我是谁，能阻拦神呢 — 使徒行传读经随笔 第11章

使徒行传第十一章说彼得回到了耶路撒冷，遭到了奉割礼的门徒们的责备。因为彼得去该撒利亚向外邦人传授了福音（哥尼流一家和他的亲属密友因此都信了耶稣），而外邦人是不按摩西律法做割礼的，因此，传统上犹太人是不与外邦人交往的。这些奉割礼的门徒就对彼得说“你进入未受割礼之人的家和他们一同吃饭了”。彼得听了后，就把前前后后的经过讲给他们听，比如神如何预备了他去外邦人家，外邦人是如何奉天使的差遣去请彼得传福音，彼得向他们传福音的时候圣灵是如何降在他们的身上。彼得最后说：“神既然给他们恩赐，像在我们信主耶稣基督的时候给了我们一样，我是谁，能拦阻神呢？” 那些奉割礼的门徒们听后就不言语了，只归荣耀与神，说“这样看来，神也赐恩给外邦人，叫他们悔改得生命了”。彼得的这番话有助于做耶稣门徒的犹太人突破传统的束缚，不再歧视外邦人。
徒11:1 使徒和在犹太的众弟兄、听说外邦人也领受了 神的道。
Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
徒11:2 及至彼得上了耶路撒冷、那些奉割礼的门徒和他争辩说、
When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him,
徒11:3 你进入未受割礼之人的家、和他们一同吃饭了。
saying, "You went in to uncircumcised men, and ate with them!"
徒11:4 彼得就开口、把这事挨次给他们讲解说、
But Peter began, and explained to them in order, saying,
徒11:5 我在约帕城里祷告的时候、魂游象外、看见异象、有一物降下、好象一块大布、系着四角、从天缒下、直来到我跟前．
"I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners. It came as far as me.
徒11:6 我定睛观看、见内中有地上四足的牲畜、和野兽、昆虫、并天上的飞鸟。
When I had looked intently at it, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky.
徒11:7 我且听见有声音向我说、彼得、起来、宰了吃。
I also heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Peter, kill and eat!'
徒11:8 我说、主阿、这是不可的．凡俗而不洁净的物、从来没有入过我的口。
But I said, 'Not so, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.'
徒11:9 第二次、有声音从天上说、 神所洁净的、你不可当作俗物。
But a voice answered me the second time out of heaven, 'What God has cleansed, don't you call unclean.'
徒11:10 这样一连三次、就都收回天上去了。
This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.
徒11:11 正当那时、有三个人站在我们所住的房门前、是从该撒利亚差来见我的。
Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me.
徒11:12 圣灵吩咐我和他们同去、不要疑惑。〔或作不要分别等类〕同着我去的、还有这六位弟兄．我们都进了那人的家．
The Spirit told me to go with them, without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house.
徒11:13 那人就告诉我们、他如何看见一位天使、站在他屋里、说、你打发人往约帕去、请那称呼彼得的西门来．
He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying to him, 'Send to Joppa, and get Simon, whose surname is Peter,
徒11:14 他有话告诉你、可以叫你和你的全家得救。
who will speak to you words by which you will be saved, you and all your house.'
徒11:15 我一开讲、圣灵便降在他们身上、正像当初降在我们身上一样。
As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.
徒11:16 我就想起主的话说、约翰是用水施洗、但你们要受圣灵的洗。
I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.'
徒11:17 神既然给他们恩赐、像在我们信主耶稣基督的时候、给了我们一样、我是谁、能拦阻 神呢。
If then God gave to them the same gift as us, when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?"
徒11:18 众人听见这话、就不言语了．只归荣耀与 神、说、这样看来、 神也赐恩给外邦人、叫他们悔改得生命了。
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!"