保羅在以弗所
1 亞波羅在哥林多的時候，保羅經過了上邊一帶地方，就來到以弗所；在那裏遇見幾個門徒， 2問他們說：「你們信的時候受了聖靈沒有？」他們回答說：「沒有，也未曾聽見有聖靈賜下來。」 3保羅說：「這樣，你們受的是甚麼洗呢？」他們說：「是約翰的洗。」 4保羅說：「約翰所行的是悔改的洗，告訴百姓當信那在他以後要來的，就是耶穌。」 5他們聽見這話，就奉主耶穌的名受洗。 6保羅按手在他們頭上，聖靈便降在他們身上，他們就說方言，又說預言。 7一共約有十二個人。
8 保羅進會堂，放膽講道，一連三個月，辯論神國的事，勸化眾人。 9後來，有些人心裏剛硬不信，在眾人面前毀謗這道，保羅就離開他們，也叫門徒與他們分離，便在推喇奴的學房天天辯論。 10這樣有兩年之久，叫一切住在亞細亞的，無論是猶太人，是希臘人，都聽見主的道。
士基瓦的兒子們
11神藉保羅的手行了些非常的奇事； 12甚至有人從保羅身上拿手巾或圍裙放在病人身上，病就退了，惡鬼也出去了。 13那時，有幾個遊行各處、念咒趕鬼的猶太人，向那被惡鬼附的人擅自稱主耶穌的名，說：「我奉保羅所傳的耶穌勅令你們出來！」 14做這事的，有猶太祭司長士基瓦的七個兒子。 15惡鬼回答他們說：「耶穌我認識，保羅我也知道。你們卻是誰呢？」 16惡鬼所附的人就跳在他們身上，勝了其中二人，制伏他們，叫他們赤着身子受了傷，從那房子裏逃出去了。 17凡住在以弗所的，無論是猶太人，是希臘人，都知道這事，也都懼怕；主耶穌的名從此就尊大了。 18那已經信的，多有人來承認訴說自己所行的事。 19平素行邪術的，也有許多人把書拿來，堆積在眾人面前焚燒。他們算計書價，便知道共合五萬塊錢。 20主的道大大興旺，而且得勝，就是這樣。
各位平安，我們接下來讀的是《使徒行傳》第19章，講述在以弗所所發生的事情。以弗所是一個很重要的省會，也是當時羅馬的貿易重鎮。在這裡，稱之為小亞細亞的市場，擁有河流的流域和陸地上的貿易路線。因此，這裡是一個僅次於首都羅馬的重要城市，是當時中亞地帶一個興盛繁榮的貿易大城。
而以弗所同時也是一個非常複雜的地方。不僅擁有大量的貿易，它還有非常大的亞底米神廟。亞底米神廟即希臘神話中的黛安娜，亞底米是希臘名字，黛安娜是拉丁名字。這座廟宇非常宏偉，是當時以弗所最重要的建築，甚至比當時的政府建築還要重要。很多人來到這裡求各種東西，其中一個有名的東西叫做以弗所的咒符。有點像今天很多人去廟裡求的那種符水或者符咒等東西。
而且，亞底米神廟也是一個罪惡的地方，因為它擁有庇護所的權利。很多罪犯只要到達那個廟裡，就可以保持安全，而政府也因此不會特別進去騷擾寺廟。這樣一來，寺廟裡就聚集了許多罪犯，反而使這個所謂的宗教聖地變成了一個罪犯的收容所。
亞底米神廟是以弗所最重要的建築之一，它養活了非常多的工人。在《使徒行傳》第19章下半段，我們可以看到有相當多的人因這些宗教活動而受益。他們提供宗教器具或各種相關物品，相當於這個宗教廟宇養活了許多人。它是一個龐大的經濟體，就像一些我們今天所知道的某些廟宇或宗教團體，都是非常龐大的共利結構。
在這20節裡面有很多有趣的故事。首先，我們看到保羅來到以弗所，遇到一些門徒，問他們關於聖靈的事情。他們說：「沒有，我們沒有聽說過聖靈的事情。」保羅說：「那你們受的是什麼洗呢？」他們回答說：「我們受的是約翰悔改的洗禮。」
所以，這裡有一個很重要的觀念，就是馬丁路德特別強調的律法與福音的差別。約翰所傳的洗禮是悔改的洗禮，這是先有懊悔的心。在舊約裡，人們是靠律法稱義的，但我們已經知道律法不能讓人稱義，因為人無法完全達到律法的要求。
所以，保羅在這裡傳了完全的福音給他們，告訴他們說：「約翰所傳的洗禮其實只是為了將要來的那位，就是耶穌。耶穌才是真正的救主，福音才是讓人稱義的關鍵。」當保羅為他們施洗以後，聖靈就降下在他們身上，從此以後他們也能夠完全獲得稱義的身分。因此，我們在律法與福音這個觀念上要非常注意。我們所傳的重點應該在於福音。律法是讓人知罪，而福音才是使人赦罪稱義的關鍵。
而上帝在這裡賜給保羅相當大的能力，甚至達到一個程度，就是他的手巾和圍裙放在病人身上，病就退了，邪靈也出去了。因此，上帝讓保羅擁有大能，宣講福音，並施行神蹟奇事，讓這個地方，甚至整個亞西亞的人都聽見了主的道。
