第07章 保罗和西拉被囚
§1
第07章 保罗和西拉被囚
§2
Chapter 7—Imprisonment of Paul and Silas
§3
保罗带着西拉再次访问路司得。在这里他曾被外邦人当作神来欢迎。后来犹太人追踪而至，用毁谤的话使百姓的尊敬变为侮辱，谩骂，甚至下决心要杀他。然而他又来到这个以前曾遭遇危险的地方，寻找他工作的果子。{LP 72.2}[1]
§4
In company with Silas, Paul again visited Lystra, where he had been greeted as a God by the heathen; where the opposing Jews had followed on his track, and by their misrepresentation had turned the reverence of the people into insult, abuse, and a determination to kill him. Yet we find him again on the scene of his former danger, looking after the fruit of his labors there.?{LP 72.2}[1]
§5
他发现悔改信主的人并没有因使徒所受的严重迫害吓倒，反而坚定了信仰，相信要进入基督的国必须经过试炼和苦难。{LP 72.3}[2]
§6
He found that the converts to Christ had not been intimidated by the violent persecution of the apostles; but, on the contrary, were confirmed in the faith, believing that the kingdom of Christ would be reached through trial and suffering.?{LP 72.3}[2]
§7
保罗发现基督徒联合的纽带把他与提摩太紧密地联系在一起。提摩太从小熟悉圣经，受教育过严格的宗教生活。他曾目睹保罗上次访问路司得时所受的苦难。基督徒的同情使他与使徒心心相印。保罗自然想最好让提摩太协助他工作。{LP 72.4}[3]
§8
Paul found that Timothy was closely bound to him by the ties of Christian union. This man?had been instructed in the Holy Scriptures from his childhood, and educated for a strictly religious life. He had witnessed the sufferings of Paul upon his former visit to Lystra, and the bonds of Christian sympathy had knit his heart firmly to that of the apostle. Paul accordingly thought best to take Timothy with him to assist in his labors.?{LP 72.4}[3]
§9
在这个行动上保罗表现了极端的谨慎。他拒绝马可做伴，因为他不敢在危急的时候信任马可。但保罗看出提摩太能充分理解传道的工作，尊重他的职责，不怕吃苦，能承受逼迫。虽然如此，保罗必须先对提摩太的品格和历史作彻底的调查。在上述几方面保罗都感到满意以后，他才敢接受提摩太为他的同工和福音里所生的儿子。{LP 73.1}[4]
§10
The extreme caution of Paul is manifested in this act. He had refused the companionship of Mark, because he dared not trust him in an emergency. But in Timothy he saw one who fully appreciated the ministerial work, who respected his position, and was not appalled at the prospect of suffering and persecution. Yet he did not venture to accept Timothy, an untried youth, without diligent inquiry with regard to his life and character. After fully satisfying himself on these points, Paul received Timothy as his fellow-laborer and son in the gospel.?{LP 73.1}[4]
§11
保罗出于他惯有的谨慎，让提摩太受了割礼，并不是上帝吩咐他这样做，乃是要从犹太人心中消除一切足以反对提摩太参加圣工的藉口。保罗将要旅行各城各国，并常在犹太人的会堂里传扬基督。如果犹太人知道他的同工中有一位是没有受过割礼的，他们的工作可能因犹太人的顽固偏见而大受妨碍。这个使徒到处已经受到剧烈的逼迫。他极愿犹太人能明白基督教，因此他要在符合自己信仰的范围内，尽可能地消除一切足以供人反对的藉口。他虽然在这件事上迁就了犹太人的偏见，但他自己依然相信并教训人，受割礼算不得什么，不受割礼也算不得什么，只有基督的福音才是有价值的。{LP 73.2}[5]
§12
Paul, with his usual good judgment, caused Timothy to be circumcised; not that God required it, but in order to remove from the minds of the Jews an obstacle to Timothy’s ministration. Paul was to labor from place to place in the synagogues, and there to preach Christ. If his companion should be known as an uncircumcised heathen, the work of both would be greatly hindered by the prejudice and bigotry of the people, The apostle everywhere met a storm of persecution. He desired to bring the Jews to Christianity, and sought, as far as was consistent with the faith, to remove every pretext for opposition. Yet while he conceded this much to Jewish prejudice, his faith and teachings declared that circumcision or uncircumcision was nothing, but the gospel of Christ was everything.?{LP 73.2}[5]
