1570 英翻中 (使徒行傳4) Persecution, Prayer, and Power 迫害，祷告, 和能力 11/05/2026
Chapter 4 Persecution, Prayer, and Power Acts 4:5-31 第 4 課 迫害，祷告, 和能力 使徒行传 4:5-31
The early church had none of the
"advantages" that some ministries boast of and depend on today. They did
not have big budgets provided by wealthy donors. Their pastors lacked credentials
from the accepted schools, nor did they have the endorsement of the influential
political leaders of that day. Most of their ministers had jail records and
would probably have a hard time today joining our churches, let alone leading
them. What really was the secret of their success? This chapter provides
the answer: the Christians of the early church knew how to pray so that God's hand
could work in mighty power.
早期的教会没有像今天在宣教事工上自夸及依赖的任何的“佔优勢”。他们得不到有錢人的捐助來作大预算。他们的牧师沒有学校發給有力的证书，也得不到那時代有影响力的政治领导人的支持。他们的大部分的宣教事工的记录都是监禁，以今天來說, 他們可能很难加入我们的教会，更不用说领导教會了。早期教会成功的秘诀到底是什么？本章提供了答案：早期教會的信徒知道如何祷告，因此上帝大能的手能够施展在他們的事工上
When asked to explain the secret of his remarkable ministry, the noted
British preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon replied, "My people pray for
me." St. Augustine
said, "Pray as though everything depended on God, and work as though
everything depended on you." Prayer is not an escape from responsibility; it
is our response to God's ability. True prayer energizes us for service
and battle. 英国著名的牧師查尔斯．哈顿．司布貞（Charles Haddon Spurgeon）說出他卓越的宣教事工的秘密：“我的教友为我祷告。” 聖．圣奥古斯丁说：“祈祷好像一切都依靠上帝，而服事却像一切都依靠你”。祷告並不是逃避责任; 而是我们对上帝能力的回应。真正的祷告激發出我们在服务和奮斗上的能力。
Once again, the focus of attention is on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
(4:7, 10, 12, 17, 18). In this chapter, we see what three groups of people do
with His name.
把注意力再一次聚焦在主耶稣基督的名上（4：7,10,12,17,18）。在本章中談及三種人全靠祂的名行事。
1.
The Apostles:
Defending His Name (Acts 4:5-14). The court that met in session
(vv. 5-7) was essentially composed of the high
priest's family. The Jewish religious system had become so corrupt that the
offices were passed from one relative to another without regard for the Word of
God. When Annas was deposed from the priesthood, Caiaphas his son-in-law was
appointed. In fact, five of Annas' sons held the office at one time or another.
Some body has defined a "nepotist" as "a man who, being evil, knows
how to give good gifts to his children." Annas certainly qualified.
1. 使徒：捍卫主的名（使 4：5-14）。基本上猶太议事的法庭由大祭司的家庭组成（5-7等節）。犹太宗教制度演变得如此腐败，不懇求上帝的指引, 便將祭士職位私相傳授, 由親戚互相传递。當亞那从祭司職位退休时，他的女婿該亞法(Caiaphas)接任。事实上，亞那的五个儿子都一次或多次在聖殿任職。 “裙带關係” 定義为“只知道如何给他的孩子好礼物的邪恶者”。亞那當之無愧.
This was an official meeting of the Sanhedrin
(v. 15), the same council that a few months before had condemned Jesus to die. In fact, these officials recognized Peter and John
as the associates of Jesus (v. 13). The Sanhedrin was charged with the
responsibility of protecting the Jewish faith, and this meant that they had to
examine every new teacher and teaching that appeared in the land (see Deut.
13). They certainly had the right to investigate what the church was doing, but
they did not have the right to arrest innocent men and then refuse to honestly
examine the evidence.
