【双语灵修】在犹太和撒玛利亚作见证WITNESSES IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA

使徒行传 8:1-8

从这日起，耶路撒冷的教会大遭逼迫。除了使徒以外，门徒都分散在犹太和撒马利亚各处。 有虔诚的人把司提反埋葬了，为他捶胸大哭。 扫罗却残害教会，进各人的家，拉着男女下在监里。 那些分散的人往各处去传道。 腓利下撒马利亚城去宣讲基督。 众人听见了，又看见腓利所行的神迹，就同心合意地听从他的话。 因为有许多人被污鬼附着，那些鬼大声呼叫，从他们身上出来；还有许多瘫痪的、瘸腿的，都得了医治。 在那城里就大有欢喜。

9月18日

在犹太和撒玛利亚作见证

“从这日起，耶路撒冷的教会大遭逼迫。除了使徒以外，门徒都分散在犹太和撒玛利亚各处。” - 徒 8:1

耶稣对祂的门徒所说的话中，有一部分已经在今天的经文中应验了：“你们…在犹太全地，和撒玛利亚……作我的见证”（《使徒行传》1:8）。不过，这样做却要付上很大的代价。福音不断传遍耶路撒冷，结果便引起强烈的抗拒和逼迫。敬虔的基督徒领袖司提反，也因他无畏的信心被石头打死（《使徒行传》7章）。教会群体非常害怕，于是很多信徒分散到耶路撒冷以外的地方避难。

有趣的是，他们去的其中一个地方，是在犹太以外的撒玛利亚。撒玛利亚是一个因包容罗马居民和异教而恶名远播的地方，信徒或许觉得，那些在耶路撒冷逼害他们的人不敢进入撒玛利亚，他们可以在那里找到理想的藏身之所。福音的信息就是这样从耶路撒冷传开去了。

有时，在困苦的环境中，神会赐下新的机会来兴旺福音的。现在我们或许不明白我们为什么要受苦，然而我们可以确信，无论我们身在何处，神必定会与我们同在。

如果你继续读《使徒行传》第8章，你会看到神怎样引领腓利和其他信徒，福音信息就是这样在撒玛利亚产生了极大的影响。在今天，无论圣灵领我们往那里去，愿福音能藉着我们以盼望和爱心发出亮光。

祷告

耶稣啊，求你帮助我们看到，你按我们的背景为我们预备的“犹太地”和“撒玛利亚”。无论我们往哪里去，愿我们都能够成为你合宜的代表。阿们。

Acts 8:1-8

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

WITNESSES IN JUDEA AND SAMARIA

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. —Acts 8:1

We see Jesus’ words to his disciples fulfilled, in part, in our reading for today: “You will be my witnesses . . . in all Judea and Samaria” (Acts 1:8).

But it came at a great cost. The gospel had been spreading through Jerusalem, and that resulted in fierce opposition and persecution. Stephen, a godly Christian leader, was stoned to death for his bold faith (Acts 7). The church community was filled with fear, and many believers sought refuge in the areas outside Jerusalem.

It is interesting that one of the places they went to was Samaria, a region beyond Judea. Samaria was notorious as an enclave for Romans and for pagan religions. Maybe the believers felt that their persecutors in Jerusalem would not dare to enter Samaria, and that they would find a good place to hide there. In this way the gospel message spread outward from Jerusalem.

Sometimes in the midst of painful situations, God brings new opportunities for the gospel to flourish. We may not understand why we might be suffering now, but we can be assured that wherever we go, God will be with us.

If you keep reading in Acts 8, you will see the powerful impact that the gospel message made in Samaria as God directed Philip and other believers. Wherever the Spirit brings us today, may the gospel shine brightly through us with hope and love.

Jesus, help us to see the “Judeas” and “Samarias” you have in mind for us in our own context. May we represent you well wherever we go. Amen.