§13
在腓立比，推雅推喇城人吕底亚听到使徒的讲道，就欣然接受了真理。她和她一家人都悔改受了洗，并强留使徒住在她家中。{LP 74.1}[6]
§14
At Philippi, Lydia, of the city of Thyatira, heard the apostles, and her heart was open to receive the truth. She and her household were converted and baptized, and she entreated the apostles to make her house their home.?{LP 74.1}[6]
§15
当他们出去教训人时，有一个被巫鬼附着的妇人天天跟随他们，喊着说：“这些人是至高上帝的仆人，对你们传说救人的道”（徒16：17）。这个妇人是撒但的一个特别工具。魔鬼怎样在基督面前害怕，控制这个妇人的邪灵也在使徒面前感到不安。撒但知道自己的国度受到攻击，所以他用这个方法来反对上帝使者的工作。这个妇人所说推荐的话对真理的事业是有妨害的。因为这些话迷乱众人的思想，使他们不注意使徒教训的真理，使圣工受到羞辱，并使人相信那些以上帝的圣灵和能力说话的人，是这个撒但使者的同一个灵所鼓励的。{LP 74.2}[7]
§16
Day after day, as they went to their devotions, a woman with the spirit of divination followed them, crying, “These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation.” This woman was a special agent of Satan; and, as the devils were troubled by the presence of Christ, so the evil spirit which possessed her was ill at ease in the presence of the apostles. Satan knew that his kingdom was invaded, and took this way of opposing the work of the ministers of God. The words of recommendation uttered by this woman were an injury to the cause, distracting the minds of the people from the truths presented to them, and throwing disrepute upon the work by causing people to believe that the men who spoke with the Spirit and power of God were actuated by the same spirit as this emissary of Satan.?{LP 74.2}[7]
§17
使徒忍耐了这种反对好几天，后来保罗在圣灵的感动之下吩咐邪灵离开那妇人。她立时安静下来，证明使徒乃是上帝仆人，鬼魔也认识他们，因而服从他们的命令。那妇人既脱离了邪灵的管辖并恢复了理智，她的主人们就为自己的职业惊慌起来了。他们看出藉着这妇人的法术和占卜得利的一切指望都没有了，而且如果让使徒继续宣传福音，则他们发财的门路不久必要完全断绝。{LP 74.3}[8]
§18
The apostles endured this opposition for several days; then Paul, under inspiration of the Spirit of God, commanded the evil spirit to leave the woman. Satan was thus met and rebuked. The immediate and continued silence of the woman testified that the apostles were the servants of God, and that the demon had acknowledged them to be such, and had obeyed their command. When the woman was dispossessed of the spirit of the devil, and restored to herself, her masters were alarmed for their craft. They saw that all hope of receiving money from her divinations and soothsayings was at an end, and perceived that, if the apostles were allowed to continue their work, their own source of income would soon be entirely cut off.?{LP 74.3}[8]
§19
有许多人是藉着撒但的欺骗得利的，他们大声喊叫，攻击上帝的仆人。他们把使徒带到官长面前，控告他们说，“这些人原是犹太人，竟骚扰我们的城，传我们罗马人不可受、不可行的规矩”（徒16：20，21）。{LP 75.1}[9]
§20
A cry was therefore raised against the servants of God, for many were interested in gaining money by Satanic delusions. They brought Paul and Silas before the magistrates with the charge that “these men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, and teach customs which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.”?{LP 75.1}[9]
§21
撒但在百姓中煽起了一种疯狂的情绪。一种暴乱的精神得了势，官长也默许他们，并吩咐剥掉使徒的外衣，用棍打，“打了许多棍，便将他们下在监里，嘱咐禁卒严紧看守。禁卒领了这样的命，就把他们下在内监里，两脚上了木狗”（徒16：23，24）。{LP 75.2}[10]
§22
Satan stirred up a frenzy among the people. A mob spirit prevailed, and was sanctioned by the authorities, who, with their official hands, tore the clothes from the apostles, and commanded them to be scourged. “And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely; who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.”?{LP 75.2}[10]
