第19章 会见众长老
§1
第19章 会见众长老
§2
Chapter 19—Meeting with the Elders
§3
“到了耶路撒冷，弟兄们欢欢喜喜的接待我们”（徒21：17）。路加这样描述这位外邦人的使徒在到达耶路撒冷时所受到的接待。虽然保罗到处受到偏见和嫉妒，但他也发现有些人很高兴听他带来的好消息，并为基督和真理的缘故爱他。保罗虽受到欢迎，却仍无法消除他的忧虑，即耶路撒冷教会如何看待他和他的工作呢?第二天去见长老们时，就可以知道他们的真正看法了。{LP 207.2}[1]
§4
“And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.” Thus Luke describes the reception of the apostle to the Gentiles on his arrival at Jerusalem. Although Paul everywhere encountered prejudice, envy, and?jealousy, he also found hearts that were open to receive the glad tidings which he brought, and that loved him for the sake of Christ and the truth. Yet, cheering as was the kindly greeting he received, it could not remove his anxiety as to the attitude of the church at Jerusalem toward himself and his work. Their real feelings would be more fully seen in the meeting with the elders of the church, to take place on the morrow.?{LP 207.2}[1]
§5
保罗渴望和这些人完全和解。他已尽一切努力来消除因他不顾仪文律法的限制，给外邦人传福音而激起的不公正的偏见和不信任。然而他担心自己的努力会落空，甚至他所带来的慷慨捐款也未必能软化犹太弟兄的心。他知道他要去见的人是一些很坚强很果断的人，他以忧虑的心情期待着这次会见，然而他不能躲避这次考验，不管这考验是多么严峻。他到耶路撒冷来，正是为了消除使他们产生隔阂，从而大大妨碍了他工作的偏见和误解。{LP 208.1}[2]
§6
Paul longed to be fully united with these. He had done all in his power to remove the prejudice and distrust so unjustly excited because he presented the gospel to the Gentiles without the restrictions of the ceremonial law. Yet he feared that his efforts might be in vain, and that even the liberal offerings of which he was the bearer might fail to soften the hearts of the Jewish brethren. He knew that the men whom he was to encounter were persons of great firmness and decision, and he looked forward with considerable apprehension to this meeting with them; yet he could not avoid the ordeal, trying though it might be. He had come to Jerusalem for no other purpose than to remove the barriers of prejudice and misunderstanding which had separated them, and which had so greatly obstructed his labors.?{LP 208.1}[2]
§7
保罗到达耶路撒冷后的第二天，以雅各为首的教会众长老，开会召集保罗和他那些作为外邦教会使者的同伴。保罗的第一个举动就是交上他受托的捐款。他曾小心防备在他受托的这件事上不留下任何受人怀疑的话柄，所以让好几个教会选派代表和他一起保管这笔捐款。这些弟兄现在被召上前来，一个一个把外邦教会的自愿捐献，甚至是在极贫穷的景况中所奉献的钱放在雅各的脚前。这是一个明显的证据，证明这些新信主的门徒对于教会的爱心和同情，以及他们要与犹太弟兄和好的愿望。这也表明保罗忠实地履行了他多年前在会议上被要求纪念穷苦的人时所作的许诺。{LP 208.2}[3]
§8
On the day following Paul’s arrival, the elders of the church, with James at their head, assembled to receive him and his fellow-travelers as messengers from the Gentile churches. Paul’s first act was to present the contributions with which he had been intrusted. He had been careful to guard against the least occasion for suspicion in the administration of his trust, by causing delegates to be elected by the several?churches to accompany him as joint trustees of the funds collected. These brethren were now called forward, and one by one they laid at the feet of James the offerings which the Gentile churches had freely given, although often from their deepest poverty. Here was tangible proof of the love and sympathy felt by these new disciples for the mother-church, and their desire to be in harmony with the Jewish brethren. Here was evidence also, that Paul had faithfully fulfilled the promise given, when at the council years before he had been urged to remember the poor.?{LP 208.2}[3]
§9
这一笔捐款花费了保罗很多光阴和心血，远远超出了犹太长老们所预料的数字，理应受到热情的感激和赞赏。但是，保罗原来所担心捐款奉上时对方的态度真的变为现实。他只得为自己已经尽到了责任，并已激发起信徒慷慨友爱的精神而安慰自己。{LP 209.1}[4]
§10
These contributions had cost the apostle much time and anxious thought, and much wearisome labor. They far exceeded the expectations of the Jewish elders, and might have been expected to call forth warm expressions of gratitude and appreciation. But Paul’s half-acknowledged fears as to the manner in which the gift would be received were realized. He could only find comfort in the consciousness that he had done his duty, and had encouraged in his converts a spirit of generosity and love.?{LP 209.1}[4]
