St. Paul Sent to Caesarea at Night
W4 2011-06-30 (徒23)
經文: 使徒行傳 23:6-7 保羅看出大眾一半是撒都該人，一半是法利賽人，就在公會中大聲說：「弟兄們，我是法利賽人，也是法利賽人的子孫。我現在受審問，是為盼望死人復活。」說了這話，法利賽人和撒都該人就爭論起來，會眾分為兩黨。
默想: 保羅在千夫長的營裡面對公會猶太人領袖的指控，不知如何才能脫困。突然他發現會眾當中有一半是撒都該人，一半是法利賽人，就決定要利用他們之間的神學矛盾，來求得脫身之道。結果證明，保羅的策略相當有效。保羅把傳講主耶穌基督從死裡復活講成我盼望死人復活，立刻引起了法利賽人與撒督該人之間的嚴重矛盾。以致於當次公會，就陷入混亂爭辯之中，不了了之了。聖經記載這件事，只是描述性記載保羅生平中所發生的歷史偶發事件描述 (Historical Incidental Description)，或是這是主耶穌親口教導門徒，要靈巧像蛇的一個支持案例。如果是後者，那麼這個事件就成為普世原則命令 (Universal Principal Prescription)。但是，這個事件的倫理性，或許會有爭議性，在眾人當中，刻意引起紛爭，應該是倫理上較偏於負面的。
題目: 12-24節，對於猶太人如此積極同心計謀殺保羅的動機是什麼？上帝在這事上有何作為？
To these religious leaders, their political status was far more important than the Lord. They feared any sovereignty that would deprive of their power. Yet God intervened by having Paul rescued by the Roman army since Caesarea was the capital of Rome. This event lets us know that we will never know how God works wonders.
回覆刪除大家平安
回覆刪除「到了天亮，猶太人同謀起誓，說：若不先殺保羅就不吃不喝。這樣同心起誓的有四十多人。」(23:12-13)
原來"恨"也能叫人同心啊！可見不是每件"同心"去做的事都是好事。
Some Jews took a vow that they would not eat or drink anything until they had killed Paul. Perhaps they don’t like gentiles to become a Christian.
回覆刪除The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also at Rome."
Mei-Chuan