保羅在雅典傳福音 — 使徒行傳讀經隨筆 第17章

使徒行傳第十七章第15—34節講述了保羅在拜偶像成風的雅典傳福音，講耶穌死裏複活的道。保羅此舉可謂沙漠裏開江河。保羅發現雅典人凡事都很宗教，修壇造殿，連未識之神都敬拜。保羅告訴雅典人，創造天地的神其實不住人手所造的殿，也不用人手服事；相反的，是創造天地的神將生命、氣息和萬物賜給萬人，萬人才會有生命。保羅對雅典人說我們是神的後代，他從一個血脈造出萬族的人，但人所雕刻的金銀石像並沒有神性；神現今吩咐各處的人都要悔改，因為他已經定了日子，要借著他所設立的耶穌按公義審判天下，並且神叫耶穌從死裏複活，給萬人作了可信的憑據。這時候，當眾人聽見保羅說從死裏複活的話的時候，有的人就譏誚他，但也有人說想要再聽保羅講耶穌的死裏複活，也有幾個人加入了保羅，信了主。

徒17:15 送保羅的人帶他到了雅典．既領了保羅的命、叫西拉和提摩太速速到他這裏來、就回去了。
But those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens. Receiving a commandment to Silas and Timothy that they should come to him very quickly, they departed.
徒17:16 保羅在雅典等候他們的時候、看見滿城都是偶像、就心裏著急。
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols.
徒17:17 於是在會堂裏、與猶太人、和虔敬的人、並每日在市上所遇見的人辯論。
So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who met him.
徒17:18 還有以彼古羅和斯多亞兩門的學士、與他爭論．有的說、這胡言亂語的要說甚麽．有的說、他似乎是傳說外邦鬼神的．這話是因保羅傳講耶穌、與複活的道。
Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also were conversing with him. Some said, "What does this babbler want to say?" Others said, "He seems to be advocating foreign deities," because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.
徒17:22 保羅站在亞略巴古當中、說、眾位雅典人哪、我看你們凡事很敬畏鬼神。
Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus, and said, "You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things.
徒17:23 我遊行的時候、觀看你們所敬拜的、遇見一座壇、上麵寫著未識之神．你們所不認識而敬拜的、我現在告訴你們。
For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I announce to you.
徒17:24 創造宇宙和其中萬物的 神、既是天地的主、就不住人手所造的殿．
The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn't dwell in temples made with hands,
徒17:25 也不用人手服事、好象缺少甚麽、自己倒將生命、氣息、萬物、賜給萬人。
neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath, and all things.
徒17:26 他從一本造出萬族的人、〔本有古卷作血脈〕住在全地上、並且預先定準他們的年限、和所住的疆界．
He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings,
徒17:27 要叫他們尋求 神、或者可以揣摩而得、其實他離我們各人不遠．
that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
徒17:28 我們生活、動作、存留、都在乎他．就如你們作詩的、有人說、我們也是他所生的。
'For in him we live, and move, and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also his offspring.'
徒17:29 我們既是 神所生的、就不當以為 神的神性像人用手藝、心思、所雕刻的金、銀、石。
Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man.
徒17:29 我們既是 神所生的、就不當以為 神的神性像人用手藝、心思、所雕刻的金、銀、石。
Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man.
徒17:30 世人蒙昧無知的時候、 神並不監察、如今卻吩咐各處的人都要悔改。
The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,
徒17:31 因為他已經定了日子、要借著他所設立的人、按公義審判天下．並且叫他從死裏複活、給萬人作可信的憑據。
because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead."
徒17:32 眾人聽見從死裏複活的話、就有譏誚他的．又有人說、我們再聽你講這個吧。
Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, "We want to hear you again concerning this."
徒17:33 於是保羅從他們當中出去了。
Thus Paul went out from among them.
徒17:34 但有幾個人貼近他、信了主、其中有亞略巴古的官丟尼修、並一個婦人、名叫大馬哩、還有別人一同信從。
But certain men joined with him, and believed, among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.