第29章 最后被捕
§1
第29章 最后被捕
§2
Chapter 29—The Final Arrest
§3
虽然保罗的工作范围主要是在众教会中间，他仍不能逃过敌人的注意。自从尼禄皇帝开始逼迫基督教以来，各地的基督徒都成了仇恨和怀疑的对象。任何坏心肠的人都可以轻而易举地使这个失去法律保护的教派成员被捕和囚禁。犹太人设计把煽动焚烧罗马城的罪名加在保罗身上。他们中间显然没有一个人真相信他犯了这罪，但他们知道这样的一个罪名，只要有一点似乎可信的凭据，就足以决定他的厄运。不久，他们有了一个机会可以实施他们的计划，在特罗亚城的门徒家里，保罗再次被捕，匆匆地被解去，下在监里。{LP 304.3}[1]
§4
Though Paul’s labors were chiefly among the churches, he could not escape the observation of his enemies. Since Nero’s persecution, Christians were everywhere the objects of hatred and suspicion. Any evil-disposed person could easily secure the arrest and imprisonment of one of the?proscribed sect. And now the Jews conceived the idea of seeking to fasten upon Paul the crime of instigating the burning of Rome. Not one of them for a moment believed him guilty; but they knew that such a charge, made with the faintest show of plausibility, would seal his doom. An opportunity soon offered to execute their plans. At the house of a disciple in the city of Troas, Paul was again seized, and from this place he was hurried away to his final imprisonment.?{LP 304.3}[1]
§5
铜匠亚力山大的努力促成了保罗的被捕。在以弗所他反对使徒的工作没有取得成功，现在他乘机对他所无法击败的人实施报复。保罗后来在给提摩太的第二封书信中提到了这个信仰之敌人的行径：“铜匠亚力山大多多的害我，主必照他所行的报应他”（提后４：14）。在《提摩太前书》中，他以类似的口气讲到许米乃和亚为山大“在真道上如同船破坏了一般”，“我已经把他们交给撒但，使他们受责罚，就不再谤渎了”(提前1：19，20)。这些人离开了福音的信仰，把保罗所得的奇妙启示归诸于撒但的能力，从而侮辱了恩惠的灵。他们既拒绝了真理，就对真理充满仇恨，想方设法要消灭忠心的真理捍卫者。{LP 305.1}[2]
§6
The arrest was affected by the efforts of Alexander the coppersmith, who had so unsuccessfully opposed the apostle’s work at Ephesus, and who now seized the opportunity to be revenged on one whom he could not defeat. Paul in his second Epistle to Timothy afterward referred to the machinations of this enemy of the faith: “Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil. The Lord reward him according to his works.” In his first epistle he spoke in a similar manner of Hymeneus and Alexander as among those who “concerning faith have made shipwreck;” “whom,” he says, “I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.” These men had departed from the faith of the gospel, and furthermore had done despite to the Spirit of grace by attributing to the power of Satan the wonderful revelations made to Paul. Having rejected the truth, they were filled with hatred against it, and sought to destroy its faithful advocate.?{LP 305.1}[2]
§7
改革工作总是伴随着损失，牺牲和危险。因为它对于贪图安逸的心，自私的念头和放纵情欲的欲望是一种经常的谴责。所以，谁如果发起或从事这样的工作，就一定会遭到那些不愿意服从改革条件之人的反对，中伤和憎恨。要克服罪恶的习惯和行为是不容易的。只有靠着上帝恩典的帮助才能实现。可是许多人不肯寻求这样的帮助，他们宁可降低标准以迎合他们的缺欠，也不肯提高自己以符合上帝的标准。这就是保罗所严厉处置的那些人的罪恶行径。他们正在危害信徒的纯洁性，所以有必要采取坚决果断的措施处理罪恶，将之从教会清除出来。保罗曾严正指责他们的罪行——放荡的罪在当时十分流行，可是他们不肯改正。保罗是按照基督处理这些案子的指示办事的，但犯罪的人没有悔改的表示，所以保罗把他们逐出教会。他们曾公开背叛信仰，与信仰最恶毒的敌人联合。他们拒绝保罗的话，参予阻碍保罗的工作就是与基督为敌。保罗向他们宣布严肃的斥责不是感情用事而是出于圣灵的启示。{LP 305.2}[3]
§8
Reformatory action is always attended with loss, sacrifice, and peril. It always rebukes love of ease, selfish interests, and lustful ambition. Hence, whoever initiates or prosecutes such action must encounter opposition, calumny, and?hatred from those who are unwilling to submit to the conditions of reform. It is no easy matter to overcome sinful habits and practices. The work can be accomplished only with the help of divine grace; but many neglect to seek such help, and endeavor to bring down the standard to meet their deficiencies, instead of bringing themselves up to meet the standard of God. Such was the effort of these men who were so severely dealt with for their sins. They were endangering the purity of the believers, and it was necessary that a firm, decided course be pursued to meet the wrong and hurl it from the church. Paul had faithfully reproved their sin,—the vice of licentiousness so prevalent in that age,—but they had refused to be corrected. He had proceeded according to the instructions of Christ regarding such cases, but the offenders had given no token of repentance, and he had therefore excommunicated them. They had then openly apostatized from the faith, and united with its most bitter opponents. When they rejected the words of Paul, and set themselves to hinder his labors, they were warring against Christ; and it was by the inspiration of the Spirit of God, and not as an expression of personal feeling, that Paul pronounced against them that solemn denunciation.?{LP 305.2}[3]
