我是誰，能阻攔神呢 — 使徒行傳讀經隨筆 第11章

使徒行傳第十一章說彼得回到了耶路撒冷，遭到了奉割禮的門徒們的責備。因為彼得去該撒利亞向外邦人傳授了福音（哥尼流一家和他的親屬密友因此都信了耶穌），而外邦人是不按摩西律法做割禮的，因此，傳統上猶太人是不與外邦人交往的。這些奉割禮的門徒就對彼得說“你進入未受割禮之人的家和他們一同吃飯了”。彼得聽了後，就把前前後後的經過講給他們聽，比如神如何預備了他去外邦人家，外邦人是如何奉天使的差遣去請彼得傳福音，彼得向他們傳福音的時候聖靈是如何降在他們的身上。彼得最後說：“神既然給他們恩賜，像在我們信主耶穌基督的時候給了我們一樣，我是誰，能攔阻神呢？” 那些奉割禮的門徒們聽後就不言語了，隻歸榮耀與神，說“這樣看來，神也賜恩給外邦人，叫他們悔改得生命了”。彼得的這番話有助於做耶穌門徒的猶太人突破傳統的束縛，不再歧視外邦人。
徒11:1 使徒和在猶太的眾弟兄、聽說外邦人也領受了 神的道。
Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
徒11:2 及至彼得上了耶路撒冷、那些奉割禮的門徒和他爭辯說、
When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him,
徒11:3 你進入未受割禮之人的家、和他們一同吃飯了。
saying, "You went in to uncircumcised men, and ate with them!"
徒11:4 彼得就開口、把這事挨次給他們講解說、
But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying,
徒11:5 我在約帕城裏禱告的時候、魂遊象外、看見異象、有一物降下、好象一塊大布、係著四角、從天縋下、直來到我跟前．
"I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. It came as far as me.
徒11:6 我定睛觀看、見內中有地上四足的牲畜、和野獸、昆蟲、並天上的飛鳥。
When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky.
徒11:7 我且聽見有聲音向我說、彼得、起來、宰了吃。
I also heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter, kill and eat!'
徒11:8 我說、主阿、這是不可的．凡俗而不潔淨的物、從來沒有入過我的口。
But I said, 'Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.'
徒11:9 第二次、有聲音從天上說、 神所潔淨的、你不可當作俗物。
But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven, 'What God has cleansed, don't you call unclean.'
徒11:10 這樣一連三次、就都收回天上去了。
This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.
徒11:11 正當那時、有三個人站在我們所住的房門前、是從該撒利亞差來見我的。
Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me.
徒11:12 聖靈吩咐我和他們同去、不要疑惑。〔或作不要分別等類〕同著我去的、還有這六位弟兄．我們都進了那人的家．
The Spirit told me to go with them, without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house.
徒11:13 那人就告訴我們、他如何看見一位天使、站在他屋裏、說、你打發人往約帕去、請那稱呼彼得的西門來．
He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying to him, 'Send to Joppa, and get Simon, whose surname is Peter,
徒11:14 他有話告訴你、可以叫你和你的全家得救。
who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.'
徒11:15 我一開講、聖靈便降在他們身上、正像當初降在我們身上一樣。
As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.
徒11:16 我就想起主的話說、約翰是用水施洗、但你們要受聖靈的洗。
I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.'
徒11:17 神既然給他們恩賜、像在我們信主耶穌基督的時候、給了我們一樣、我是誰、能攔阻 神呢。
If then God gave to them the same gift as us, when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?"
徒11:18 眾人聽見這話、就不言語了．隻歸榮耀與 神、說、這樣看來、 神也賜恩給外邦人、叫他們悔改得生命了。
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!"