在第13節到第17節之間，還穿插了一個小故事。這裡有一些可能是當時宗教裡面的一些迷信份子，他們竟然連耶穌的名字也拿來用，說：「我奉保羅所傳的耶穌命令你們出來。」結果，鬼卻回答他們：「我認識耶穌，也知道保羅，你們卻是誰呢？」所以，這些人想用耶穌的名字趕鬼，但他們自己並不認同這個信仰，也並不屬於這個信仰。
這個時候，這些冒牌驅魔者的身份就顯露出來，反而害自己被鬼纏上。所以，我們要明白，耶穌的名字不是拿來亂用的，是信仰和敬拜的對象。我們不能像迷信民間迷信一樣隨便亂用耶穌的名字。
我們看到保羅在這裡傳福音，主的名被尊大，並且在這裡興起了一股基督教的興盛風氣。原本很多這些民間信仰的邪教人士都跑來保羅面前，承認自己所做的事情，悔改，並且把他們這些所謂的書籍——可能是一些算命書籍或者星象書籍—對於這些推廣算命的人來說可能是很珍貴的秘笈寶典—堆在一起燒掉了。
這裡提到的五萬塊銀幣是很大一筆錢。當時一個工人一天的薪水大概只有一個銀幣，所以五萬個銀幣等同於一個普通工人將近一多百年的薪水，是很可觀的一筆財產。
我們看到，這些原本崇拜異教和異端的人願意悔改，回到上帝的面前，並且決心把他們以前賴以維生的這些形象書籍、算命書籍全部堆積起來燒掉，這代表他們真正看見了福音的價值，不再被屬世和屬地的東西捆綁。他們沒有把這些書籍賣掉換成錢，因為他們知道，只有把這些書全部燒掉，滅絕這樣的錯誤信仰，才是真正信福音的重點。因此，這裡人的悔改非常可敬佩。他們的行動表明了他們對福音的認同和堅持。
保羅在以弗所住了三年的時間，大大地在這裡興旺福音，建造教會，讓許多人悔改歸向主。而這樣就是全部的故事嗎？我們明天繼續聽十九章下半段的故事，因為保羅所傳的福音已經越來越多人聽見，影響了當地亞底米神廟的這些工人們，引發了一場很大的騷亂。我們明天繼續聊，感謝各位的聆聽。
Paul in Ephesus
1While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
3So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”
“John’s baptism,” they replied.
4Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7There were about twelve men in all.
8Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.
11God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.
13Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
17When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
Dear brothers and sisters, peace be with you. Next, we will be reading Acts 19, which describes the events that took place in Ephesus. Ephesus was a very important provincial capital and a major trading center in the Roman Empire. It was known as the marketplace of Asia Minor, with river basins and land trade routes. Therefore, it was a significant city, second only to Rome, and a prosperous metropolitan area in Central Asia.