這个宗教法庭(Sanhedrin)是前不時釘死耶稣的（15节）的同一议會審訉彼得和约翰。其实，这些官员认識他們是耶稣的同伴（13节）。宗教公会负责保护犹太人的信仰，他们必须對在這地方上出現的新傳教师和他的講学都要調查（參 申 13章）。他们当然有权调查教会的行事，但他们没有权利逮捕无辜的人及拒绝對证据诚实地核查。
Their question was legal, but they did everything they could to avoid admitting
that a miracle had taken place (v. 14). They were evasive and merely referred to
the miracle as "this." They were probably scornful as well, so that
their question might be paraphrased, "Where did common people like you get
the power and authority to do a thing like this?" It was once again the
question of "By whose name?" After all, the apostles might be in
league with the devil! Even Satan can perform miracles!
他们的詢问是合法的，但他们却尽全力逃避調查认神迹是否发生（14节）。他们企圖塗抹神迹, 只是称它为“这事”。他们也可能帶有鄙视，所以他们的詢问可能为“像你們这样的普通的人如何获得能力和权威做这样大的事？”因此, 詢问又再一次提出“奉谁的名？”。毕竟，使徒或許可能与魔鬼同謀！甚至撒旦也能行奇迹！
Peter presented the case (vv. 8-14) in the power of the Holy Spirit
of God. Note that Peter was again filled with the Spirit (see 2:4) and would
experience another filling before the day ended (v. 31). There is one baptism
of the Spirit, and this is at conversion (1 Cor. 12:13),but there must be many fillings of the Spirit if
the believer is to be an effective witness for Jesus Christ (Eph. 5:18ff).
彼得把此事件歸於上帝圣灵的能力（8-14等节）。请注意，彼得再次被圣灵充满（參 2：4），他可能在日落之前會經歷到另一次聖靈的充滿（31节）。在悔改時, 只有一次圣灵洗礼（林前 12:13），但在信徒要为耶稣基督作有力的见证時，就可能有多次圣灵的充滿（弗 5：18等）。
Peter respectfully began with an explanation of how the miracle occurred.
Certainly the members of the Sanhedrin had seen the crippled beggar many times,
and perhaps they had even given aims to him and piously prayed for him. How was
this well-known man healed? "By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth!"
Those words must have pierced the hearts of the members of the council! They thought
they had finished with the Prophet from Nazareth,
and now His followers were telling everybody that Jesus was alive! Since the
Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, Peter's statement
was almost a declaration of war!
彼得开始尊敬地解释神迹是如何发生。当然，这些法庭公会的成员们多次看到這瘸腿的乞丐，也许他们甚至给他施捨，虔诚地为他祷告。这众人皆知瘸腿的人怎會痊愈？ “靠拿撒勒人耶稣基督的名！” 彼得講這话必定刺痛议会成员的心！他们認为拿撒勒的先知的事已消失，现在耶稣的追随者却宣告祂活着！因为撒都该人不相信复活的事，彼得的话几乎是向他們宣战！
But the Spirit was telling Peter what to say (seeLuke21:12- 15), and the
apostle quoted Psalm 118:22,definitely a messianic reference (see Matt.
21:42and 1 Peter2:4-8). He made it clear that the members of the council were
"the builders" and that they had rejected God's Stone, Jesus, the Son
of God.
但圣灵指示彼得引用诗篇118篇22節如此说（參 路 21：12-15），是绝对與弥赛亚有關（參 太21：42和 彼前 2-4：4-8）。他明确表示，议会的成员是“建造者”，但他们拒绝了上帝的房角石，耶稣, 上帝的儿子。
The image of "the stone" was not new to
these men who were experts in the Old Testament Scriptures. They knew that the
"rock" was a symbol of God (Deut 32:4,15, 18, 31;2 Sam 22:2; Ps.
18:2; Isa. 28:16), and that the Prophet Daniel had used the rock to picture
Messiah and the coming of His kingdom on earth (Dan.2:31-45). The Jews stumbled
over the Rock (Rom 9:32; 1
Cor. 1:23) and rejected Him,
just as Psalm 118:22 had predicted. However, to those who have trusted Him,
Jesus Christ is the precious cornerstone (1 Peter 2:4-8) and the chief
cornerstone (Eph. 2:20).
