第16章 福音传到安提阿
§1
第16章 福音传到安提阿
§2
Chap. 16 - The Gospel Message in Antioch
§3
（本章根据：徒11:19-26；13:1-3）
§4
众信徒因逼迫而逃离耶路撒冷之后，福音很快就传到巴勒斯坦境外；在各重要都市都有小群的信徒组织起来。有一些门徒“直走到腓尼基和居比路，并安提阿。”他们的工作通常是限于向希伯来人和说希腊话的犹太人传道，因为这时已经有大量这样的人散居在欧亚世界的各城市中。[1]{AA 155.1 }
§5
After the disciples had been driven from Jerusalem by persecution, the gospel message spread rapidly through the regions lying beyond the limits of Palestine; and many small companies of believers were formed in important centers. Some of the disciples traveled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word. Their labors were usually confined to the Hebrew and Greek Jews, large colonies of whom were at this time to be found in nearly all the cities of the world. {AA 155.1 }[1]
§6
在以上所提的各地中，当时叙利亚的首府安提阿是福音受欢迎的一个地方。在那人烟稠密的都市中所经营的广大商业，导使许多不同国籍的人都来到该城。此外，安提阿也是闻名的休闲游乐胜地，因为该地情况良好，环境幽雅，又是经济、文化和美术的中心。在使徒时候，安提阿已经变成一个奢侈和罪恶的城市。[2]{AA 155.2 }
§7
Among the places mentioned where the gospel was gladly received is Antioch, at that time the metropolis of Syria. The extensive commerce carried on from that populous center brought to the city many people of various nationalities. Besides, Antioch was favorably known as a resort for lovers of ease and pleasure, because of its healthful situation, its beautiful surroundings, and the wealth, culture, and refinement to be found there. In the days of the apostles it had become a city of luxury and vice. {AA 155.2 }[2]
§8
一些来自居比路和古利奈的门徒在安提阿公开传讲福音，“传讲主耶稣。”“主与他们同在，”因此他们热心的努力大有成效，“信而归主的人就很多了。”[3]{AA 156.1 }
§9
The gospel was publicly taught in Antioch by certain disciples from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came preaching the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them, and their earnest labors were productive of fruit. A great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. {AA 156.1 }[3]
§10
“这风声传到耶路撒冷教会人的耳中，他们就打发巴拿巴出去，走到安提阿为止。”巴拿巴既到了他那新的工作地点，看到神的恩典所已经完成的工作，“就欢喜，劝勉众人，立定心志，恒久靠主。”[4]{AA 156.2 }
§11
Tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Upon arrival in his new field of labor, Barnabas saw the work that had already been accomplished by divine grace, and he was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. {AA 156.2 }[4]
§12
巴拿巴在安提阿的工作大蒙上帝赐福，那里信徒的人数很快就增多了。工作既已发展，巴拿巴就感觉需要合适的助手，以便根据上帝所作开启的准备而向前迈进；因此，他又往大数去找保罗；保罗前些时离开耶路撒冷之后，就曾在‘叙利亚和基利家境内”工作，“传扬他原先所残害的真道。”（加1:21；23）巴拿巴很顺利地找到了保罗，并劝他回来一同去从事传道的工作。[5]{AA 156.3 }
§13
The labors of Barnabas in Antioch were richly blessed, and many were added to the number of believers there. As the work developed, Barnabas felt the need of suitable help in order to advance in the opening providences of God, and he went to Tarsus to seek for Paul, who, after his departure from Jerusalem some time before, had been laboring in the regions of Syria and Cilicia, proclaiming the faith which once he destroyed. Galatians 1:21, 23. Barnabas was successful in finding Paul and in persuading him to return with him as a companion in ministry. {AA 156.3 }[5]
§14
保罗在人烟稠密的安提阿找到了良好的工作园地。他的学问、智慧和热忱，在那文化中心的居民与经常往来该地的人身上发挥了强大的感化力；也证明了他正是巴拿巴所需要的助手。这两位门徒在忠心的传道工作上共同合作计一年之久，结果使许多人因认识世界的救赎主拿撒勒人耶稣而得救了。[6]{AA 156.4 }
§15
In the populous city of Antioch, Paul found an excellent field of labor. His learning, wisdom, and zeal exerted a powerful influence over the inhabitants and frequenters of that city of culture; and he proved just the help that Barnabas needed. For a year the two disciples labored unitedly in faithful ministry, bringing to many a saving knowledge of Jesus of Nazareth, the worlds Redeemer. {AA 156.4 }[6]
