reflected deeply, and truly understood God's revelation. Therefore, when we read his epistles, we see extensive references to the Old Testament and its connections with the New Testament, revealing the true mysteries. He said he received the mysteries, which God Himself allowed him to understand the connection between the Old and New Testaments. This explains why we cannot discard the Old Testament; without the Old Testament, the New Testament has no foundation, and without the New Testament, the Old Testament has no hope. The entire Bible is a complete revelation from God.
So, when we read the Bible, we must understand that it is God's revelation, lacking nothing and with no excess.
We also see another significant figure, Ananias. Although he appears briefly in the Bible, his role is crucial as he was the first to receive Paul. This was also a command from God. Ananias was not only brave but also very loving, as his first words to Paul were, "Brother Saul." He knew clearly that this man had been a murderer of Christians, a very dangerous person. At that moment, he might have been filled with fear and apprehension, even wondering if God was sending him to his death. However, he trusted God's command and sincerely accepted Paul and prayed for him.
When Ananias prayed for Paul, Paul regained his sight and strength to eat. It was then that Paul truly began to understand what God and Jesus were saying to him, becoming a Christian from that moment on.
Here, we see two examples of obedience. The first is Paul’s obedience. Paul earnestly listened to Jesus’ revelation, returned home, and truly changed his way of thinking, listening, learning, and transforming. It was because of his obedience that we later have Apostle Paul and the rich revelations in the New Testament. Paul’s transformation brought him great danger, as he was once a leader in Judaism and suddenly became a leader of the opposing camp. This meant a lifetime of persecution and danger. However, he firmly believed this faith was what he sought, resolutely abandoning his old beliefs to become a new person.
On the other hand, we see Ananias’ great courage. He obeyed God’s command instead of arguing with Him. He clearly knew Paul was a murderer, at least at that time. Paul had killed Stephen and persecuted many Christians, which Ananias knew. If Ananias had lacked faith and did not earnestly follow God’s command, Paul might not have been healed so quickly, or other events might have occurred. But Ananias listened carefully to God and said, “Okay, God, since you have said it, I will go see Paul.” He entrusted his life to God, believing that God sent him for a miraculous purpose. Because of this, the combined obedience of these two men led to the birth of Apostle Paul, who wrote nearly two-thirds of the New Testament.
This story is truly astonishing and touching. We see that when God reveals something, human obedience is crucial. It’s not that God needs our obedience, but when we obey, we receive great blessings. Thank God, and thank you all for listening. Let us continue to follow Paul’s story tomorrow.
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