§9
保罗在第二次往罗马去的行程中有他以前的几个伴侣与他同行。有其他的人热切地希望与他患难与共，但他不肯让他们这样冒性命的危险。他当前的形势比他上一次被监禁的时候远为不利。尼禄的迫害已大大减少了罗马城基督徒的人数。已有成千的人为道殉身，另有许多人已经离开这城。那些留下的人则大受压迫和威胁。保罗第一次到罗马时，罗马的犹太人愿意听他的论辩。但由于来自耶路撒冷的使者的影响，和对于基督徒之指控的先入之见，使这些犹太人成了保罗刻毒的敌人。{LP 306.1}[4]
§10
On his second voyage to Rome, Paul was accompanied by several of his former companions; others earnestly desired to share his lot, but he refused to permit them thus to imperil their lives. The prospect before him was far less favorable than at the time of his former imprisonment. The persecution under Nero had greatly lessened the number of Christians in Rome.?Thousands had been martyred for their faith, many had left the city, and those who remained were greatly depressed and intimidated. At Paul’s first arrival, the Jews of Rome had been willing to listen to his arguments; but through the influence of emissaries from Jerusalem, and also because of the received charges against the Christians, they had become his bitter enemies.?{LP 306.1}[4]
§11
这一次没有热心的门徒到亚比乌市和三馆地方迎接保罗，使他感谢上帝，放心壮胆。这次没有一个像谦恭仁慈的犹流这样的人为他说一句有利的话，没有非斯都或亚基帕出来证实他的无辜。罗马城和其中的居民都发生了变化，一场可怕的大火使罗马城满地疮痍，一片熏黑。成千上万的居民，处于极端贫困之中。这种变化似乎跟保罗自身的处境和前景连带在一起。保罗和他的基督徒同道走过罗马的街道。许多人拥挤在街旁，把他们看成是这场大灾的制造者。保罗这次不能住在租来的房子里，而是日夜戴着镣铐，被关在阴暗的囚室，一直留到他跑尽了“当跑的路”。 {LP 307.1}[5]
§12
No warm-hearted disciples now met Paul and his companions at Appii Forum and Three Taverns as before, when he was constrained to thank God and take courage. There was now no one like the courteous and kindly Julius, to say a word in his favor, no statement from Festus or Agrippa to attest his innocence. The change which had taken place in the city and its inhabitants—the city still scarred and blackened from the terrible conflagration, and the people, by tens of thousands, reduced to the most squalid poverty—seemed to harmonize with the change in his own condition and prospects. Through the surging crowds that still thronged the streets of Rome, and that looked upon him and his fellow-Christians as the authors of all their misery, Paul passed, not now to his own hired house, but to a gloomy dungeon, there to remain, chained night and day, until he should finish his course.?{LP 307.1}[5]
§13
现在去访问保罗，不像在第一次被囚，是去访问一个没有一项指控站得住脚，君王和臣宰都对他抱有好感的人，而是去访问一个成了公众仇恨对象的人。他被控对京城和国家犯了一件最卑鄙最可怕的罪。谁敢对他抱有丝毫的同情，就会成为被怀疑的对象，有生命危险。罗马满城都有密探，一有最小的理由就可以对任何人进行指控。除了基督徒以外，没有一个人会去访问一个基督徒，因为没有人愿意因基督教而遭人忌恨。这种信仰即使是有知识的人也认为不仅可鄙，而且是对国家的背叛。{LP 307.2}[6]
§14
To visit Paul now was not, as during his first imprisonment, to visit a man against whom no charge had been sustained, and who had won favorable opinions from princes and rulers. It was to visit one who was the object of universal hatred, who was accused of instigating the basest and most terrible crime against the city and the nation. Whoever ventured to show him?the slightest attention, thereby made himself the object of suspicion, and endangered his own life. Rome was now filled with spies, who stood ready to bring an accusation against any one on the slightest occasion. None but a Christian would visit a Christian; for no other would incur the odium of a faith which even intelligent men regarded as not merely contemptible, but treasonable.?{LP 307.2}[6]
§15
保罗看见他的朋友一个一个地离开了他。腓吉路和黑摩其尼是最先离去的，后来是底马因困难和危险的乌云越来越密而遗弃了这个受迫害的使徒，去寻求世俗生活的安逸和保障。保罗又打发革勒士往加拉太众教会去，提多往挞马太去，推基古往以弗所去。亲爱的医生和忠心的朋友路加仍然留在保罗身边，这对他乃是很大的安慰。保罗既因年老，辛劳和患病而身体衰弱，又被禁困在罗马人潮湿黑暗的牢狱中，他从来没有比这时更需要弟兄们的陪伴和侍候了。他没有秘书帮助，所以路加的服务就有很大的价值，使他能与外面的弟兄和世界交通。{LP 308.1}[7]
§16