§16
门徒被称为“基督徒”就是在安提阿起首的。他们得到这个称呼，乃是因为基督是他们传道、教训和谈话的主题。他们不住地述说基督在地上服务时——也就是他的门徒享有他亲自同在的幸福时所发生的许多事。他们不息不倦地详叙他的教训，和他医病的神迹。他们以发颤的口唇和满眶的热泪，诉说他在客西马尼园的苦痛，他的被卖、受审、和被钉，他在忍受仇敌侮辱和拷问时所表现的容忍与谦卑，以及他为那些迫害他的人祈祷所具有的上帝的怜悯。他的复活升天，以及他在天上为堕落之人类作中保等，都是他们所喜爱讲说的题目。无怪乎异教人要称他们为“基督徒”，因为他们一直传讲基督并奉他的名向上帝奉献祈祷。[7]{AA 157.1 }
§17
It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. The name was given them because Christ was the main theme of their preaching, their teaching, and their conversation. Continually they were recounting the incidents that had occurred during the days of His earthly ministry, when His disciples were blessed with His personal presence. Untiringly they dwelt upon His teachings and His miracles of healing. With quivering lips and tearful eyes they spoke of His agony in the garden, His betrayal, trial, and execution, the forbearance and humility with which He had endured the contumely and torture imposed upon Him by His enemies, and the Godlike pity with which He had prayed for those who persecuted Him. His resurrection and ascension, and His work in heaven as the Mediator for fallen man, were topics on which they rejoiced to dwell. Well might the heathen call them Christians, since they preached Christ and addressed their prayers to God through Him. {AA 157.1 }[7]
§18
那给他们起名为“基督徒”的，实在是上帝。这是一个尊贵的名称，是给予一切与基督联合之人的。后来雅各写信论到这个名称说：“那富足人岂不是欺压你们，拉你们到公堂去么？他们不是亵渎你们所被称的尊名么？”（雅2:6-7）彼得也宣称：“若为作基督徒受苦，却不要羞耻；倒要因这名归荣耀给上帝。”“你们若为基督的名受辱骂，便是有福的；因为上帝荣耀的灵常住在你们身上。”（彼前4:16,14）[8]{AA 157.2 }
§19
It was God who gave to them the name of Christian. This is a royal name, given to all who join themselves to Christ. It was of this name that James wrote later, Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? James 2:6, 7. And Peter declared, If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you. 1 Peter 4:16, 14. {AA 157.2 }[8]
§20
安提阿的信徒体会到上帝乐意在他们心里运行，使他们“立志行事，……为要成就他的美意。”（腓2:13）他们虽然住在那些似乎不重视具有永恒价值之事物的人中间，但他们总要设法引起那心地诚实之人的注意，并为他们所敬爱侍奉的主作确实的见证。他们在谦卑的服务中，学会依靠圣灵的能力使生命之道发生效力。这样，他们就在各人不同的生活中，天天为自己在基督里的信仰作见证。[9]{AA 158.1 }
§21
The believers at Antioch realized that God was willing to work in their lives both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13. Living, as they were, in the midst of a people who seemed to care but little for the things of eternal value, they sought to arrest the attention of the honest in heart, and to bear positive testimony concerning Him whom they loved and served. In their humble ministry they learned to depend upon the power of the Holy Spirit to make effective the word of life. And so, in the various walks of life, they daily bore testimony of their faith in Christ. {AA 158.1 }[9]
§22
安提阿的基督徒所留下的榜样，应当鼓舞每一位在现今世界上各大都市中的信徒。固然按照上帝的规定，乃是要在各人口众多的重要都市、派定特选的献身而有才干的工人去主领大规模的布道会，但他的旨意也要那些住在这些城市中的教友，运用上帝所赐这一等工人努力领人皈依耶稣的时候，他们必要发现许多不能用任何其它方法去接近的人，业已准备妥当对聪明的个人工作有所响应了。[10]{AA 158.2 }
§23
The example of the followers of Christ at Antioch should be an inspiration to every believer living in the great cities of the world today. While it is in the order of God that chosen workers of consecration and talent should be stationed in important centers of population to lead out in public efforts, it is also His purpose that the church members living in these cities shall use their God-given talents in working for souls. There are rich blessings in store for those who surrender fully to the call of God. As such workers endeavor to win souls to Jesus, they will find that many who never could have been reached in any other way are ready to respond to intelligent personal effort. {AA 158.2 }[10]