§23
使徒处在非常痛苦的状况之中，背上伤痕累累，血迹斑斑，躺在粗糙的石地上，双脚被抬起，上了木狗。在这样不自然的位置中，他们受尽折磨，可是他们既没有呻吟，也没有抱怨，反而彼此交谈勉励，并因为主名的缘故受苦而赞美上帝。保罗想起自己从前作了撒但的工具逼迫基督的门徒，而今他诚心感激主，因为他的眼睛已经看到，心灵已经体验到上帝儿子福音的光荣真理，并有特权传扬他过去所藐视的道理。{LP 75.3}[11]
§24
The apostles were left in a very painful condition. Their lacerated and bleeding backs were in contact with the rough stone floor, while their feet were elevated and bound fast in the stocks. In this unnatural position they suffered extreme torture; yet they did not groan nor complain, but conversed with and encouraged each other, and praised God with grateful hearts that they were found worthy to suffer shame for his dear name. Paul was reminded of the persecution he had been instrumental in heaping upon the disciples of Christ, and he was devoutly thankful that his eyes had been opened to see, and his heart to feel, the glorious truths of the gospel of the Son of God, and that he had been privileged to preach the doctrine which he had once despised.?{LP 75.3}[11]
§25
保罗在全然黑暗凄凉的牢狱中祷告唱诗赞美上帝。其他囚犯听见从内监发出来的祷告和唱诗的声音，不禁大为惊异。他们在夜深人静的时候听惯了尖叫，呻吟，咒诅和谩骂，从来没有从那凄惨的囚室中听到祷告和赞美的声音。守兵和囚犯都感到惊奇，心想：这些人到底是谁，怎么能在饥寒磨难之中仍然欢喜快乐，彼此交谈呢? {LP 76.1}[12]
§26
There in the pitchy darkness and desolation of the dungeon, Paul and Silas prayed, and sung songs of praise to God. The other prisoners heard with astonishment the voice of prayer and praise issuing from the inner prison. They had been accustomed to hear shrieks and moans, cursing and swearing, breaking at night upon the silence of the prison; but they had never before heard the words of prayer and praise ascending from that gloomy cell. The guards and prisoners marveled who were these men who, cold, hungry, and tortured, could still rejoice and converse cheerfully with each other.?{LP 76.1}[12]
§27
官长们回到家里，因自己迅速而果断地平息了一次暴乱而甚为得意。但是在路上他们又听到一些话关系到他们所判处责打并囚禁之人的品格和工作。他们看到那脱离撒但权势的妇女，这妇女过去曾是全城之大患。他们大为惊异，因为他们看到这个妇女的容貌和态度完全改变了，如今安静，柔和又有理智。他们看出自己很可能是在两个无辜的人身上施用了罗马残酷的刑罚，就深为自责，并决定次日早晨要私下释放那两个使徒，护送他们出城，以免遭遇暴徒的残害。{LP 76.2}[13]
§28
Meanwhile the magistrates had returned to their homes congratulating themselves upon having quelled a tumult by their prompt and decisive measures. But upon their way home they heard more fully concerning the character and work of the men whom they had sentenced to scourging and imprisonment. They also saw the woman who had been freed from Satanic influence, and who had been a very troublesome subject to them. They were sensibly struck by the change in her countenance and demeanor. She had become quiet, peaceful, and possessed of her right mind. They were indignant with themselves when they discovered that in all probability they had visited upon two innocent men the rigorous penalty of the Roman law against the worst criminals. They decided that in the morning they would command them to be privately released, and escorted in safety from the city, beyond the danger of violence from the mob.?{LP 76.2}[13]
§29
正当世人表现残酷复仇的精神，或忽略自己严肃的责任时，上帝却没有忘记恩待祂受苦的仆人。有天使奉命从天上来释放使徒。当天使走近罗马的监狱时，地就颤动起来，全城皆因地震而晃动。监狱的墙像风中的芦苇那样摆动；囚犯的手铐和脚镣都脱落了。{LP 76.3}[14]
§30
