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Acts Chapter 14 | Challenges in Establishing the Early Church

Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. 3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

4 But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5 And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, 6 they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. 7 And they were preaching the gospel there.

8 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. 11 Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, 16 who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” 18 And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.

19 Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” 23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 24 And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.

27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.

使徒行傳 14章｜建立初代教會的挑戰

二人在以哥念同進猶太人的會堂，在那裡講的叫猶太人和希臘人信的很多。 2 但那不順從的猶太人聳動外邦人，叫他們心裡惱恨弟兄。 3 二人在那裡住了多日，倚靠主放膽講道，主藉他們的手施行神蹟奇事，證明他的恩道。 4 城裡的眾人就分了黨，有附從猶太人的，有附從使徒的。 5 那時，外邦人和猶太人並他們的官長一齊擁上來，要凌辱使徒，用石頭打他們。 6 使徒知道了，就逃往呂高尼的路司得、特庇兩個城和周圍地方去， 7 在那裡傳福音。

8 路司得城裡坐著一個兩腳無力的人，生來是瘸腿的，從來沒有走過。 9 他聽保羅講道，保羅定睛看他，見他有信心，可得痊癒， 10 就大聲說：「你起來，兩腳站直！」那人就跳起來，而且行走。

11 眾人看見保羅所做的事，就用呂高尼的話大聲說：「有神藉著人形降臨在我們中間了！」 12 於是稱巴拿巴為宙斯，稱保羅為希耳米，因為他說話領首。 13 有城外宙斯廟的祭司牽著牛、拿著花圈，來到門前，要同眾人向使徒獻祭。 14 巴拿巴、保羅二使徒聽見，就撕開衣裳，跳進眾人中間，喊著說： 15 「諸君，為什麼做這事呢？我們也是人，性情和你們一樣。我們傳福音給你們，是叫你們離棄這些虛妄，歸向那創造天、地、海和其中萬物的永生神。 16 他在從前的世代，任憑萬國各行其道， 17 然而為自己未嘗不顯出證據來，就如常施恩惠，從天降雨賞賜豐年，叫你們飲食飽足、滿心喜樂。」 18 二人說了這些話，僅僅地攔住眾人不獻祭於他們。

19 但有些猶太人從安提阿和以哥念來，挑唆眾人，就用石頭打保羅，以為他是死了，便拖到城外。 20 門徒正圍著他，他就起來，走進城去。第二天，同巴拿巴往特庇去。 21 對那城裡的人傳了福音，使好些人做門徒，就回路司得、以哥念、安提阿去， 22 堅固門徒的心，勸他們恆守所信的道，又說：「我們進入神的國，必須經歷許多艱難。」 23 二人在各教會中選立了長老，又禁食禱告，就把他們交託所信的主。

24 二人經過彼西底，來到旁非利亞。 25 在別加講了道，就下亞大利去。 26 從那裡坐船，往安提阿去。當初他們被眾人所託、蒙神之恩要辦現在所做之工，就是在這地方。 27 到了那裡，聚集了會眾，就述說神藉他們所行的一切事，並神怎樣為外邦人開了信道的門。 28 二人就在那裡同門徒住了多日。