“房角石”对研究旧约圣经中的专家来说, 其印象不會陌生。他们知道“盤石”是預表上帝（申32：4,15,18,31; 撒下22：2;
诗18：2; 赛28:16），先知但以理曾經用岩石預表彌賽亞及祂的王國將降臨地上(但 2: 31-45). 正如118篇22節所预言的那石是猶太人的拌腳石（罗9：32; 林前1:23），他們拒绝耶穌. 但信靠祂的人却说，耶稣基督是宝贵的房角石（彼前 2：4-8）和祂是不可少的房角石（弗 2:20）。
Peter went on to explain that Jesus is not only the
Stone, but He is also the Saviour (Acts 4:12).
Peter saw in the healing of the beggar a picture of the spiritual healing that
comes in salvation. "Made whole" in verse 9 is a translation of the
same Greek word that is translated "saved" in verse 12, for salvation
means wholeness and spiritual health. Jesus Christ is the Great Physician who
alone can heal mankind's greatest malady, the sickness of sin (Mark 2:14-17).Of course, Peter also had
"all the people of Israel"
in mind as he spoke (see Acts 4:10)
because the message was still going out exclusively to the Jews. Even Psalm
118, from which Peter quoted, speaks of a future national salvation for Israel.
彼得继续解释耶稣不仅僅是盤石，而且祂也是救主（使4：12）。彼得看见在瘸腿乞丐的治疗象徵救恩是來自靈的能力。 第9节中的“痊癒”與在12节中希臘文翻译为“救”是一样,，因为救恩意味着完美和精神的健康。 耶稣基督是伟大的医师，祂單独可以治愈人类最大的疾病 ── 罪（可 2：14-17）。当然，彼得在讲道时也有“以色列人”這概念在他腦內（參 使4：
10）, 因为这个信息仍然是针对犹太人講的。 即使彼得引用了诗篇118篇, 也是指以色列是未来得救的国家。
2. The Council: Opposing His Name (Acts 4:15-22) 2. 公会：反对耶穌的名（使 4：15-22）
Their problem (vv. 13-14)was that they were in a dilemma; no matter
which way they turned, they were "trapped." They could not deny the
miracle, because the man was standing before them; and yet they could not
explain how "uneducated and untrained men" (NASB) could perform such
a mighty deed Peter and John were ordinary fishermen, not professional scribes
or authorized ministers of the Jewish religion. They were disciples of Jesus of
Nazareth, but-He was dead! The council took notice of the courage and
confidence of Peter and John, as well as the power of Peter's words; and it all
added up to perplexity. 公会的问题（13-14节）是他们的陷阱; 他们怎么想法都被“困住”。 因为那使徒正站在他们面前, 使他们無法否认这神迹。但他们却无法解释“未受过教育及未受过训练的人”（NASB）如何行使这样大的事，彼得和约翰是普通的渔民，而不是专业的文士或犹太宗教有執照的宣教士。他们是拿撒勒的耶稣的门徒，但祂死了！議会注意到彼得和约翰的勇气和信心，以及彼得的话语的力量; 这一切合在一起令人困惑.
It is important to note that, of itself, the miracle was not proof of the
resurrection of Christ or even of the truth of Peter's message. Satan can
perform miracles (2 Thes. 2:9-10) and false prophets can do wonders
(Deut.13:1-5). The miracle and the message, in the context of all that had
been going on since Pentecost, was one more evidence that Jesus Christ was
alive and at work in the church by His Holy Spirit. In both sermons, Peter used
the Old Testament to support and explain his claims, and this is one evidence of
a true prophet of God (Deut. 13:1-5;Isa. 8:20).
Miracles are not a substitute for the Word of
God (Luke 16:27-31).
