- In the last days, God
says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and
daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men
will dream dreams.
- Even on my
servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
The context of the
passage indicates that men, women, and servants—indeed, all types of
people—will receive extraordinary insight and guidance from God (visions and
dreams) and be granted the gift to prophesy. At a basic level, prophecy is
speaking forth a message from or on behalf of God; thus, preaching is a form
of prophetic utterance. In a general sense, all who know God,
make God known. More specifically, all who know God are also eligible to
prophesy, or preach, the gospel.
B. Partner in Ministry: Acts 18:18-23 From Corinth
to Ephesus, Paul was accompanied by a married couple, Priscilla and Aquila,
fellow tentmakers with whom Paul had stayed and worked while in Corinth (Acts 18:3).
Aquila, a Jew, and his wife Priscilla were
believers before meeting Paul. After being expelled from Rome
(18:2),
Acts 18:24-27, a Jew named Apollos, came
to Ephesus. Apollos
taught accurately about Jesus so far as his limited knowledge allowed. He
“knew only the baptism of John,” which may mean that he accepted Jesus as the
Messiah, as the Baptist had proclaimed. However, he seemed unaware of the
fulfillment of John’s prophesy that the Messiah would “baptize . . . with the
Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:15).
Priscilla and Aquila recognized Apollos’ spirit and
potential. Rather than correct him publicly, they invited him to their
home where they explained the gospel more accurately.
New Testament references to the couple more often name Priscilla before Aquila
(also Romans 16:3,
4; 2 Timothy 4:19).
Evidently Priscilla had greater prominence within the early
church. She almost certainly took the lead in teaching.
Apollos and the instruction bore immediate fruit. With the
blessing of the Ephesian believers, Apollos moved to Corinth
in Achaia where he continued Paul’s ministry among the Jews (Acts
18:4).
C. Fellow Laborers in
Ministry: Ro.16:1-7 Paul’s letter to Christians
in Rome preceded his visit.
However, he already knew a number of the believers. Only Priscilla and Aquila
are named elsewhere in Scripture. Interestingly, one-third of those
named in this chapter are women.
Phoebe was known as a servant (the Greek word used
here is often translated “deaconess”. Apparently she was a wealthy person who
helped support Paul’s ministry. Phoebe was highly regarded in the church; and
she may have delivered this letter from Chorinth to Rome. This provides evidence that women had
important roles in the early church. Cenchrea, the town where Phoebe lived,
was the eastern port of Corinth, six miles from the city center.
Priscilla and Aquila
had returned to Rome.
Paul regarded them as equals (co-workers) in the spread of the gospel.
Although the circumstances are unknown, this couple had laid their lives on
the line for Paul.
Point: In Scripture, women taught both men and
women, and are designated as deacons and apostles. Ministry roles should not
be restricted by gender, age, or social status—such roles are given by the
Holy Spirit.
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使徒2:17
“神說、在末後的日子、我要將我的靈澆灌凡有血氣的．你們的兒女要說豫言．你們的少年人要見異象．老年人要作異夢．
18. 在那些日子、我要將我的靈澆灌我的僕人和使女、他們就要說豫言” 。
上帝將引導所有的人，無論男、女、老、幼得異象、得先兆, 去認識主、並得信息去傳福音。
B. Partner in Ministry: 使徒18:18-23 從哥林多到以弗所,
保羅被百基拉、亞居拉夫婦陪伴, 他們本是製造帳棚為業．保羅因與他們同業、就和他他們同住作工。 (徒18:3).
百基拉、亞居拉夫婦是猶太人, 因為革老丟命猶太人都離開羅馬、新近帶著妻百基拉、從義大利來．保羅就投奔了他們(18:2) 。.
使徒18:24-27, 有一個猶太人、名叫亞波羅、來到以弗所。亞波羅最能講解聖經。將耶穌的事、詳細講論教訓人．只是他單曉得約翰的洗禮。亞波羅未知基督是約翰預言的彌賽亞能被聖靈和火的受洗。(路加3:15).百基拉、亞居拉夫婦發現就不公開指正亞波羅、而邀請亞波羅到他們的住處解釋更正確的福音。
新約提到百基拉、亞居拉夫婦 也在羅馬書十六章第三、四節；又在提摩太後書四章十九節。百基拉在早期的教會幾乎擔當教導亞波羅和教學作用立即成效果，祝福於以弗所教會的基督徒們。亞波羅搬到哥林多繼續與保羅在猶太人中傳講耶穌是基督的福音。(使徒18:4).
C. Fellow
Laborers in Ministry: 羅馬書16:1-7
保羅在探訪羅馬之前先給基督徒書信, 他 已認識許多的基督徒，只不過新約常提到百基拉、亞居拉夫婦。 有趣的事，此章在教會中就有三分之一的人是女姓。
非比切實是一位富有的生意人，以至供應保羅和其他人的事工。她是堅革哩教會的女執事，在教會中也廣受尊敬，也許這封信就是由她從哥林多帶回羅馬的；通過這一事例，可見婦女在早期教會的地位是十分重要的。
百基拉、亞居拉夫婦回到羅馬. 保羅尊敬他 (她)
們是傳福音的同工。雖然這一對夫婦在那兒並不著名, 但這一對夫婦是曾為保羅鋪路。
要點: 在經文中, 女人教導女和男, 並被稱為如執事的地位。 教會的牧師或執事的角色不應受性別、年齡、和社會地位的限制—如此角色是順從聖靈所帶領和供應的。
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在教會中的婦女 Women in the Church
