銀匠們也迫害傳福音的門徒 — 使徒行傳讀經隨筆 第19章

使徒行傳第十九章保羅在以弗所和亞細亞傳福音。當地人敬拜亞底米神。有一個叫底米丟的銀匠，他的手藝是為亞底米神製造銀龕，很多人買他或他的同行的銀龕去敬奉，這些手藝人生意發達，依靠這個產業很是發財。保羅在那裏傳福音說人手所作的不是神。這是因為耶穌才是神，是救主，是活著的神。底米丟聽聞保羅的道後，感覺到他的生意受到了傷害，發財之路被打破，於是把銀匠們聚集在一起，說保羅不但毀壞他們生意的名聲，而且輕忽亞底米神。經底米丟這一煽動，眾人就怒氣填胸，滿城都轟動起來，拿住了與保羅一同傳福音的該猶和亞裏達古並刑罰他們。可見，主的福音除了會觸動猶太教，還會觸動一些其它既得利益者並可能遭到他們的迫害。

 

徒19:24 有一個銀匠、名叫底米丟、是製造亞底米神銀龕的、他使這樣手藝人生意發達。

For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen,

徒19:25 他聚集他們和同行的工人、說、眾位、你們知道我們是倚靠這生意發財。

whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, "Sirs, you know that by this business we have our wealth.

徒19:26 這保羅不但在以弗所、也幾乎在亞西亞全地、引誘迷惑許多人、說、人手所作的不是神、這是你們所看見所聽見的．

You see and hear, that not at Ephesus alone, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are no gods, that are made with hands.

徒19:27 這樣、不獨我們這事業、被人藐視、就是大女神亞底米的廟、也要被人輕忽、連亞西亞全地、和普天下、所敬拜的大女神之威榮、也要消滅了。

Not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be counted as nothing, and her majesty destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships."

徒19:28 眾人聽見、就怒氣填胸、喊著說、大哉以弗所人的亞底米阿。

When they heard this they were filled with anger, and cried out, saying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

徒19:29 滿城都轟動起來．眾人拿住與保羅同行的馬其頓人該猶、和亞裏達古、齊心擁進戲園裏去。

The whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel.

徒19:30 保羅想要進去、到百姓那裏、門徒卻不許他去。

When Paul wanted to enter in to the people, the disciples didn't allow him.

徒19:31 還有亞西亞幾位首領、是保羅的朋友、打發人來勸他、不要冒險到戲園裏去。

Certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent to him and begged him not to venture into the theater.

徒20:1 亂定之後、保羅請門徒來、勸勉他們、就辭別起行、往馬其頓去。

After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, took leave of them, and departed to go into Macedonia.