§24
上帝今日在地上的圣工正需要《圣经》真理的活代表。仅靠牧师是不能适应警告各大都市之工作的。上帝不但在呼召传道人，也在呼召医生、护士、文字布道员、女传道士、和其它才具各异、明白上帝的《圣经》、并晓得他恩典之能力的献身平信徒，来考虑那尚未得听警告之城市的需要。光阴很快地过去了，而亟待完成的工作甚多。因此必须发动一切的机能，以便明智地利用当前的机会。[11]{AA 158.3 }
§25
The cause of God in the earth today is in need of living representatives of Bible truth. The ordained ministers alone are not equal to the task of warning the great cities. God is calling not only upon ministers, but also upon physicians, nurses, colporteurs, Bible workers, and other consecrated laymen of varied talent who have a knowledge of the word of God and who know the power of His grace, to consider the needs of the unwarned cities. Time is rapidly passing, and there is much to be done. Every agency must be set in operation, that present opportunities may be wisely improved. {AA 158.3 }[11]
§26
保罗会同巴拿巴在安提阿的工作，使他更加坚信主确已呼召他为外邦世界作一番特别的工作。在保罗悔改的时候，主曾说他要成为奉派向外邦人传道的，“要叫他们的眼睛得开，从黑暗中归向光明，从撒但权下归向上帝；又因信我得蒙赦罪，和一切成圣的人同得基业。”（徒26:18）那向亚拿尼亚显现的天使论到保罗曾说：“他是我所拣选的器皿，要在外邦人和君王并以色列人面前宣扬我的名。”（徒9:15）保罗自己在后来的基督徒经验中，当他在耶路撒冷的圣殿里祈祷的时候，曾蒙天使访问，吩咐他说：“你去吧！我要差你远远的往外邦人那里去。”（徒22:21）[12]{AA 159.1 }
§27
Pauls labors at Antioch, in association with Barnabas, strengthened him in his conviction that the Lord had called him to do a special work for the Gentile world. At the time of Pauls conversion, the Lord had declared that he was to be made a minister to the Gentiles, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me. Acts 26:18. The angel that appeared to Ananias had said of Paul, He is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel. Acts 9:15. And Paul himself, later in his Christian experience, while praying in the temple at Jerusalem, had been visited by an angel from heaven, who bade him, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. Acts 22:21. {AA 159.1 }[12]
§28
主就这样任命保罗去进入外邦世界的广大布道园地。上帝为准备他去进行这种广泛而艰巨的工作，曾使他与自己密切联合，并向他那喜不自胜的眼界展示天上的美景和荣耀。他曾蒙授任去显明那“永古隐藏不言的奥秘。”……也就是“他旨意的奥秘。”（罗16:25；弗1:9）保罗说：“这奥秘在以前的世代，没有叫人知道，像如今借着圣灵启示他的圣使徒和先知一样。这奥秘就是外邦人在基督耶稣里，借着福音，得以同为后嗣，同为一体，同蒙应许。我作了这福音的执事，……我本来比众圣徒中最小的还小，然而他还赐我这恩典，叫我把基督那测不透的丰富传给外邦人，又使众人都明白，这历代以来隐藏在创造万物之上帝里的奥秘，是如何安排的，为要借着教会使天上执政的、掌权的，现在得知上帝百般的智慧。这是照上帝从万世以前，在我们主基督耶稣里所定的旨意。”（弗3:5-11）[13]{AA 159.2 }
§29
Thus the Lord had given Paul his commission to enter the broad missionary field of the Gentile world. To prepare him for this extensive and difficult work, God had brought him into close connection with Himself and had opened before his enraptured vision views of the beauty and glory of heaven. To him had been given the ministry of making known the mystery which had been kept secret since the world began (Romans 16:25),--the mystery of His will (Ephesians 1:9), which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel: whereof, declares Paul, I was made a minister. . . . Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 3:5-11. {AA 159.2 }[13]
§30
当保罗和巴拿巴留在安提阿与众信徒同聚的那一年中，上帝曾经丰盛地赐与他们的工作。但那时他们二人尚未被正式任命为福音的执事。现今他们在基督徒的经验中已经到达一个新的阶段，上帝将要委托他们去进行一种艰难的传道事业，在执行这个任务时，他们需要所能得自教会的一切有利条件。[14]{AA 160.1 }
§31
God had abundantly blessed the labors of Paul and Barnabas during the year they remained with the believers in Antioch. But neither of them had as yet been formally ordained to the gospel ministry. They had now reached a point in their Christian experience when God was about to entrust them with the carrying forward of a difficult missionary enterprise, in the prosecution of which they would need every advantage that could be obtained through the agency of the church. {AA 160.1 }[14]
