第28章 恢复自由
§1
第28章 恢复自由
§2
Chapter 28—Paul at Liberty
§3
当保罗在罗马的工作蒙上帝赐福，以致许多人悔改而众信徒大得勉励的同时，在他上面却有乌云密布，威胁着他个人的安全和教会的兴盛。在保罗到达罗马的时候，他就被交给御营的统领。这个人正直公道。保罗因他的宽待得以比较自由地进行传福音的工作。但在他坐牢未满二年之时，这个军官被替换了。保罗不可能指望从这个情欲和残暴的奴隶手中得特别的优待了。{LP 301.1}[1]
§4
While Paul’s labors were blessed to the conversion of many souls and the strengthening and encouragement of the believers, clouds were gathering that threatened his own safety as well as the prosperity of the church. When, on his arrival at Rome, he was placed in charge of the captain of the imperial guards, the office was filled by a man of justice and integrity, by whose clemency he was left comparatively free to pursue the work of the gospel. But before the close of the two years’ imprisonment, this man was replaced by an official whose vice and tyranny rendered his name infamous. The apostle could expect no favor from this slave of lust and cruelty.?{LP 301.1}[1]
§5
犹太人这时空前地活跃，设法杀害保罗。尼禄皇帝所娶为第二个妻子的荒淫妇人给他们很大的帮助。这个妇人是信奉犹太教的，所以尽力协助他们实现陷害这个基督教捍卫者的阴谋毒计。{LP 301.2}[2]
§6
The Jews were now more active than ever before in their efforts against Paul. They had found an able helper in the profligate woman whom Nero had made his second wife, and who, being a Jewish proselyte, would lend all her influence to second their murderous designs against the Christian champion.?{LP 301.2}[2]
§7
保罗不可能希望在他所上诉的凯撒手中得到公正的待遇。尼禄比过去的任何一个皇帝更加卑鄙无耻，轻薄荒唐，同时又比他们更为残酷无理。国家的大权实在不可能交给一个比他更暴虐的人了。他在位一年，就把自己的异母兄弟毒死了，因为这兄弟是皇位的合法继承人。从此尼禄无恶不作，罪恶滔天，竟杀了自己的母亲，后来又杀了自己的妻子。没有一样残暴的行为是他所不敢犯，没有什么卑鄙的事情是他所不忍做的。在每一个高尚的人心里，他的名字只引起憎厌和鄙视。{LP 301.3}[3]
§8
Paul had little reason to hope for justice from the Caesar to whom he had appealed. Nero was more debased in morals, more frivolous in character, and at the same time capable of more atrocious cruelty, than any ruler who had preceded him. The reins of government could not have been intrusted to a more inhuman despot. The first year of his reign had been marked by the poisoning of his young step-brother, who was the rightful heir to the throne. He had steadily?descended from one depth of vice and crime to another, until he had murdered his own mother, and then his wife. There was no atrocity which he would not perpetrate, no vile act to which he would not stoop. In every noble mind he inspired abhorrence and contempt.?{LP 301.3}[3]
§9
尼禄的皇宫里所进行的罪恶极其卑劣可怕，实在不堪形容。他那种穷凶极恶的行为使众人都厌恶不已，连那些不敢不与他同流合污的仆从也有不少人生出这种反感。他们天天提心吊胆，不知他还要提出什么可怕的计划。尼禄虽然败坏到这种程度，但还不足以动摇他百姓对于他的忠诚，人人依然承认他为统治欧西世界的独裁者。非但如此，他们还把神的尊荣加在他身上，竟然敬拜他为一个神明。{LP 302.1}[4]
§10
The details of iniquity practiced in the court of this prodigy of vice are too degrading, too horrible, for description. His abandoned wickedness created disgust and loathing, even in many who were forced to share his crimes. They were in constant fear as to what enormities he would suggest next. Yet even such crimes as Nero’s did not shake the allegiance of his subjects. He was acknowledged as the absolute ruler of the whole civilized world. And more than this, he was made the recipient of divine honors, and worshiped as a god.?{LP 302.1}[4]
§11
在人看来，保罗在这样的一个审判者面前被判罪，是肯定的。但保罗认为，只要他一直效忠上帝，就没有什么可以惧怕的事。他的生命不掌握在尼禄手里。如果他的工作还没有完成，罗马皇帝就无法杀害他。那过去时常保护他的主，这时仍然能拯救他脱离犹太人的仇恨和凯撒的权势。{LP 302.2}[5]
§12
From the stand-point of human judgment, Paul’s condemnation before such a judge was certain. But the apostle felt that he had nothing to fear, so long as he preserved his loyalty and his love to God. His life was not in the hands of Nero, and if his work was not yet done, the Roman emperor would be powerless to destroy him. He who had hitherto been his protector could shield him still from the malice of the Jews, and from the power of Caesar.?{LP 302.2}[5]
§13
结果上帝真的捍卫了祂的仆人。在保罗受审的时候，犹太人告他的罪状没有充足的凭据，于是出乎众人意料之外，尼禄做了一件与他一贯的作风完全相反的事。他竟主持了一次正义，宣布保罗无罪。保罗就此被释放，再作一个自由的人了。{LP 302.3}[6]
§14