However, Ephesus was also a very complex place. In addition to its extensive trade, it also had the great Temple of Artemis. The Temple of Artemis, known in Greek mythology as Diana, with Artemis being the Greek name and Diana the Latin name, was an incredibly grand structure. It was the most important building in Ephesus, even more significant than the government buildings of the time. Many people came here seeking various things, one of the famous items being the Ephesian letters, which were akin to the talismans or amulets people seek in temples today.
Moreover, the Temple of Artemis was also a place of great sin because it held the right of asylum. Many criminals could find safety by reaching the temple, and the government would therefore not disturb the sanctuary. This turned the so-called holy place into a refuge for criminals, rather than a religious sanctuary.
The Temple of Artemis was one of the most important buildings in Ephesus and supported many workers. In the latter part of Acts 19, we see that many people benefited from the religious activities there. They provided religious artifacts or various related items, meaning this temple supported many people's livelihoods. It was a vast economic entity, similar to some of the large temples or religious groups we know today, which operate like major corporations.
In these twenty verses, there are many interesting stories. First, we see Paul arriving in Ephesus and meeting some disciples. He asked them about the Holy Spirit, and they said, "No, we haven't even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" They replied, "John's baptism."
Here, an important concept is emphasized by Luke: the distinction between the law and the gospel. John's baptism was one of repentance, which required a contrite heart. In the Old Testament, people were justified by the law, but we know that the law cannot justify anyone because no one can fully meet its requirements.
So, Paul preached the complete gospel to them, telling them, "John's baptism was to prepare the way for the one who was to come, that is, Jesus. Jesus is the true Savior, and the gospel is the key to justification." When Paul baptized them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they received the full status of being justified. Therefore, in understanding the concept of law and gospel, we must be very attentive. Our emphasis should be on the gospel. The law makes people aware of sin, but the gospel is what brings forgiveness and justification.
God also granted Paul great power here, to the extent that even handkerchiefs and aprons that touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured, and evil spirits left them. Thus, God empowered Paul to preach the gospel with great effectiveness and perform miracles, spreading the word of the Lord throughout the region, even to all of Asia.
Between verses 13 and 17, there is an interesting story. Some individuals, possibly superstitious elements within the local religion, tried to use Jesus' name, saying, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." But the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?" These people wanted to cast out demons using Jesus' name, but they did not believe in or belong to this faith.
At that moment, their identity as fake exorcists was revealed, and they ended up being attacked by the evil spirit. We must understand that Jesus' name is not something to be used frivolously but is to be believed in and worshipped. We cannot treat Jesus' name as a mere talisman like in folk superstition.
We see that Paul’s preaching of the gospel led to the Lord’s name being held in high honor, and there was a rise in Christian faith. Many people who practiced sorcery and followed false beliefs came forward, confessed their practices, repented, and burned their books, which included valuable scrolls and texts for divination and astrology.
The value of these burned scrolls was fifty thousand drachmas, a considerable amount of money. Considering that an ordinary worker’s daily wage was about one drachma, fifty thousand drachmas would equal almost a hundred years' worth of wages, a significant sum of money.
We see that these people, who originally worshipped false gods and practiced sorcery, were willing to repent and return to God. They decided to destroy the books they once relied on for their livelihoods. This act showed that they truly saw the value of the gospel and were no longer bound by worldly and earthly things. They did not sell the books to make money because they understood that completely destroying these books and eradicating the false beliefs was crucial to their faith in the gospel. Their repentance was truly admirable, demonstrating their commitment and adherence to the gospel.
Paul stayed in Ephesus for three years, greatly advancing the gospel, building the church, and leading many to repentance and faith in the Lord. But is this the whole story? Tomorrow we will continue with the second half of chapter 19, as Paul’s preaching increasingly reached more people, affecting the craftsmen of the Temple of Artemis and causing a significant uproar. We will discuss this further tomorrow. Thank you for listening.
Comments