新约 - 使徒行传(Acts)第10章

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.
He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.
One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!"
Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.
Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.
He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea."
When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants.
He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.
He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.
It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air.
Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."
"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."
The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."
This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate.
They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.
While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you.
So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them."
Peter went down and said to the men, "I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?"
The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say."
Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along.
The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence.
But Peter made him get up. "Stand up," he said, "I am only a man myself."
Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.
He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.
So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?"
Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me
and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor.
Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.'
So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."
Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism
but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.
You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached--
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree,
but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.
He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen--by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.
The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.
For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said,
"Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
使徒行传第十章   第 10 章 

  哥尼流 

  徒 10:1> 凯撒利亚定是一个特别的地方,不然何用介绍它?那个叫哥尼流的人,你听过他吧…… 

  10:1 凯撒利亚有时候称为巴勒斯坦凯撒利亚,位于地中海岸,在约帕以北五十一公里处。凯撒利亚是巴勒斯坦在地中海最大和最重要的港口城市,是罗马统治下的犹太省的首都,又是第一个有外邦基督徒和非犹太人教会的城市。虽然哥尼流驻守凯撒利亚,不过他可能将要回到罗马,所以他的悔改是很重要的踏脚石,使福音可因此而传到首都。 

  徒 10:2-3> 神去找哥尼流,难道他是一个虔诚基督徒?神不是只看顾信祂的人吗? 

  10:2-3 那些未曾听过基督的人又怎么样呢?经常有人针对神的公义问这条问题。哥尼流不是基督徒,但是他正寻求神;同时,他又是一个虔诚、慷慨的人。因此,神便差遣彼得去告诉哥尼流有关耶稣的事。哥尼流的例子证明神会“赏赐那寻求祂的人”(来 11:6 )。那些恳切寻求神的人必定会寻见祂!申初是下午三时。 

  徒 10:4> 你说你曾虔诚寻求祂,你说祂不理睬你,你找不到祂;这就奇怪…… 

  10:4 神看见了哥尼流的虔诚信心,他的祷告和慷慨是一个“蒙神记念的祭”。神垂听那些真诚寻求祂的人的祷告,在适当的时候会差派合适的人来传达祂的旨意。 

  徒 10:12> 彼得见异象!他见到什么?可吃与不可吃的?那和传福音有什么关系? 

  10:12 根据犹太律法,某些食物是不可吃的(参利 11 章)。有关食物的律法使犹太人不能与外邦人一同吃喝,否则便会有名声受损的危险。事实上,犹太人视外邦人为“不洁”的。彼得所见的异象叫他不要轻视外邦人,不要视他们为神不拯救的局外人。彼得在见到这异象之前,可能会认为一个外邦罗马官员不会接受基督。当他看到异象后,明白他应该与这些使者一同到哥尼流的家里,把耶稣基督的救恩告诉这个外邦人。 

  徒 10:25-26> 彼得被跪拜,他有何反应?自高自大?你若处身在受人尊敬的环境中,你会…… 

  10:25-26 这个跪拜的行动可能引起彼得骄傲自大,但是彼得却指引哥尼流归向基督。我们无论如何受人尊重,也要谨守自己的本分,应当将荣耀归给神。 

  徒 10:34-35> 传福音的障碍不在于我们不认识神的福音是传给每一个人的,乃是因为…… 

  10:34-35 在第一世纪传扬福音最大的障碍也许是外邦人与犹太人之间的矛盾。早期信徒大部分都是犹太人;对于他们来说,就是想与外邦人来往也是可耻的。但神告诉彼得要把福音传给一个罗马人;彼得没有理会自己的背景和个人感受,仍然顺服神。神清楚表明福音是为每一个人而设的。我们不要让任何障碍,包括语言、文化、偏见、地理、经济或教育阶层等,影响我们向人传福音的心志。 

  徒 10:35> 在世上有多少人未闻福音?有多少人正赶去收割庄稼?当中可有你的影儿? 

  10:35 在每个国家里,都有很多人的心灵是偏向神,随时预备接受福音的,然而必须有人把福音传给他们。如果没有人为寻求神的人指引道路,他们如何可以找到神呢?神是否叫你指引人到祂那里呢?(参罗 10:14-15 )。 

  徒 10:37-43> 简短的话语,涵盖了福音的内容──一篇讲章需要些什么?要长?要丰富? 

  10:37-43 彼得这篇简洁有力的讲章,是一篇精简的福音:包括了耶稣完全的生命,祂被钉在十字架上;祂的复活──彼得个人所见证和经历的,耶稣应验圣经的话,以及人必须凭着信心接受基督。一篇讲章或见证不一定需要很详细才会见效果,只需要有圣灵的引导,并以基督为中心,因为祂是道路、真理、生命。 

  徒 10:45> 人人各有特质,碰在一起,果效立见,彼得和哥尼流就是其一;你有和他人同工吗? 

  10:45 哥尼流和彼得是两个完全不同的人。哥尼流是富有的外邦人、又是军人,彼得是一个犹太渔夫,后来成为传道人,但神的计划却把他们两人包括在内。这天在哥尼流家里,写下了基督教历史新的一页,一位犹太基督徒领袖和一位外邦基督徒各自在对方身上发现一些重要的事情。哥尼流需要彼得及他的福音,叫他知道自己可以得救。彼得需要哥尼流和他得救的经历,叫他知道在神的计划里也有外邦人的分。有时我们需要与另一位信徒在一起才明白神的工作! 

  徒 10:48> 我们需要团契,你看哥尼流也希望彼得多留下几天,初信的你需要的是…… 

  10:48 哥尼流希望彼得留下来住上几天。他是一个初信者,知道自己需要教导和团契生活。你是否也一样渴望更多认识耶稣?要知道自己的需要,向那些灵命成熟的基督徒学习。──《灵修版圣经注释》