But while men were cruel and vindictive, or criminally negligent of the solemn responsibilities devolving upon them, God had not forgotten?to be gracious to his suffering servants. An angel was sent from Heaven to release the apostles. As he neared the Roman prison, the earth trembled beneath his feet, the whole city was shaken by the earthquake, and the prison walls reeled like a reed in the wind. The heavily bolted doors flew open; the chains and fetters fell from the hands and feet of every prisoner.?{LP 76.3}[14]
§31
禁卒曾惊异地听到被禁闭在牢狱里的使徒祷告和唱诗的声音。当他将他们关进监牢的时候，曾看到他们身上青肿流血的伤痕，他又亲手把他们的脚锁在木狗上。他想一定会听到他们发出痛苦的呻吟和咒骂；不料他所听到的，却是喜乐的赞美声。这些声音正在他耳中时，他便睡着了，以后就被地震和监狱墙壁的摇动所惊醒。{LP 77.1}[15]
§32
The keeper of the jail had heard with amazement the prayers and singing of the imprisoned apostles. When they were led in, he had seen their swollen and bleeding wounds, and he had himself caused their feet to be fastened in the instruments of torture. He had expected to hear bitter wailing, groans, and imprecations; but lo! his ears were greeted with joyful praise. He fell asleep with these sounds in his ears; but was awakened by the earthquake, and the shaking of the prison walls.?{LP 77.1}[15]
§33
禁卒醒过来，看见监门全开，以为囚犯都已逃走。他记得前一天晚上官长曾如何叮嘱他留心看管囚犯，所以他确知自己会因这次显然的失职而被处死。他在悲苦之中觉得不如自杀，以免遭受耻辱的刑罚。他正要拨刀自杀。忽然听见保罗大声说：“不要伤害自己，我们都在这里。”{LP 77.2}[16]
§34
Upon awakening he saw all the prison doors open, and his first thought was that the prisoners had escaped. He remembered with what an explicit charge the prisoners had been intrusted to his care the night before, and he felt sure that death would be the penalty of his apparent unfaithfulness. He cried out in the bitterness of his spirit that it was better for him to die by his own hand than to submit to a disgraceful execution. He was about to kill himself, when Paul cried out with a loud voice, “Do thyself no harm; for we are all here.”?{LP 77.2}[16]
§35
禁卒对于使徒的残酷待遇并没有引起他们报复的心理，或听任他自杀。使徒心中充满了基督的爱，没有恨逼迫他们的人。禁卒放下他的刀，叫人拿灯来，赶紧到内监里来，俯伏在保罗和西拉脚前，请求他们饶恕。他领他们到外院，问他们说：“二位先生，我当怎样行才可以得救?” {LP 77.3}[17]
§36
The severity with which the jailer had treated the apostles had not roused their resentment, or they would have allowed him to commit suicide. But their hearts were filled with the love of Christ, and they held no malice against their?persecutors. The jailer dropped his sword, and called for a light. He hastened into the inner dungeon, and fell down before Paul and Silas, begging their forgiveness. He then brought them into the open court, and inquired of them, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”?{LP 77.3}[17]
§37
禁卒曾看见上帝在地震中所显示的忿怒，并因而恐惧战惊。当他想到囚犯都已逃走时，他曾准备自尽，唯恐受到罗马法律的处罚；但这一切比起他心中所感到新奇的恐惧，以及他对于使徒在痛苦侮辱之下所显示的平安和快乐所有羡幕的心情，似乎无足轻重了。他在使徒的面容上看到上天的荣光，他也知道上帝曾以神奇的方式亲自干涉，为要拯救他们的性命；同时那被污鬼附着的妇人所说的话特别有力地打动了他的心。“这些人是至高上帝的仆人，对你们传说救人的道。”{LP 78.1}[18]
§38
He had trembled because of the wrath of God expressed in the earthquake; he had been ready to die by his own hand for fear of the penalty of the Roman law, when he thought the prisoners had escaped; but now all these things were of little consequence to him compared with the new and strange dread that agitated his mind, and his desire to possess that tranquility and cheerfulness manifested by the apostles under their extreme suffering and abuse. He saw the light of Heaven mirrored in their countenances; he knew that God had interposed in a miraculous manner to save their lives; and the words of the woman possessed by the power of divination came to his mind with peculiar force: “These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation.”?{LP 78.1}[18]