§11
保罗献上了这些捐款之后，就向弟兄们叙说了自己的工作方式和成果。他曾在同一座城市中出席同样的会议。若干年前他曾在使徒的会议上面对同样的听众述说了他自己悔改的经过，以及上帝藉着他在外邦人中所施行的大事。有上帝的灵为他的话作证。在这样的影响下与会者放弃了他们的偏见，表示他们同意保罗的立场，并因而给众教会致信。现在保罗要参加同样的战斗，应付同样的偏见。{LP 209.2}[5]
§12
After the presentation of the gifts, Paul gave the brethren an account of his manner of labor, and its results. He had on former occasions stood before the same assembly, in the same city. It was before the same audience at the apostolic council (Acts 15) years before, that he related his experience in his conversion, and the great work which God had wrought through him among the Gentiles. The Spirit of the Lord then witnessed to the word spoken, and under its influence the council yielded their prejudices, and expressed themselves as in harmony with the position of the?apostle, and sent an address to the churches to that effect. But the same battle was again to be fought, the same prejudices once more to be met.?{LP 209.2}[5]
§13
保罗对弟兄们讲述了与他们分别四年以来他的工作，“将上帝用他传教，在外邦人中的所行的事，一一的述说了”（徒21：19）。当保罗讲到以弗所的工作，在异教的堡垒中兴起了一个大教会时，没有一个人不兴致勃勃地听着。但他也不得不触及令那些对他抱有成见之人反感的问题。在讲述加拉太教会时，他不得不讲到那些犹太师傅给他造成的困难。这些师傅曾设法曲解他的教训，哄诱他所带领的信徒。在描述哥林多的工作时，他不能不提到那些在教会里制造混乱和纷争的人。他讲话的时候态度温和而有礼，小心避开那些可能给他的弟兄造成不必要的伤害的问题，而着重讲他知道他们会同意的事。{LP 210.1}[6]
§14
Paul now gave his brethren an account of his labors since he parted with them four years before, and “declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.” As he described the work at Ephesus, which had resulted in raising up that large church in the very stronghold of heathenism, none could listen without interest. But he necessarily touched upon points that would irritate those who had cherished prejudice against him. He could not recount his experience in Galatia without stating the difficulties which he had encountered from those Judaizing teachers who had attempted to misrepresent his teaching and pervert his converts. In describing the work at Corinth, he could but mention those who had spread confusion and strife among the church there. Yet he related all with great gentleness and courtesy, carefully avoiding everything that would unnecessarily wound his brethren, and dwelling especially upon topics where he knew they could harmonize.?{LP 210.1}[6]
§15
他的努力产生了良好的效果。上帝的灵感化了这些弟兄的心。福音推广的消息，上帝的大能伴随着保罗工作的明证，软化了他们对保罗的态度，使他们认识到他们对他所抱的偏见是没有理由的。他们就为上帝奇妙的恩典而归荣耀给祂。保罗讲完以后，弟兄们一齐发出严肃的赞美，大家用阿们声来表示他们赞同保罗的工作。{LP 210.2}[7]
§16
The effort was not without good results. The Spirit of God impressed the minds of the brethren and affected their hearts. The tidings of the progress of the gospel, the evidence that the power of God was working with the apostle’s efforts, softened their feelings toward Paul, and convinced them that their prejudice against him was unfounded; and they glorified God for the wonders of his grace. At the close of Paul’s address, the brethren joined in a season of solemn praise, and the Amen, expressive of their hearty sanction of his work, was swelled by many voices.?{LP 210.2}[7]
§17
然而在这种表面的和谐之下，仍隐藏着偏见和不满。教会里仍有一些人尽力要用基督死时已经废除的旧风俗和仪式来塑造基督教。他们认为必须按照他们自己的方法推进福音。如果保罗肯按照他们的意见工作，他们就愿意承认并支持他的工作，否则他们就不予承认。{LP 211.1}[8]
§18
But beneath this apparent harmony, prejudice and dissatisfaction were still smouldering. Some in the church were still striving to mold Christianity after the old customs and ceremonies that were to pass away at the death of Christ. They felt that the work of preaching the gospel must be conducted according to their opinions. If Paul would labor in accordance with these ideas, they would acknowledge and sustain his work; otherwise they would discard it.?{LP 211.1}[8]