§32
“在安提阿的教会中，有几位先知和教师；就是巴拿巴，和称呼尼结的西面，古利奈人路求，与……马念，并扫罗。他们侍奉主，禁食的时候，圣灵说：要为我分派巴拿巴和扫罗，去作我召他们所作的工。”这两位使徒在被派往外邦作布道士之前，曾经借着禁食、祷告、及按手礼而被严肃地奉献给上帝。如此，他们就由教会授予作牧师的全给他们的才干去从事救人的工作。上帝为全然献身答应他呼召的人储有丰富的恩典。当然，不仅要教导真理，也要施行洗礼，组织教会。[15]{AA 160.2 }
§33
There were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, . . . and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. Before being sent forth as missionaries to the heathen world, these apostles were solemnly dedicated to God by fasting and prayer and the laying on of hands. Thus they were authorized by the church, not only to teach the truth, but to perform the rite of baptism and to organize churches, being invested with full ecclesiastical authority. {AA 160.2 }[15]
§34
基督教会这时正步入一个重要的纪元。那在外邦人中宣讲福音的工作将要大力地推展；其结果将使教会因有多人加入而大大增强。那受指派领导这工作的使徒将要遭受猜疑、歧视，和嫉妒。他们所传有关拆毁那长久区分犹太与外邦世界的“中间隔断的墙”的道理，（弗2:14）自然会使他们被诬蔑为异端；而他们作为福音使者的权柄，也必被许多热心相信的犹太人提出疑问。上帝预先看到他仆人所必须应付的这些困难；为要使他们的工作胜过挑战，因此他借启示指示教会要公开将他们分别为圣，担任传道的工作。他们所受的按手礼表示公认他们所受上帝的委任，将福音的喜信传给外邦人。[16]{AA 161.1 }
§35
The Christian church was at this time entering upon an important era. The work of proclaiming the gospel message among the Gentiles was now to be prosecuted with vigor; and as a result the church was to be strengthened by a great ingathering of souls. The apostles who had been appointed to lead out in this work would be exposed to suspicion, prejudice, and jealousy. Their teachings concerning the breaking down of the middle wall of partition (Ephesians 2:14) that had so long separated the Jewish and the Gentile world, would naturally subject them to the charge of heresy, and their authority as ministers of the gospel would be questioned by many zealous, believing Jews. God foresaw the difficulties that His servants would be called to meet, and, in order that their work should be above challenge, He instructed the church by revelation to set them apart publicly to the work of the ministry. Their ordination was a public recognition of their divine appointment to bear to the Gentiles the glad tidings of the gospel. {AA 161.1 }[16]
§36
其实保罗和巴拿巴早已蒙上帝亲自委任，这按手礼并未加添什么新的恩赐或实际的资格。这乃是受命担任一定职分的认可仪式，借以承认其人在该职分上所有的权柄。借着按手礼，上帝的圣工就加盖教会的印鉴了。[17]{AA 161.2 }
§37
Both Paul and Barnabas had already received their commission from God Himself, and the ceremony of the laying on of hands added no new grace or virtual qualification. It was an acknowledged form of designation to an appointed office and a recognition of ones authority in that office. By it the seal of the church was set upon the work of God. {AA 161.2 }[17]
§38
在犹太人看来，这是一个饶有意义的仪式。每当一个犹太人的父亲为儿女祝福时，他总要恭谨地将双手按在他们的头上。每当一个牺牲要被奉献为祭时，一个赋有祭司职权的人就要按手在祭牲的头上。所以当安提阿教会的福音工作者按手在保罗和巴拿巴的头上时，他们就此求上帝赐福给他所拣选的使徒，赐福给他们在指派的工作上所表现的忠诚。[18]{AA 162.1 }
§39
To the Jew this form was a significant one. When a Jewish father blessed his children, he laid his hands reverently upon their heads. When an animal was devoted to sacrifice, the hand of the one invested with priestly authority was laid upon the head of the victim. And when the ministers of the church of believers in Antioch laid their hands upon Paul and Barnabas, they, by that action, asked God to bestow His blessing upon the chosen apostles in their devotion to the specific work to which they had been appointed. {AA 162.1 }[18]
§40
在后来的时日中，这按手授职的礼节竟被大大地滥用了；人们竟不合法地重视这一形式，以为凡接受按手礼的人便可立即得着一种能力，当时就有资格从事任何及一切传福音的工作。其实在将这两个使徒分别为圣时，并无记载说明仅凭这个按手的礼节足以给人什么权力。所有的只是简单记载他们受了这个礼，以及这礼对于他们未来工作所有的关系。[19]{AA 162.2 }
§41