要注意神迹本身不能证明基督的复活及彼得所釋放信息的真理，這是很重要的。因為撒但可以行奇迹（2：9-10），假先知可以行奇迹（申 13：1-5）。從五旬节以来所发生的所有一切神迹和信息, 都证明耶稣基督活着，並且祂的聖靈在教会中作工。彼得在两次讲道中都用旧约来証明和解释他的宣告，这是上帝對真正先知的又一次证明（申 13：1-5;
赛 8:20）。神迹不能代替上帝的話（加 16：27-31）。
In their deliberation (Acts 4:15-18), the council did not seek
for truth, but rather sought for some way to avoid the truth ! Had they honestly considered the evidence and
meekly listened to the message, they might have been saved, but their pride and
hardness of heart stood in the way. Some of the chief priests and elders had
experienced a similar dilemma during Passover when they had tried to trap Jesus
in the temple (Matt. 21:23-27).
Some people never learn! But their response is proof that miracles alone can
never convict or convert the lost sinner. Only the Word of God can do that (see
John 11:45-53;Acts 14:1-20).
在公会的审詢（使 4：15-18）中，没有寻求真理，而只是寻求如何能来逃避真相！如果他们诚实地考虑了证据，謙虛的來听这信息，他们或許可能已经得救了，但因他们的骄傲和硬心却被阻止。有些祭司长和长老在逾越节遇到类似的困境，试图把耶稣囚禁在聖殿里（太 21：23-27）。有些人從來不会学习上帝的話！因此他们的回应, 证明奇迹本身永远不会使失喪的罪人認罪或转变。只有上帝的話才行（參 约 11：45-53;
使 14：1-20）。
Their conclusion was to "let the
thing die a natural death." This meant threatening the apostles and
forbidding them to teach and preach in the name of Jesus. This official sentence shows how much the enemy
fears the witness of the church, for Satan has been trying to silence God's people
from the very beginning. Sad to say, he has succeeded with far too many Christians,
the "silent witnesses" of the church. Even the existential
philosopher Albert Camus said, "What the world expects of Christians is
that Christians should speak out, loud and clear. . . in such a way that never
a doubt never the slightest doubt, could arise in the heart of the simplest
man."
他们的结论是“让事實自然消失”。就是要威胁使徒，禁止他们以耶稣的名义來教导和講道。公會顯明多麼害怕教会的见证才這樣行，因为撒但一开頭就试著使上帝的子民閉嘴。可悲的是，它使教会“閉嘴不能见证”, 没有多少信徒听它。甚至存在哲学家阿尔伯特 · 卡穆斯（Albert Camus）也表示：“基督徒是被世人期望应该大声而清楚地作見證，….. 这样一来，毫无疑问的，簡直是毫无疑问，在最尋常的人, 在他們的心中呈現見證”。
The council did not want the Gospel message to spread, and yet that is
exactly what happened! From 120praying men and women in Acts 1, the church
increased to more than 3,000 on the Day of Pentecost; and now there were more
than 5,000 disciples in the fellowship. In the days that followed, "believers
were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women" (5:14; and see 6:1, 7). Satan's
attempts to silence the
church only led to a stronger witness for the
Lord.
公会不希望福音廣传， 事實恰好相反！ 在使徒行传第一章中述說, 從120名男女信徒祈禱後，在五旬节後, 教会人數增加到3000多人; 现在團契人數超过五千。 在未来的日子里，“在主內肯定要添加更多的男女信徒”（5:14; 和參 6：1,7）。 撒但试图使教会閉嘴, 却只会导致為主作更加有力的见证。
The failure of the council (vv. 19-22) was evident
when Peter refused to be intimidated
by their threats. All of us need to follow Peter's
example and make our decisions on the basis of "Is it right?" and not
"Is it popular?" or "Is it safe?" However, we must be sure
that we have the clear teaching of the Word of God on our side before we take a
stand against the authority of the government. Peter knew what the Lord had commanded
the believers to do (Acts1:8), and he was going to obey Him at any cost.
