回應：w1 2011-06-27 (徒20)

經文: 使徒行傳 20:28 聖靈立你們作全群的監督，你們就當為自己謹慎，也為全群謹慎，牧養神的教會，就是他用自己血所買來的（或作：救贖的）。 *

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W1  2011-06-27 (徒20)

經文: 使徒行傳 20:28 聖靈立你們作全群的監督，你們就當為自己謹慎，也為全群謹慎，牧養神的教會，就是他用自己血所買來的（或作：救贖的）。

默想: 使徒保羅認為教會的長老是由聖靈所設立的。當時長老主要有兩個任務，一個是監督，一個是牧養。這是由基督的寶血所贖回的寶貴生命所組成的生命共同體。根據使徒行傳14章23節看來，保羅與巴拿巴到各地傳福音之後，要離開之前，就會選立長老，留下來牧養與監督新成立的教會。我們目前的教會長老，是由會眾所推選出來的。我們可以思考比較這兩種不同方法的利弊。

題目: 13-35節，保羅在離開以弗所教會前對長老們的勸勉有哪些？你有何學習？

保羅為主傳福音的緣故，遭受猶太人的謀害，一路走來，飽受試煉。在未往耶路撒冷去前，已預知他即將為主殉道（v22～v25），但他愛主，愛教會弟兄姐妹心切，以自己為例在長老面前作見證。保羅的為人始終如一，服事主，凡事謙卑，眼中流淚，在試煉中經歷神。凡與弟兄姐妹有益的，保羅沒有一樣避諱不說的，愛裡說誠實話。勇敢地在猶太人和希臘人面前大膽地傳福音，要他們向　神悔改，信靠主耶穌基督。保羅在19節說：「聖靈立你們作全群的監督，你們就當為自己謹慎，也為全群謹慎，牧養　神的教會，就是他用自己血所買來的（或作：救贖的）。」他要教會的領導，長老，執事，牧師，教師們，生活要有見證，要非常謹慎，更要為全群謹慎，牧養　神的教會。主啊！這是何等的重要。今天，我們不是要一個只有學位，名利，知識，地位，權勢，財大氣粗的基督徒，教會所需要的是一個愛主，愛教會，愛弟兄有生命的基督徒。正如詩篇15:1~2篇所記：「耶和華啊，誰能寄居你的帳幕？誰能住在你的聖山？就是行為正直、做事公義、心裡說實話的人。」  感謝神！