At a later date the rite of ordination by the laying on of hands was greatly abused; unwarrantable importance was attached to the act, as if a power came at once upon those who received such ordination, which immediately qualified them for any and all ministerial work. But in the setting apart of these two apostles, there is no record indicating that any virtue was imparted by the mere act of laying on of hands. There is only the simple record of their ordination and of the bearing that it had on their future work. {AA 162.2 }[19]
§42
圣灵将保罗和巴拿巴分别为圣担任确定工作的经过情形，清楚地说明主是通过他已组织的教会中的指定代理人办事。若干年前，在救主亲自初向保罗启示上帝有关他的旨意之后，保罗也是立即就与那在大马士革新成立之教会的教友联系。此外，当地教会对于这个新悔改之法利赛人的经验，也并非被完全蒙在鼓里。现今在当初所授予的神圣使命必须更充分地予以执行时，圣灵再度为保罗作见证，说明他是蒙拣选传福音给外邦的器皿，因此就将为他和他的同工行按手礼的任务交与教会。当安提阿教会的领袖们“侍奉主，禁食的时候，圣灵说：要为我分派巴拿巴和扫罗，去作我召他们所作的工。”[20]{AA 162.3 }
§43
The circumstances connected with the separation of Paul and Barnabas by the Holy Spirit to a definite line of service show clearly that the Lord works through appointed agencies in His organized church. Years before, when the divine purpose concerning Paul was first revealed to him by the Saviour Himself, Paul was immediately afterward brought into contact with members of the newly organized church at Damascus. Furthermore, the church at that place was not long left in darkness as to the personal experience of the converted Pharisee. And now, when the divine commission given at that time was to be more fully carried out, the Holy Spirit, again bearing witness concerning Paul as a chosen vessel to bear the gospel to the Gentiles, laid upon the church the work of ordaining him and his fellow laborer. As the leaders of the church in Antioch ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. {AA 162.3 }[20]
§44
上帝已使他地上的教会作传光的媒介，他也借着它传达他的目的与旨意。他决不至使他的任何一个仆人得到一种独特的，而与教会本身经验相抵触的经验。他也决不至将他对于全教会的旨意仅仅指示一个人，而任凭教会——基督的身体——留在蒙昧无知之中。他却依照自己的美意使他的仆人们与他的教会有密切的联系，俾使他们可以少信任自己，而多信任其它蒙他引导而推进圣工的人。[21]{AA 163.1 }
§45
God has made His church on the earth a channel of light, and through it He communicates His purposes and His will. He does not give to one of His servants an experience independent of and contrary to the experience of the church itself. Neither does He give one man a knowledge of His will for the entire church while the church--Christs body --is left in darkness. In His providence He places His servants in close connection with His church in order that they may have less confidence in themselves and greater confidence in others whom He is leading out to advance His work. {AA 163.1 }[21]
§46
教会中总不免有一些经常偏向于个人独立自主的人。他们似乎不明白这种独立自主的精神颇易使人过分信任自己，并信赖自己的见解，而不尊重弟兄们，尤其是那些上帝所命定领导他百姓之人的劝导，也不重视他们的见解。上帝已将特别的权柄与能力赋予他的教会，任何人对此加以忽略或轻视，决不能算为无罪；因为凡这样作的人就是轻视上帝的权威。[22]{AA 163.2 }
§47
There have ever been in the church those who are constantly inclined toward individual independence. They seem unable to realize that independence of spirit is liable to lead the human agent to have too much confidence in himself and to trust in his own judgment rather than to respect the counsel and highly esteem the judgment of his brethren, especially of those in the offices that God has appointed for the leadership of His people. God has invested His church with special authority and power which no one can be justified in disregarding and despising, for he who does this despises the voice of God. {AA 163.2 }[22]
§48
那些好以自己的见解为至上的人乃处于严重的危险之中。撒但所蓄意致力的，乃是使这样的人脱离那些作为传授真光之媒介，就是上帝所用以建设并推展他在地上圣工的人。轻看或藐视上帝所分派在促进真理工作上担负领导责任的人，那就等于弃绝他所命定用以帮助、勉励并加强他百姓的方法。任何参加圣工的人若越过这一切，妄想自己的亮光必须直接从上帝领受，而不能通过任何媒介，他就置身于易受仇敌迷惑的地位，并因而跌倒。上帝本乎他的智慧安排使一切的信徒都保持亲密的关系，借以使基督徒与基督徒，教会与教会都互相联合。这样，我们这血肉之体的器皿才能与神合作。每一个机能都必顺服圣灵，而所有的信徒都必联合从事有组织、有纪律的努力，将上帝恩典的喜信传给全世界。[23]{AA 164.1 }
