保羅開始帶著鎖鏈給主作見證 — 使徒行傳讀經隨筆 第22章

使徒行傳第二十二章，在耶路撒冷猶太人拿住了保羅，隨後被聞風而到的千夫長命人給他帶上了鎖鏈。保羅請求千夫長準他對百姓說話。千夫長準許了。保羅就首先對百姓講述了他的身世，說他自己原來是如何按律法熱心事奉神，甚至到處迫害主的門徒；然後保羅講述了他在去往大馬色城抓捕門徒的時候是如何碰到了主耶穌，主耶穌如何吩咐他進大馬色，在大馬色又如何會有人告訴他該做什麽。保羅繼續對百姓說他後來從大馬色回到了耶路撒冷，但是主告訴他趕緊跑的遠遠的去外邦傳道，不要待在耶路撒冷，因為這裏的人不會領受他給主做的見證。百姓聽到這裏，就喊說：“這樣的人，從世上除掉他吧，他是不當活著的”，眾人欲除掉保羅而後快。可見，多年過去了，雖然保羅在外邦傳教碩果累累，但時至今日他被囚，耶路撒冷的人仍然不領受他為主所做的見證。

徒22:17 後來我回到耶路撒冷、在殿裏禱告的時候、魂遊象外、
"It happened that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,
徒22:18 看見主向我說、你趕緊的離開耶路撒冷、不可遲延、因你為我作的見證、這裏的人、必不領受。
and saw him saying to me, 'Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not receive testimony concerning me from you.'
徒22:19 我就說、主阿、他們知道我從前把信你的人、收在監裏、又在各會堂裏鞭打他們．
I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue those who believed in you.
徒22:20 並且你的見證人司提反、被害流血的時候、我也站在旁邊歡喜．又看守害死他之人的衣裳。
When the blood of Stephen, your witness, was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting to his death, and guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.'
徒22:21 主向我說、你去吧．我要差你遠遠的往外邦人那裏去。
"He said to me, 'Depart, for I will send you out far from here to the Gentiles.'"
徒22:22 眾人聽他說到這句話、就高聲說、這樣的人、從世上除掉他吧．他是不當活著的。
They listened to him until he said that; then they lifted up their voice, and said, "Rid the earth of this fellow, for he isn't fit to live!"