§19
耶路撒冷教会的长老们曾错误地让自己受保罗的敌人所影响。及至他们亲耳听到保罗讲述所作的工作时，他们了解到另一方面的情况。他们不能指责他的工作方法。因为他们认识到上面盖着天国的印章。他从新教会中筹集的捐款，证明了真理的力量。他们看出自己受犹太风俗和遗传所束缚，他们由于维护那筑在犹太人和外邦人之间的隔墙，而大大妨碍了福音的工作。{LP 211.2}[9]
§20
The elders of the church had been at fault in allowing themselves to be influenced by the enemies of the apostle. But when they heard from his own lips an account of the work he had been doing, it assumed a different aspect. They could not condemn his manner of labor; they were convinced that it bore the signet of Heaven. The liberal contributions from the new churches he had raised up, testified to the power of the truth. They saw that they had been held in bondage by the Jewish customs and traditions, and that the work of the gospel had been greatly hindered by their efforts to maintain the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile.?{LP 211.2}[9]
§21
现在正是一个最好的机会，让这些领袖们坦率地承认上帝确已藉着保罗作工，并承认他们过去听信仇敌谗言而对保罗抱有妒忌和偏见，是做错了。可是他们非但没有为他们所伤害的保罗主持正义，反而觉得保罗应当为众人对他的偏见负责，似乎是他给了他们偏见的口实。他们没有勇敢地为保罗辩护，指出那些怀有成见之人的错误，反而把责任全推在保罗身上，劝他做一件事来消除一切的误会。保罗做完见证以后，他们就向他说：“兄台，你看犹太人中信主的有多少万，并且都为律法热心。他们听见人说，你教训一切在外邦的犹太人离弃摩西，对他们说，不要给孩子行割礼，也不要遵行条规。众人必听见你来了，这可怎么办呢?你就照着我们的话行吧！我们这里有四个人，都有愿在身。你带他们去，与他们一同行洁净的礼，替他们拿出规费，叫他们得以剃头。这样，众人就可知道，先前所听见你的事都是虚的；并可知道，你自己为人循规蹈矩，遵行律法。至于信主的外邦人，我们已经写信拟定，叫他们谨忌那祭偶像之物和血，并勒死的牲畜与奸淫”（徒21：21-25）。{LP 211.3}[10]
§22
Now was the golden opportunity for these leading men to frankly confess that God had wrought through Paul, and that they were wrong in permitting the reports of his enemies to create jealousy and prejudice against him. But instead of doing justice to the one whom they had injured, they still appeared to hold him responsible for the existing prejudice, as though he had given them cause for such feelings. They did not nobly stand in his defense, and endeavor to show the disaffected party their error; but they threw the burden wholly upon Paul, counseling him to pursue?a course for the removal of all misapprehension. They responded to his testimony in these words: “Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe, and they are all zealous of the law. And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together; for they will hear that thou art come. Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads; and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.”?{LP 211.3}[10]
§23
弟兄们本来希望保罗通过这个行动给流行的谣言一个明确的驳斥。雅各向他保证，先前一次会议对于外邦信徒遵守仪文律法的问题所作的决定依然是有效的，可是向保罗所提出的建议并不符合圣灵所认可的那次决定。上帝的灵并没有感动他们做出这样的指示；他们这样作，乃是出于怯懦的动机。如果基督徒不遵守仪文律法，就必招致犹太人的愤恨，使自己受到逼迫。那时犹太公会正在尽一切力量阻止福音传开。他们选派专员追踪使徒，尤其是保罗，并尽可能地反对他们的工作。如果基督的信徒被公会定他们破坏律法的罪，他们就必被看为犹太教的叛徒，受到迅速而严厉的制裁。{LP 212.1}[11]
§24
The brethren hoped that by this act Paul might give a decisive contradiction of the false reports concerning him. But while James assured Paul that the decision of the former council (Acts 15) concerning the Gentile converts and the ceremonial law still held good, the advice given was not consistent with that decision which had also been sanctioned by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God did not prompt this advice. It was the fruit of cowardice. By non-conformity to the ceremonial law, Christians would bring upon themselves the hatred of the unbelieving Jews, and expose themselves to severe persecution. The?Sanhedrim was doing its utmost to hinder the progress of the gospel. Men were chosen by this body to follow up the apostles, especially Paul, and in every possible way oppose them in their work. Should the believers in Christ be condemned before the Sanhedrim as breakers of the law, they would bring upon themselves swift and severe punishment as apostates from the Jewish faith.?{LP 212.1}[11]
