使徒行傳 10:34-48 外邦人加入教會
- 馬克牧師
- May 24, 2024
- 7 min read
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。 36神藉着耶穌基督（他是萬有的主）傳和平的福音，將這道賜給以色列人。 37這話在約翰宣傳洗禮以後，從加利利起，傳遍了猶太。 38神怎樣以聖靈和能力膏拿撒勒人耶穌，這都是你們知道的。他周流四方，行善事，醫好凡被魔鬼壓制的人，因為神與他同在。 39他在猶太人之地，並耶路撒冷所行的一切事，有我們作見證。他們竟把他掛在木頭上殺了。 40第三日，神叫他復活，顯現出來； 41不是顯現給眾人看，乃是顯現給神預先所揀選為他作見證的人看，就是我們這些在他從死裏復活以後和他同吃同喝的人。 42他吩咐我們傳道給眾人，證明他是神所立定的，要作審判活人、死人的主。 43眾先知也為他作見證說：『凡信他的人必因他的名得蒙赦罪。』」
外邦人領受聖靈
44 彼得還說這話的時候，聖靈降在一切聽道的人身上。 45那些奉割禮、和彼得同來的信徒，見聖靈的恩賜也澆在外邦人身上，就都希奇； 46因聽見他們說方言，稱讚神為大。 47於是彼得說：「這些人既受了聖靈，與我們一樣，誰能禁止用水給他們施洗呢？」 48就吩咐奉耶穌基督的名給他們施洗。他們又請彼得住了幾天。
各位平安，我們今天來讀《使徒行傳》第十章最後一段的故事。彼得聽到哥尼流向他詢問關於福音的事情，他就開口講道說：“神真是不偏待人，萬國中敬畏主、行義的人都為主悅納。”
我們前兩天提到，當聖靈感動人的時候，是感動的一群人。祂感動了彼得，也感動了哥尼流，使他們兩人能夠會面，這是上帝親自安排的。彼得這次也順服地踏進了一個外邦人的家中，放下了原本的成見和對律法的錯誤理解，來到這個外邦人家中宣講福音。
彼得從一開始提到耶穌是上帝所膏立的，並且要來拯救眾人。他這篇簡短的講道中含有非常重要的聖經真理，有點像使徒信經中的第二段部分，講述耶穌受死、埋葬、三日後復活和升天的故事。最重要的是第43節所說的：“眾先知也為他作見證，說凡信他的人必因他的名得蒙赦罪。”
我們首先理解到，外邦人中也有敬虔上帝的人，他們的行為不是為了賺取救恩，而是蒙上帝的悅納。無論我們在哪裡，當我們行善時，若是本著內心的良善追尋上帝，上帝必會恩待我們。所以，當我們基督徒在分享福音時，不需批評別人的宗教，只要他們也敬虔、行善，我們只需將福音講給他們聽，上帝的聖靈會動工，上帝會改變他們，讓他們知道一切善與美的源頭。
這裡也發生了一件重大事情，當彼得還在講道的時候，聖靈降在他們身上，讓他們也開始說方言。當場的彼得和其他信徒都看見了這件事，外邦人得救，並且有聖靈的印證。
在後來的《使徒行傳》中，我們看到一些接受基督教的猶太人仍然相信需要有割禮和禮儀。然而，彼得看完這次事件後，與他們大大爭辯說，這些外在的割禮已經不再重要，重要的是他們是否接受耶穌基督的福音，是否受了聖靈。保羅在他的書信中也提到類似的話，說身體上的割禮不再重要，重點是我們的心有沒有受到割禮。
哥尼流一家人受聖靈的事情，也成為後來福音工作的一件重要事件。彼得親眼看到上帝不偏待人，這些沒有受割禮的外邦人也蒙上帝的恩典，得到聖靈的感動。彼得真正明白，外在的禮儀不再是重點，信仰的重點在於接受上帝的福音，而不是額外的人為行為去賺取救恩。洗禮的含義是回應恩典，是我們自身的決定和公開的宣告，象徵新生。
彼得也為他們施行了洗禮。這一家人和他的朋友加入了教會，成為外邦人加入教會的榜樣。他們迫切地想要聽更多，所以請彼得留下，多住幾天，希望他能多講一些福音的道理。外邦人渴慕的心，有時比信徒更強烈。
到這裡，《使徒行傳》第十章的故事結束。哥尼流一家人得救，成為外邦人得救的榜樣，讓彼得和門徒看見上帝的心意，這件事也有著深遠的影響，直到今天仍是我們的榜樣。感謝各位的聆聽！
Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
“We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Peace be with you all. Today, we are reading the final part of Acts chapter 10. When Peter heard Cornelius asking about the gospel, he began to speak, saying, "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right."
As we mentioned in the past two days, when the Holy Spirit moves, He moves a group of people. He moved Peter and Cornelius, bringing them together by divine arrangement. Peter, in obedience, stepped into a Gentile's home, setting aside his prejudices and misunderstandings of the law to preach the gospel.
Peter started by mentioning that Jesus was anointed by God and came to save everyone. In his brief sermon, Peter included essential biblical truths, similar to the second part of the Apostles' Creed, discussing Jesus' death, burial, resurrection on the third day, and ascension. The most crucial part is in verse 43: "All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
We first understand that among the Gentiles, there are those who revere God. Their good deeds are not to earn salvation but are pleasing to God. Wherever we are, when we do good out of a genuine pursuit of God, He will show us grace. Therefore, when we Christians share the gospel, we don't need to criticize other religions. As long as they are devout and do good, we simply share the gospel with them. The Holy Spirit will work, and God will change them, revealing the source of all goodness and beauty.
A significant event occurred here: while Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak in tongues. Peter and the other believers present witnessed this, confirming the salvation of the Gentiles with the Holy Spirit's evidence.
Later in Acts, we see some Jewish converts to Christianity still believed in the necessity of circumcision and rituals. However, after witnessing this event, Peter argued strongly that these external rituals were no longer important. What mattered was whether they accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ and received the Holy Spirit. Paul also mentioned similar things in his letters, saying that physical circumcision was no longer crucial; the focus was on whether our hearts were circumcised.
The event of Cornelius and his household receiving the Holy Spirit became a pivotal moment for the gospel work. Peter saw firsthand that God does not show favoritism and that Gentiles without circumcision also received God's grace and the Holy Spirit's inspiration. Peter truly understood that external rituals were not the focus. The essence of faith lies in accepting God's gospel, not in additional human efforts to earn salvation. Baptism symbolizes our response to grace, a personal decision and public declaration representing new life.
Peter also baptized them. Cornelius' household and friends joined the church, becoming a model for Gentiles entering the church. They eagerly wanted to hear more, so they asked Peter to stay a few days longer to teach more about the gospel. Sometimes, the Gentiles' eagerness to learn is even stronger than that of the believers.
This concludes the story in Acts chapter 10. The salvation of Cornelius' household became a model for Gentile salvation, showing Peter and the disciples God's intentions. This event had a profound impact, serving as an example for us even today. Thank you all for listening!
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