Experiencing Power: Stories from the Early Church

The Gospel Is for All

“福音是給予全人類” 11/02/2019

經文Scriptures：使徒行傳 Acts 10:9-21, 30-35

Worldwide Outreach Teaching School 賴美滿校長

https://www.WorldwideOTS.org

前言PREFACE: 今天的故事，兩個不同特性的人，分享相似長期間的承擔假定，關於上帝的工作，救贖像是什麼，以及誰能成為上帝的子民。但他們的假定都被挑戰！今天的課程有關彼得服理的難關。彼得是個奉行守法的猶太人，他總是信實的跟隨他百性的日常習俗。彼得也很小心的遵守不可進入非猶太教人的家裏。讓我們讀使徒行傳第十章有關彼得的常期服事之難關。

For today’s story, the two different characters shared similar longstanding assumptions about how God worked, what salvation looked like, and who could be included within the people of God. But their assumptions were challenged! Today’s session deals with a crisis of convictions for the apostle Peter. As an observant Jew, Peter faithfully followed the dietary customs of his people. He was also careful to follow the prohibition against entering the homes of Gentiles (non-Jews). Let’s explore a challenge to Peter’s long-held convictions in Acts 10.

上週Last Week：上週我們看到生命徹底的改變發生在信主的生命中。

We saw the radical transformation that takes place in the life of the believer.

這週This Week：我們將看到一個事實就是福音是為大眾的。

We will examine the truth that the gospel is intended to reach all people.

1. 來自天上的意象 : 讀使徒行傳10:9-16 1. A Vision from Heaven: Read Acts 10:9-16

9第二天、他們行路將近那城、彼得

約在午正、上房頂去禱告．10覺得餓了、想要喫．那家的人正豫備飯的時候、彼得魂遊象外．11 看見天開了、有一物降下、好像一塊大布．繫著四角、縋在地上．12裡面有地上各樣四足的走獸、和昆蟲、並天上的飛鳥。13 又有聲音向他說、彼得、起來、宰了喫。14 彼得卻說、主阿、這是不可的、凡俗物、和不潔淨的物、我從來沒有喫過。15 第二次有聲音向他說、　神所潔淨的、你不可當作俗物。16這樣一連三次、那物隨即收回天上去了。

解經: 使徒行傳10:9-16

這解釋為什麼彼得漸餓和看到的意象有關食物。從天上來個大布，它有四方角，裡面有地上各樣四足的走獸、和昆蟲、並天上的飛鳥 (請看創世記

1:24; 利未記11:46; 羅馬 1:23). 上帝來自天上的聲音指導彼得去作三件事。一，他要“起身.” 二，他是“被殺,” 意思是宗教上的獻祭。三， “吃” 或宰了喫。

彼得想他是比上帝清楚，最初彼得不想服從上帝的指示。

9. About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13 Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."`14 "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."15 The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."16

This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

Commentary: Acts 10:9-16, This explains why Peter became hungry and associated the following vision with a meal. Out of heaven came something resembling a large sheet, let down by its four corners. The list of what the sheet contained parallels lists of creatures representing all the earth’s animals (e.g., Genesis 1:24; Leviticus 11:46; Romans 1:23). God (“a voice” from heaven) instructed Peter to do three things. First, he needed to “get up.” Second, he was to “kill,” a reference to religious sacrifices. Third, the hungry Peter was invited to “eat” or dine on the animals that he first needed to butcher.

Peter thought he knew more than God. Peter’s initial refusal to follow God’s direction.

1. 口2. 彼得的異象召喚: 使徒行傳10:17-21

17彼得心裡正在猜疑之間、不知所看見的異象是甚麼意思、哥尼流所差來的人、已經訪問到西門的家、站在門外、18 喊著問、有稱呼彼得的西門住在這裡沒有。

19 彼得還思想那異象的時候、聖靈向他說、有三個人來找你．

20 起來、下去、和他們同往、不要疑惑．因為是我差他們來的。21 於是彼得下去見那些人、說、我就是你們所找的人．你們來是為甚麼緣故。

解經: 使徒行傳10:17-21,

聖靈立刻使彼得感受到，上帝的靈指導彼得不可猶豫或停頓的去接受這意象的意思。

3. 非猶太人哥尼流與神的輔導:

使徒行傳10:30-33

30哥尼流說、前四天這個時候、我在家中守著申初的禱告、忽然有一個人、穿著光明的衣裳、站在我面前

31說、哥尼流、你的禱告、已蒙垂聽、你的賙濟、達到　神面前已蒙記念了。32 你當打發人往約帕去、請那稱呼彼得的西門來、他住在海邊一個硝皮匠西門的家裡。33 所以我立時打發人去請你、你來了很好．現今我們都在　神面前、要聽主所吩咐你的一切話。

解經: 使徒行傳10:30-33,

上帝為傳送彼得消息，給哥尼流很清楚的指示。

4. 神的恩典伸延給全人類: 10:34-35

34彼得就開口說、我真看出　

神是不偏待人．35原來各國中、

那敬畏主行義的人、

都為主所悅納。

2. 4.

3. 解經: 使徒行傳10:34-35,

在這裏我們察覺上帝良好的救贖

擴展到凡是敬拜上帝的猶太人與非

猶太人身上。

誰是您的 “非猶太人”那些您曾反對或已經放棄的人，上帝可能呼

召您去愛和接受他們呢？

5. 結論:

1) 來自天上的意象 : 使徒行傳10:9 -16

正在禱告中，而且肚子很餓 (vv.9-

12)。彼得認清聲音是來自上帝 (vv.13-

16)。上帝重覆三次命令彼得起身，

殺那些動物，吃吧！彼得的

本性對律法是很忠實的。

2) 彼得的異象召喚:: 使徒行傳10:17- 21,

彼得已經亂掉了，並不明白他看到的意象。甚至於他也不明白他們為何來，彼得就是順從的下去見他們。他的回應是勇敢和信實。

3) 非猶太人哥尼流與神的輔導:

使徒行傳10:30-33,

彼得看到不潔淨之動物後，哥尼流

的人才到。哥尼流是位敬畏神的

人，他採用許多猶太人的習慣，例

如下午在三點鐘的禱告。哥尼流就

如彼得，總是服從神的指引。哥尼

流是彼得要傳福音給非猶太人的好

人選。

4) 神的恩典伸延給全人類:

使徒10:34 -35,

彼得的意象和講道，特別是福音

是為那些與亞伯拉罕無關的人;

所以，神的恩典延展到全人類。

(參考 : Richard P. Thompson

他是北西拿撒勒大學神學部門

系主任和教授，也是新約指導聖經

使徒行傳解經之作者人物。

世界福音外展學校

是非營利機構

國稅局退稅號碼是: 20-4097640

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2. Peter’s Mysterious Summons:10:17-21

17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. 19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." 21 Peter went down and said to the men, "I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?"

Commentary: Acts 10:17-21, It took the Spirit’s prompting to inform Peter. The Spirit instructed Peter not to hesitate to accept the vision’s message.

3. Gentile Cornelius and Divine

Guidance Read Acts 10:30-33,

30 Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.' 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."

Commentary: Acts 10:30-33,

God gave Cornelius specific instructions for summoning the apostle Peter.

4. God’s Grace Extends to All: Acts 10:34-35

34 Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.

Commentary: Acts 10:34-35,

It is the recognition that God’s favorable response extended both to Jews and Gentiles who worshiped God.

Who are your “Gentiles” that you have written off or resisted ... whom God may be calling you to love and accept?

5. Conclusion:

1) A Vision from Heaven: Acts 10:9-16,

Peter was praying, and he was hungry.

(vv.9-12) He recognized the voice as the

Lord’s (vv.13-16). Three times the Lord

repeated His command to Peter, Get

up, kill those animals and eat.”

Peter have naturally expected for his

faithfulness to the law.

2) Peter’s Mysterious Summons: 10:17

- 21, Peter was confused and did not

understand the vision. Even though he

did not know why they came, Peter

obeyed and went down to see the men.

Peter’s response show both courage

and faith.

3) Gentile Cornelius and Divine

Guidance: Acts 10: 30-33, Cornelius’

men arrived right after Peter saw

his vision of the unclean animals.

Cornelius was a God-fearer, a

Gentile who adopted many Jewish

practices, such as praying at 3:00.

Cornelius, like Peter, was obeying

instructions from the Lord.

Cornelius was a good choice for

Peter’s ministry to Gentiles

4) God’s Grace Extends to All: Peter’s vision and sermon especially good news for those who are unrelated to Abraham; therefor God’s grace extends to all.

Excerpts from Richard P. Thompson. He is professor of New Testament and chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Northwest Nazarene University. He is also author of the Acts commentary for the New Beacon Bible Commentary.

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