§39
他看出自己与门徒相比，真是何等可怜。他深切自卑恭敬地请求使徒给他指明生命之道。“他们回答说：‘当信主耶稣，你和你一家都必得救。’他们就把主的道讲给他和他全家的人听”（徒16：31）。于是禁卒洗了使徒的伤，并服事他们，随后他受了洗。有一种圣洁的影响普及监牢里的一切的人，众人都敞开心门倾听使徒所讲的真理。他们深信这两个人所事奉的上帝，曾神奇地拯救他们脱离捆锁。{LP 78.2}[19]
§40
He saw his own deplorable condition in contrast with that of the disciples, and with deep humility and reverence asked them to show him the way of life. “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.” The jailer then washed the wounds of the apostles, and ministered unto them; and was baptized by them. A sanctifying influence spread among the inmates of the prison, and the hearts of all were opened to receive the truths uttered by the apostles. They were convinced also that the living?God, whom these men served, had miraculously released them from bondage.?{LP 78.2}[19]
§41
腓立比的市民曾因地震而大起恐慌；到了早晨，监狱的职员把夜里所发生的事告诉官长，官长甚为惊慌，就打发差役去释放使徒。保罗却说：“我们是罗马人，并没有定罪，他们就在众人面前打了我们，又把我们下在监里；现在要私下撵我们出去吗?这是不行的，叫他们自己来领我们出去吧”（徒16：37）！{LP 79.1}[20]
§42
The citizens had been greatly terrified by the earthquake. When the officers informed the magistrates in the morning of what had occurred at the prison, they were alarmed, and sent the sergeants to liberate the apostles from prison. “But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly, uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay, verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.”?{LP 79.1}[20]
§43
保罗和西拉觉得应当维护基督教会的尊严，他们不应屈从罗马官长的非法行径。他们都是罗马的公民，除非一个罗马人犯了穷凶极恶的罪，鞭打他就是非法的，况且若没有经过公正的审判，就不可剥夺他的自由。保罗和西拉曾公开地被监禁，如今他们若没有官长说明正当的理由，就不肯私下被释放。{LP 79.2}[21]
§44
Paul and Silas felt that to maintain the dignity of Christ’s church, they must not submit to the illegal course proposed by the Roman magistrates. The apostles were Roman citizens, and it was unlawful to scourge a Roman, save for the most flagrant crime, or to deprive him of his liberty without a fair trial and condemnation. They had been publicly thrust into prison, and now refused to be privately released, without proper acknowledgments on the part of the magistrates.?{LP 79.2}[21]
§45
当官长听到这些话时，他们唯恐使徒会向皇帝告发非法的待遇，以致使他们被革职，所以十分恐惧，于是立刻到监牢里，为不公正和残酷的待遇向使徒道歉，并亲自领他们出监，请他们离开那城。上帝就是这样在危难之时为祂的仆人行了大事。{LP 79.3}[22]
§46
When this word was brought to the authorities, they were alarmed for fear the apostles would make complaint of their unlawful treatment to the emperor, and cause the magistrates to lose their positions. They accordingly visited the prison, apologized to the apostles for their injustice and cruelty, and themselves conducted them out of the prison, and entreated them to depart out of the city. Thus the Lord wrought for his servants in their extremity.?{LP 79.3}[22]
§47
官长求使徒离开，是因为害怕使徒在百姓身上的影响，同时他们也惧怕那为这些无辜非法受鞭打监禁的人亲自出面干涉的上帝。使徒实行基督的教训，不勉强居留在他们不受欢迎的地方。他们同意官长的要求，但不匆匆离去。他们高高兴兴地从监狱来到吕底亚的家，会见了新悔改信主的人，述说了上帝对他们所施行的奇妙作为。他们述说了夜间的经历，禁卒和囚犯们的悔改。{LP 79.4}[23]
§48