One by one, Paul saw his friends leaving him. The first to depart were Phygellus and Hermogenes. Then Demas, dismayed at the thickening clouds of difficulty and danger, forsook the persecuted apostle to seek for ease and security in a worldly life. Crescens was sent on a mission to the churches of Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia, Tychicus to Ephesus. Luke, the beloved physician and faithful friend, was still with him. This was a great comfort to Paul, who had never needed the companionship and ministration of his brethren more than now, enfeebled as he was by age, toil, and infirmities, and confined in the damp, dark vaults of a Roman prison. And, as he was dependent upon the aid of an amanuensis, the services of Luke were of great value, enabling him still to communicate with his brethren and the world without.?{LP 308.1}[7]
§17
保罗到达罗马以后不久，以弗所的基督徒阿尼色弗就来访问他，给他带来意外的鼓舞。阿尼色弗知道保罗关在城里某处，就决心去找他。在关着这么多囚犯的城里去寻找保罗可不是一件易事。到处都有怀疑的情绪。不幸的人很有可能因受怀疑而被捕，也许还会被处死。但尽管困难重重，阿色尼弗还是寻找保罗直到寻见。一次访问还不够，他屡次地去探监，尽一切力量来减轻保罗捆锁中的痛苦。这位真诚的以弗所人根本不惧怕嘲笑，责骂或迫害。他知道他亲爱的老师为真理的缘故在捆锁之中，而他自己在各方面都比不上老师，却是自由的。{LP 308.2}[8]
§18
An unexpected encouragement was granted the apostle at this time, by the visit of Onesiphorus, an Ephesian Christian who came to Rome not long after Paul’s arrival. He knew that Paul was somewhere in that city as a prisoner, and he determined to find him. This was no easy matter in a city crowded with prisoners, where suspicion was everywhere, and had only to fasten upon an unfortunate victim to consign?him to prison and perhaps to death. But notwithstanding the difficulties, Onesiphorus searched for Paul until he found him. Not satisfied with one visit, he went again and again to his dungeon, and did all in his power to lighten the burden of his imprisonment. The fear of scorn, reproach, or persecution, was powerless to terrify this true-hearted Ephesian, when he knew that his beloved teacher was in bonds for the truth’s sake, while he himself, in every respect far less worthy, walked free.?{LP 308.2}[8]
§19
阿尼色弗的来访，证明他在保罗孤独和被弃的时候对他所表现的爱的忠诚，给被囚中的保罗带来了光明。保罗在他所写最后的一封书信中论到这个忠心的门使说：“愿主怜悯阿尼色弗一家的人；因他屡次使我畅快，不以我的锁链为耻，反倒在罗马的时候，殷勤地找我，并且找着了。愿主使他在那日得主的怜悯”(提后1:16-18)。{LP 309.1}[9]
§20
The visit of Onesiphorus, testifying to his loving fidelity at a time of loneliness and desertion, was a bright spot in Paul’s prison experience. In the last letter ever written by him, he thus speaks of this faithful disciple: “The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain. But when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day.”?{LP 309.1}[9]
§21
追求爱心和同情的愿望乃是上帝亲自培植在人心中的。基督在客西马尼园受惨痛的时辰，祂也渴望得到祂门徒的同情。保罗表面上虽然不以艰难痛苦为念，但他仍切望人的同情和友谊。上帝希望祂的子民彼此相爱，互表同情。高尚而表现上帝那样性格的人是值得尊重的。上帝的儿女应当对待所有的人，特别是自己的同道弟兄仁慈同情和谦恭有礼。然而保罗与他的同道所联系的纽带要比基督徒弟兄之爱更为坚固。上帝曾以特殊方式向保罗启示自己，使他成为许多人得救的工具，许多教会实际上可以把他看作是他们在福音上的父亲。这样的人为了上帝的事业而牺牲了一切地上的利益，是特别有权利得到同工和信徒的爱心和同情的。{LP 309.2}[10]
§22
The desire for love and sympathy was implanted in the heart by God himself. Christ in his hour of agony in Gethsemane, while bearing the guilt of sinful men, longed for the sympathy of his disciples. And Paul, though almost indifferent to hardship and suffering, yearned for sympathy and companionship. God would have his people cherish love and sympathy for one another. Humanity, elevated, ennobled, and rendered Godlike, is worthy of respect and esteem. The sons and daughters of God will be tender-hearted, pitiful, courteous, to all men, “especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” But Paul was bound to his fellow-disciples by a?stronger tie than even that of Christian brotherhood. The Lord had revealed himself to Paul in a special manner, and had made him instrumental in the salvation of many souls. Many churches might in truth regard him as their father in the gospel. Such a man, who had sacrificed every earthly consideration in the service of God, had a special claim upon the love and sympathy of his converts and fellow-laborers.?{LP 309.2}[10]