保罗泪勉以弗所的长老们 — 使徒行传读经随笔 第20章

使徒行传第二十章，保罗为了尽可能在五旬节抵达耶路撒冷，在他经过达米利都的时候打算越过以弗所，但是保罗不能错过劝勉以弗所教会的机会，于是他就派人去把以弗所的长老们请了来。长老们到了后，保罗对他们回顾了自己过去三年在亚细亚是如何为人，如何服事主，又是如何遭受犹太人的迫害。保罗说他在亚细亚传道凡是对众人有益的都大胆讲了出来，从来没有因犹太人的迫害而退缩过，对犹太人和希利尼人证明了当向神悔改和信靠我主耶稣基督。保罗说他这趟耶路撒冷之行，圣灵告诉他等待他的是捆锁与患难，但是他不以性命为念，只要成就从主耶稣所领受的职事和证明神恩惠的福音。保罗勉励长老们当为自己谨慎，也要谨慎去牧养神用自己的血所买来的圣徒。保罗警告长老们，他走后必有凶暴的豺狼出现在教会，他们不爱惜羊群；就是在座的长老们中间，也必有人起来用悖谬的话引诱门徒。保罗警告长老们儆醒，要记住三年来他昼夜用泪水劝戒各位的话，现在把在座的各位交托神和他恩惠的道。保罗说他三年来未曾贪图一个人的金银或衣服，凡事给大家作了榜样，叫大家知道应当如何劳苦扶助软弱的人，又当记住耶稣曾亲自说“施比受更为有福”。众人听了保罗的话后痛哭，抱着保罗的颈项和他亲嘴，叫众人最伤心的就是保罗说以后不会再见到他的面了。然后他们恋恋不舍地送保罗上了船。

 

徒20:16 乃因保罗早已定意越过以弗所、免得在亚西亚耽延．他急忙前走、巴不得赶五旬节能到耶路撒冷。

For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

徒20:17 保罗从米利都打发人往以弗所去、请教会的长老来。

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to himself the elders of the assembly.

徒20:18 他们来了、保罗就说、你们知道、自从我到亚西亚的日子以来、在你们中间始终为人如何、

When they had come to him, he said to them, "You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the time,

徒20:19 服事主凡事谦卑、眼中流泪、又因犹太人的谋害、经历试炼。

serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews;

徒20:20 你们也知道、凡与你们有益的、我没有一样避讳不说的．或在众人面前、或在各人家里、我都教导你们．

how I didn't shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly and from house to house,

徒20:21 又对犹太人、和希利尼人、证明当向　神悔改、信靠我主耶稣基督。

testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus.

徒20:22 现在我往耶路撒冷去、心甚迫切、〔原文作心被捆绑〕不知道在那里要遇见甚么事．

Now, behold, I go bound by the Spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there;

徒20:23 但知道圣灵在各城里向我指证、说、有捆锁与患难等待我。

except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions wait for me.

徒20:24 我却不以性命为念、也不看为宝贵、只要行完我的路程、成就我从主耶稣所领受的职事、证明　神恩惠的福音。

But these things don't count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God.

徒20:25 我素常在你们中间来往、传讲　神国的道、如今我晓得你们以后都不得再见我的面了。

"Now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I went about preaching the Kingdom of God, will see my face no more.

徒20:26 所以我今日向你们证明、你们中间无论何人死亡、罪不在我身上。〔原文作我于众人的血是洁净的〕

Therefore I testify to you this day that I am clean from the blood of all men,

徒20:27 因为　神的旨意、我并没有一样避讳不传给你们的。

for I didn't shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

徒20:28 圣灵立你们作全群的监督、你们就当为自己谨慎、也为全群谨慎、牧养　神的教会、就是他用自己血所买来的。〔或作救赎的〕

Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.

徒20:29 我知道我去之后、必有凶暴的豺狼、进入你们中间、不爱惜羊群。

For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

徒20:30 就是你们中间、也必有人起来、说悖谬的话、要引诱门徒跟从他们。

Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

徒20:31 所以你们应当儆醒、记念我三年之久、昼夜不住的流泪、劝戒你们各人。

Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn't cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears.

徒20:32 如今我把你们交托　神、和他恩惠的道．这道能建立你们、叫你们和一切成圣的人同得基业。

Now, brothers, I entrust you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

徒20:33 我未曾贪图一个人的金、银、衣服。

I coveted no one's silver, or gold, or clothing.

徒20:34 我这两只手、常供给我和同人的需用、这是你们自己知道的。

You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me.

徒20:35 我凡事给你们作榜样、叫你们知道、应当这样劳苦、扶助软弱的人、又当记念主耶稣的话、说、施比受更为有福。

In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

徒20:36 保罗说完了这话、就跪下同众人祷告。

When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.

徒20:37 众人痛哭、抱着保罗的颈项、和他亲嘴。

They all wept a lot, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him,

徒20:38 叫他们最伤心的、就是他说、以后不能再见我的面那句话．于是送他上船去了。

sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.