§25
这里有力地驳斥了人所常说的，基督和使徒干犯第四诫安息日的说法。如果干犯安息日的罪名能够加在基督、司提反或其他殉道者身上，就不需要指使人作假见证，为定他们的罪找一点借口了。单凭干犯律法的这一点，就可以置基督徒于仇敌的手。他们小心翼翼地表明他们极为尊重次要的风俗和仪文，这表明他们不可能干犯第四诫的安息日而不受最严厉的处罚。{LP 213.1}[12]
§26
Here is a decisive refutation of the claims so often made, that Christ and his apostles violated the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Could the sin of Sabbath breaking have been fastened upon Christ or Stephen or others who died for their faith, men would not have been suborned to bear false witness against them to furnish some pretext for their condemnation. One such instance of transgression of the law would have placed the Christians in the power of their enemies. Their carefulness to show the utmost respect for customs and ceremonies of minor importance is an evidence that it would have been impossible for them to violate the Sabbath of the fourth commandment without suffering the severest penalty.?{LP 213.1}[12]
§27
门徒依然遵守仪文律法，并很愿意做出让步，希望藉此可以博得犹太同胞的信任，消除他们的偏见，并争取他们相信基督为世界的救赎主。保罗访问耶路撒冷的一个重大目的就是争取巴勒斯坦教会的谅解。只要他们继续对他怀有偏见,他们就必一直设法破坏他的影响。他觉得如果他能做出合理的让步，藉此赢得他们来顺从真理，他就能够为福音在其他地区的成功除掉一个很大的障碍。但上帝并没有授权给他对他们的要求作那么大的让步。这一次的让步不符合他的教训和他一贯坚定正直的性格。劝他的人不是不会犯错的。虽然其中有些人曾在圣灵的感动下写作过，但他们不处在圣灵直接感动下时，有时也会犯错误的。有一次保罗曾因彼得两面派的行为而当面责备他。{LP 213.2}[13]
§28
The disciples themselves yet cherished a regard for the ceremonial law, and were too willing to make concessions, hoping by so doing to gain the confidence of their countrymen, remove their prejudice, and win them to faith in Christ as the world’s Redeemer. Paul’s great object in visiting Jerusalem was to conciliate the church of Palestine. So long as they continued to cherish prejudice against him, they were constantly working to counteract his influence. He felt that if he could by any lawful concession on his?part win them to the truth, he would remove a very great obstacle to the success of the gospel in other places. But he was not authorized of God to concede so much as they had asked. This concession was not in harmony with his teachings, nor with the firm integrity of his character. His advisers were not infallible. Though some of these men wrote under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, yet when not under its direct influence they sometimes erred. It will be remembered that on one occasion Paul withstood Peter to the face because he was acting a double part.?{LP 213.2}[13]
§29
每当我们想到保罗多么愿意和弟兄和谐，又如何温柔地对待信心软弱的人，并尊重那些曾经亲自跟过基督的使徒和“主的弟兄雅各”，又想到保罗如何宁愿在不牺牲真理的大原则下“向什么样的人，就作什么样的人”——当我们想到这一切时，也就不会希奇保罗为什么听人的劝告而偏离了他过去所一向遵循的正直果断的方针。结果这次他妥协的做法非但没有达到预期的目的，反而促使危机提前来到，使圣灵所预言他要受的苦更快临身，并使他与弟兄们分离，以致教会失去了一根最坚固的柱石，同时使各地信徒因而伤痛万分。{LP 214.1}[14]
§30
When we consider Paul’s great desire to be in harmony with his brethren, his tenderness of spirit toward the weak in faith, his reverence for the apostles who had been with Christ, and for James, the brother of the Lord, and his purpose to become all things to all men as far as he could do this and not sacrifice principle,—when we consider all this, it is less surprising that he was constrained to deviate from his firm, decided course of action. But instead of accomplishing the desired object, these efforts for conciliation only precipitated the crisis, hastened the predicted sufferings of Paul, separated him from his brethren in his labors, deprived the church of one of its strongest pillars, and brought sorrow to Christian hearts in every land.?{LP 214.1}[14]