And God did shield his servant. At Paul’s examination the charges against him were not sustained, and, contrary to the general expectation,—with a regard for justice wholly at variance with his character,—Nero declared the prisoner guiltless. Paul’s fetters were struck off, and he was again a free man.?{LP 302.3}[6]
§15
倘若审问保罗的事再拖延一个时期，或者保罗因任何原因下一年还留在罗马的话，他就一定要在该年所发生逼迫基督教的风暴中丧命了。因为在保罗被囚期间，信奉基督教的人数激增，引起了当局的注意，并惹起了他们的忌恨。皇帝也因自己家里的人信奉基督教而特别震怒。他仍然好杀成性，所以不久他找到借口在基督徒身上进行无情的残害。约在此时，罗马城起了一次大火，城内房屋几乎焚烧了一半。尼禄皇帝亲自下令纵火。他为了避免嫌疑起见，就假装宽大为怀，慷慨地周济那些无家可归的穷苦难民。虽然如此，众人依然把这罪名放在他身上。当时民间的公愤非常激烈，尼禄为要推脱责任，而同时又从城中除去他所惧怕所恨恶的一等人，就把纵火的罪名加在基督徒身上。{LP 302.4}[7]
§16
Had his trial been longer deferred, or had he?from any cause been detained in Rome during the following year, he would have perished in the dreadful persecution which then took place. The converts to Christianity had become so numerous during Paul’s imprisonment as to attract the attention and arouse the enmity of the authorities. The ire of the emperor was especially excited by the conversion of members of his own household; he still thirsted for blood, and soon found a pretext to make the Christians the objects of his merciless cruelty. A terrible fire about this time occurred in Rome, by which nearly one-half the city was consumed. Nero himself caused the flames to be kindled, and then, to avert suspicion, he made a pretense of great generosity in assisting the homeless and destitute. He was, however, accused of the crime. The people were excited and enraged, and Nero determined to clear himself, and also to rid the city of a class whom he feared and hated, by charging the act upon the Christians.?{LP 302.4}[7]
§17
撒但的毒计成功了，结果成千的基督徒，不分男女老少，都被残酷地害死了。有些人被钉十字架；有些人被披上野兽的皮，被恶犬撕咬；还有一些人穿上易燃材料做的衣服，在夜里点燃照亮梵蒂冈的广场和尼禄的乐园。这个披着人形的恶魔就是这样通过展示他的牺牲品临死的惨痛来取悦公众。他自己则站在一边，因他们的痛苦而欢欣不已。罗马人虽然堕落残忍，对于基督徒的偏见虽然很深，但这些恐怖揪心的场面一再地重现，连他们也产生了同情之心。{LP 303.1}[8]
§18
The Satanic device succeeded. Thousands of the followers of Christ—men, women, and children—were put to death in the most cruel manner. Some were crucified, some covered with the skins of wild beasts, and torn in pieces by dogs, others were clothed in garments of inflammable material, and set on fire at night to illuminate the circus of the Vatican and the pleasure gardens of Nero. Thus this monster in human form amused the public by exhibiting his victims in their dying agonies, while he himself stood by, taking the keenest delight in their misery. Degraded and hardened as were the Romans, and bitter as was their prejudice against the Christians, the constant repetition of these horrible,?heart-sickening scenes excited even their compassion.?{LP 303.1}[8]
§19
保罗幸而没有遭到这一次的逼迫。因为他被释放之后不久，就离开了罗马。他殷勤地利用了这一段最后的自由时期在各教会中努力作工。他设法在希腊和近东地带的教会之间结成更坚固的联合，并帮助信徒防备那正在潜入教会败坏他们信仰的假道理。保罗所忍受的考验和焦虑已经大大减弱了他的体力。同时他年老力衰，所以感觉自己的工作快要结束了。{LP 304.1}[9]
§20
From this terrible ordeal, Paul was spared, having left Rome soon after his release. This last precious interval of freedom was earnestly improved in laboring among the churches. He sought to establish a firmer union between the Greek and Eastern churches which he had raised up, and to guard them against the subtle heresies that were creeping in to corrupt the faith. The trials and anxieties which he had endured, had preyed upon his physical and mental energies. The infirmities of age were upon him. He felt that his work was nearly accomplished.?{LP 304.1}[9]
§21
他曾在耶路撒冷和安提阿捍卫基督教，反对犹太教的狭隘束缚。他曾传福音给吕高尼的异教徒，加拉太的狂热派，马其顿的移民，崇拜艺术的轻薄的雅典人，贪爱音乐的哥林多商人，半开化的挞马太各族，克里特的岛国居民，并在罗马众多的人中传福音给奴隶，士兵以及有身份有地位的人。他现在正在做他最后的工作。{LP 304.2}[10]
§22
At Jerusalem and at Antioch he had defended Christianity against the narrow restrictions of Judaism. He had preached the gospel to the pagans of Lycaonia, to the fanatics of Galatia, to the colonists of Macedonia, to the frivolous art-worshipers of Athens, to the pleasure-loving merchants of Corinth, to the half-barbarous nations of Dalmatia, to the islanders of Crete, and to slaves, soldiers, and men of rank and station, in the multitudes at Rome. Now he was doing his last work.?{LP 304.2}[10]