【双语灵修】在耶路撒冷作见证WITNESSES IN JERUSALEM

使徒行传 6:1-7

那时，门徒增多，有说希腊话的犹太人向希伯来人发怨言，因为在天天的供给上忽略了他们的寡妇。 十二使徒叫众门徒来，对他们说：“我们撇下神的道去管理饭食，原是不合宜的。 所以弟兄们，当从你们中间选出七个有好名声、被圣灵充满、智慧充足的人，我们就派他们管理这事。 但我们要专心以祈祷、传道为事。” 大众都喜悦这话，就拣选了司提反，乃是大有信心、圣灵充满的人；又拣选腓利、伯罗哥罗、尼迦挪、提门、巴米拿，并进犹太教的安提阿人尼哥拉。 叫他们站在使徒面前，使徒祷告了，就按手在他们头上。 神的道兴旺起来，在耶路撒冷门徒数目加增的甚多，也有许多祭司信从了这道。

9月17日

在耶路撒冷作见证

“神的道兴旺起来，在耶路撒冷门徒数目加增的甚多……” - 徒 6:7

我们曾在《使徒行传》中看到，耶稣应许跟从祂的人会得到圣灵赐的能力，在“耶路撒冷、犹太全地和撒玛利亚、直到地极”作祂的见证（《使徒行传》1:8）。在未来的几天，我们将会看到，耶稣的话怎样实实在在地在《使徒行传》这卷书中应验。

我们从耶路撒冷开始。初代教会的生活是充满挑战的，教会成为一个紧紧相连的社群，大家都凡物公用。神在施行神迹奇事，透过信徒的祷告医治疾病和改变生命，又兴起新的领袖。我们看到耶稣的使徒正在成长，他们见到社群需要他们的牧养，便按立执事来协助其他要完成的事工。教会的增长是如此快速，以致城里的宗教领袖们感受到威胁，结果是基督徒要面对更大的逼迫。

有力的祷告，强大的领导，彼此关顾的社群--这些要素都是神用来领人相信耶稣的。如果我们以耶路撒冷来代表我们身处的社群或地区，神怎样邀请我们按我们的背景去事奉，让耶稣的好消息在我们身处的地方发出响声呢？

祷告

耶稣啊，你差遣我们在身处的社群中为你作见证。求你引导我们，为我们的邻舍和为今天遇到的每一个人祷告，又帮助我们忠心地去见证你的慈爱。阿们。

Acts 6:1-7

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

WITNESSES IN JERUSALEM

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly. . . . —Acts 6:7

As we saw earlier in the book of Acts, Jesus promised his followers that the Holy Spirit would empower them to become his witnesses “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). For the next few days, we will see how Jesus’ words were literally fulfilled in the book of Acts itself.

We start with Jerusalem. This was an intense time in the life of the early church. The church had formed into a tightly knit community, sharing everything in common. God was doing wonderful miracles, working through the prayers of the believers to heal and restore people and to raise up new leaders. We see the maturity of Jesus’ apostles as they responded to the pastoral needs of the community and appointed deacons to assist with the work that needed to be done. The growth of the church was so significant that it threatened the religious leaders of the city, leading to an increase in the persecution of Christians.

Strong prayer. Strong leadership. A caring community. All of these factors are used by God to bring people to faith in Jesus. If we think of Jerusalem as representing the community or the neighborhood we live in, how does God invite us to serve in our own context and let the good news of Jesus ring out right where we are?

Jesus, you send us to be your witnesses in our own local community. Guide us to pray for our neighbors and for all the people we will encounter today. Help us to be faithful witnesses to your love. Amen.