§49
Those who are inclined to regard their individual judgment as supreme are in grave peril. It is Satans studied effort to separate such ones from those who are channels of light, through whom God has wrought to build up and extend His work in the earth. To neglect or despise those whom God has appointed to bear the responsibilities of leadership in connection with the advancement of the truth, is to reject the means that He has ordained for the help, encouragement, and strength of His people. For any worker in the Lords cause to pass these by, and to think that his light must come through no other channel than directly from God, is to place himself in a position where he is liable to be deceived by the enemy and overthrown. The Lord in His wisdom has arranged that by means of the close relationship that should be maintained by all believers, Christian shall be united to Christian and church to church. Thus the human instrumentality will be enabled to co-operate with the divine. Every agency will be subordinate to the Holy Spirit, and all the believers will be united in an organized and well-directed effort to give to the world the glad tidings of the grace of God. {AA 164.1 }[23]
§50
保罗以自己的正式接受按手礼，作为他一生工作之重要新时期的开始。后来他也以从这一时期起为他在基督教会中作使徒的开端。[24]{AA 164.2 }
§51
Paul regarded the occasion of his formal ordination as marking the beginning of a new and important epoch in his lifework. It was from this time that he afterward dated the beginning of his apostleship in the Christian church. {AA 164.2 }[24]
§52
当福音的真光照耀着安提阿的时候，那些留在耶路撒冷的使徒则继续进行着一番重要的工作。每年逢有大节期，总有许多来自各地的犹太人到耶路撒冷的圣殿朝拜上帝。这些朝圣的香客中有一些是非常虔诚，热切研究预言的人，他们都在仰望切盼着所应许之弥赛亚，就是以色列的希望来临。每当耶路撒冷住满这些旅客时，使徒们就以无畏的勇气传讲基督，虽然他们明知这样行势必经常冒着性命的危险。上帝的灵印证了他们的工作，于是有许多人悔改相信了。而这些人回到世界各地他们的家乡之后，便将真理的种子散布到各国和社会的各阶层中。[25]{AA 165.1 }
§53
While the light of the gospel was shining brightly at Antioch, an important work was continued by the apostles who had remained in Jerusalem. Every year, at the time of the festivals, many Jews from all lands came to Jerusalem to worship at the temple. Some of these pilgrims were men of fervent piety and earnest students of the prophecies. They were looking and longing for the advent of the promised Messiah, the hope of Israel. While Jerusalem was filled with these strangers, the apostles preached Christ with unflinching courage, though they knew that in so doing they were placing their lives in constant jeopardy. The Spirit of God set its seal upon their labors; many converts to the faith were made; and these, returning to their homes in different parts of the world, scattered the seeds of truth through all nations and among all classes of society. {AA 165.1 }[25]
§54
参加这项工作的使徒，其中最杰出的有彼得、雅各和约翰，他们确信上帝曾分派他们留在本国向自己的同胞传讲基督。他们忠心而智慧地从事圣工，为自己所见所闻的事作见证，时常引证那“先知更确的预言”（彼后1:19），努力向“以色列全家”说明：犹太人所“钉在十字架上的这位耶稣，上帝已经立他为主为基督了。”（徒2:36）[26]{AA 165.2 }
§55
Prominent among the apostles who engaged in this work were Peter, James, and John, who felt confident that God had appointed them to preach Christ among their countrymen at home. Faithfully and wisely they labored, testifying of the things they had seen and heard, and appealing to a more sure word of prophecy (2 Peter 1:19), in an effort to persuade the house of Israel . . . that God hath made that same Jesus, whom the Jews crucified, both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). {AA 165.2 }[26]