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 ceased, Paul sent for the disciples and having exhorted them took leave of them and departed for Macedo'nia.
20:2 走遍了那一帶地方，用許多話勸勉門徒（或作：眾人），然後來到希臘。
When he had gone through these parts and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece.
20:3 在那裡住了三個月，將要坐船往敘利亞去，猶太人設計要害他，他就定意從馬其頓回去。
There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedo'nia.
20:4 同他到亞細亞去的，有庇哩亞人畢羅斯的兒子所巴特，帖撒羅尼迦人亞里達古和西公都，還有特庇人該猶，並提摩太，又有亞細亞人推基古和特羅非摩。
Sop'ater of Beroe'a, the son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalo'nians, Aristar'chus and Secun'dus; and Ga'ius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tych'icus and Troph'imus.
20:5 這些人先走，在特羅亞等候我們。
These went on and were waiting for us at Tro'as,
20:6 過了除酵的日子，我們從腓立比開船，五天到了特羅亞，和他們相會，在那裡住了七天。
but we sailed away from Philip'pi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Tro'as, where we stayed for seven days.
20:7 七日的第一日，我們聚會擘餅的時候，保羅因為要次日起行，就與他們講論，直講到半夜。
On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and he prolonged his speech until midnight.
20:8 我們聚會的那座樓上，有好些燈燭。
There were many lights in the upper chamber where we were gathered.
20:9 有一個少年人，名叫猶推古，坐在窗臺上，困倦沉睡。保羅講了多時，少年人睡熟了，就從三層樓上掉下去；扶起他來，已經死了。
And a young man named Eu'tychus was sitting in the window. He sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer; and being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.
20:10 保羅下去，伏在他身上，抱著他，說：你們不要發慌，他的靈魂還在身上。
But Paul went down and bent over him, and embracing him said, "Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him."
20:11 保羅又上去，擘餅，吃了，談論許久，直到天亮，這才走了。
And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed.
20:12 有人把那童子活活的領來，得的安慰不小。
And they took the lad away alive, and were not a little comforted.
20:13 我們先上船，開往亞朔去，意思要在那裡接保羅；因為他是這樣安排的，他自己打算要步行。
But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there; for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land.
20:14 他既在亞朔與我們相會，我們就接他上船，來到米推利尼。
And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and came to Mityle'ne.
20:15 從那裡開船，次日到了基阿的對面；又次日，在撒摩靠岸；又次日，來到米利都。
And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chi'os; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we came to Mile'tus.
20:16 乃因保羅早已定意越過以弗所，免得在亞細亞耽延，他急忙前走，巴不得趕五旬節能到耶路撒冷。
For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.
20:17 保羅從米利都打發人往以弗所去，請教會的長老來。
And from Mile'tus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.
20:18 他們來了，保羅就說：你們知道，自從我到亞細亞的日子以來，在你們中間始終為人如何，
And when they came to him, he said to them: "You yourselves know how I lived among you all the time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,
20:19 服事主，凡事謙卑，眼中流淚，又因猶太人的謀害，經歷試煉。
serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which befell me through the plots of the Jews;
20:20 你們也知道，凡與你們有益的，我沒有一樣避諱不說的，或在眾人面前，或在各人家裡，我都教導你們；
how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,
20:21 又對猶太人和希臘人證明當向　神悔改，信靠我主耶穌基督。
testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance to God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
20:22 現在我往耶路撒冷去，心甚迫切（原文是心被捆綁），不知道在那裡要遇見甚麼事；
And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, bound in the Spirit, not knowing what shall befall me there;
20:23 但知道聖靈在各城裡向我指證，說有捆鎖與患難等待我。
except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.
20:24 我卻不以性命為念，也不看為寶貴，只要行完我的路程，成就我從主耶穌所領受的職事，證明　神恩惠的福音。
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
20:25 我素常在你們中間來往，傳講　神國的道；如今我曉得，你們以後都不得再見我的面了。
And now, behold, I know that all you among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom will see my face no more.
20:26 所以我今日向你們證明，你們中間無論何人死亡，罪不在我身上（原文是我於眾人的血是潔淨的）。
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you,
20:27 因為　神的旨意，我並沒有一樣避諱不傳給你們的。
for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
20:28 聖靈立你們作全群的監督，你們就當為自己謹慎，也為全群謹慎，牧養　神的教會，就是他用自己血所買來的（或作：救贖的）。
Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son.
20:29 我知道，我去之後必有兇暴的豺狼進入你們中間，不愛惜羊群。
I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
20:30 就是你們中間，也必有人起來說悖謬的話，要引誘門徒跟從他們。
and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
20:31 所以你們應當儆醒，記念我三年之久晝夜不住的流淚、勸戒你們各人。
Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
20:32 如今我把你們交託　神和他恩惠的道；這道能建立你們，叫你們和一切成聖的人同得基業。
And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
20:33 我未曾貪圖一個人的金、銀、衣服。
I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
20:34 我這兩隻手常供給我和同人的需用，這是你們自己知道的。
You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities, and to those who were with me.
20:35 我凡事給你們作榜樣，叫你們知道應當這樣勞苦，扶助軟弱的人，又當記念主耶穌的話，說：施比受更為有福。
In all things I have shown you that by so toiling one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, `It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
20:36 保羅說完了這話，就跪下同眾人禱告。
And when he had spoken thus, he knelt down and prayed with them all.
20:37 眾人痛哭，抱著保羅的頸項，和他親嘴。
And they all wept and embraced Paul and kissed him,
20:38 叫他們最傷心的，就是他說：以後不能再見我的面那句話，於是送他上船去了。
sorrowing most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. And they brought him to the ship.