The magistrates entreated them to depart, because they feared their influence over the people, and the power of Heaven that had interposed in behalf of those innocent men who had been?unlawfully scourged and imprisoned. Acting upon the principles given them by Christ, the apostles would not urge their presence where it was not desired. They complied with the request of the magistrates, but did not hasten their departure precipitously. They went rejoicing from the prison to the house of Lydia, where they met the new converts to the faith of Christ, and related all the wonderful dealings of God with them. They related their night’s experience, and the conversion of the keeper of the prison, and of the prisoners.?{LP 79.4}[23]
§49
使徒并不以自己在腓立比的工作为徒然。他们曾遭遇许多反对和逼迫；但上帝为他们的缘故亲自出来干涉，以及禁卒和他一家的悔改足以补足他们所遭受的羞辱和苦难而有余。腓立比人从使徒的举止仪态上看到了耶稣基督宗教的精神。禁卒本来会被判处死刑，但如果这样，总的影响就会不好。所以保罗充分地控制住解脱了的囚犯，以致没有一个人想逃跑。{LP 80.1}[24]
§50
The apostles viewed their labors in Philippi as not in vain. They there met much opposition and persecution; but the intervention of Providence in their behalf, and the conversion of the jailer and all his house, more than atoned for the disgrace and suffering they had endured. The Philippians saw represented in the deportment and presence of mind of the apostles the spirit of the religion of Jesus Christ. The apostles might have fled when the earthquake opened their prison doors and loosened their fetters; but that would have been an acknowledgment that they were criminals, which would have been a disgrace to the gospel of Christ; the jailer would have been exposed to the penalty of death, and the general influence would have been bad. As it was, Paul controlled the liberated prisoners so perfectly that not one attempted to escape.?{LP 80.1}[24]
§51
使徒的行为，特别是没有向高一级的当局控诉迫害他们的官长，使腓立比人不能不承认他们的高尚和大度。使徒受非法的监禁和他们神奇地蒙救的消息传遍了那一带地方，他们的工作就引起了许多用其它方法所不能接触之人的注意。{LP 80.2}[25]
§52
The Philippians could but acknowledge the nobility and generosity of the apostles in their course of action, especially in forbearing to appeal to a higher power against the magistrates who had persecuted them. The news of their unjust imprisonment and miraculous deliverance,?was noised about through all that region, and brought the apostles and their ministry before the notice of a large number who would not otherwise have been reached.?{LP 80.2}[25]
§53
保罗在腓立比工作的结果终于在那里建立了一所教会，而且教友的人数不断增加。他的热诚和敬虔，尤其是他那甘愿为基督受苦的心志在悔改信主的人身上发挥深切而永久的影响。他们珍视使徒付出那么大的牺牲所传给他们的宝贵真理，并全心全意献身从事救主的圣工。{LP 81.1}[26]
§54
Paul’s labors at Philippi resulted in the establishment of a church there, whose numbers steadily increased. His example of zeal and devotion, above all, his willingness to suffer for Christ’s sake, exerted a deep and lasting influence upon the converts to the faith. They highly prized the precious truths for which the apostle had sacrificed so much, and they gave themselves, with whole-hearted devotion, to the cause of their Redeemer.?{LP 81.1}[26]
§55
这个教会并没有免于遭受逼迫。保罗在写给腓立比人的书信中说：“因为你们蒙恩，不但得以信服基督，并要为祂受苦。你们的争战，就与你们在我身上从前所看见的……一样”（腓1：29，30）。可见他们在信仰上是那么坚定不移，甚至保罗这样说：“我每逢想念你们，就感谢我的上帝；每逢为你们众人祈求的时候，总是欢欢喜喜的祈求。因为从头一天直到如今，你们是同心合意地兴旺福音”（腓1：3-5）。{LP 81.2}[27]
§56
This church did not escape persecution. Says Paul, in his Epistle to the Philippians: “Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; having the same conflict which ye saw in me.” Yet such was their steadfastness in the faith that he declares: “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.”?{LP 81.2}[27]