当彼得拒绝公會的恐吓时，証明他們是失败了（19 至 22等节）。 我们都需要學習彼得的榜样，作出决定應在“对不对”的基础上, 而不是在“它吸引人吗？” 或“安全吗？” 等上面。誠然，在反对政府的权威之前，我们必须確切明白如何教导上帝的话。 彼得對主命令信徒要行的非常清楚（使 1：8），并且他不計代价的來順服祂。
It is popular today to promote various causes by defying the government, disobeying
the law, and defending these actions on the basis of conscience. Since even
some Christians are involved in this approach to social action, it is important
to understand the kind of "civil disobedience" practiced by people in
the Bible. Peter and John are not the only ones who disobeyed the authorities
in order to serve God. A list of "dedicated conscientious objectors"
would include, among others: the Jewish midwives (Ex. 1), Moses' parents (Heb. 11:23),Daniel (Dan. 1 and 6), and
the three Hebrew children (Dan. 3). When you examine the records, you discover
the biblical principles by which they operated, principles that are not always
followed today.
今日藐视政府及违背法律等不軌行動, 是以良心為基础來捍卫它們。即使有基督徒参与這做法，但是他們對 “公民抗命”在圣经中所講的原則必須要体会, 這是很重要的事。彼得和约翰為了事奉上帝而违背權威, 不是唯一的例証。“由於良心而反對”的事, 有：犹太助产士（出 1章），摩西的父母（来 11:23）但以理（但 1 和 6 章），和三位希伯来年輕人（但 3 章 ）。当你仔細讀圣经後，你会发其運作的原则，今天我們運作不总是遵循這原则。
To begin with , each of these “objectors” has a message from God that
could not be questioned. The midwives and Moses' parents knew that it was wrong
to murder the babies. Daniel and his friends, and the three Hebrew men, knew
that it was wrong to eat food offered to idols or to bow down to idols in worship.
Peter and John knew that they were under orders from their Master to preach the
Gospel to the ends of the earth, and that it would be wrong to obey the
Sanhedrin. All of these people were faithfully obeying a clear word from God and
not just following some selfish personal whim of their own.
首先我們知道“反对”的每一件事都出於上帝的旨意, 這很明白。助产士和摩西的父母知道谋杀婴儿是不對的。但以理和他在的三位朋友，都知道吃拜過偶像的食物或跪拜偶像是錯誤的。彼得和约翰知道到天涯海角传福音是他们的主命令的，所以服从議会是错误的。这些人都忠实地順服上帝的旨意，而不只是按自己的一些突发自私的任性。
Second, their convictions touched every area of their lives. In other
words, they did everything "with conscience toward God" (1 Peter2:19)
because they belonged to God The university student today whose conscience permits
him to cheat on exams or drive while drunk, but not register for military service,
does not convince me that he is really cultivating a healthy conscience. When a
person's total life is under the direction of a godly conscience, then I
find it easier to have confidence in his unpopular decisions.
其次，他们的信念與他们生活的任何领域有密切關係。换句话说，他们所做的一切是依“對上帝的良知”（彼前 2：19），因为它们屬於上帝. 但今日的大学生, 他們的良心認知在考试上可欺騙或醉酒開車, 不去服兵役, 這些事不能使我相信是真從健康的良心引發出來的。当人的整个生命是被虔诚的良心的導引，然后, 我发现在他不受人歡迎的事上作决定很容易。
Note also that our examples from the Bible acted with respect and
courtesy, even when they defied the law. It is possible for Christians to
respect authority and at the same
time disobey the authorities (see Rom. 13; 1 Peter
2:13-25; Titus 3:1-2). Daniel tried to avoid getting his guard into trouble, and
the apostles used their arrests as opportunities for witness. This is quite a
contrast to some of the modern "Christian objectors" who seem to
major on denunciation and accusation rather than loving witness.
甚至,
当他们要蔑视法律時，必須注意，要从圣经中去找待人接物的例子, 如,尊重和礼貌。 基督徒同時尊重权威和违背当局這是可能的（參 罗 13;
彼前 2 :13-25; 多 3：1-2）。但以理试图不吃王赐的食物而避免使服事他的人陷入麻烦，和使徒利用他們被逮捕的机会來作见证。這與現代“反对的基督徒”是完全不同的對照, 他們似乎重視谴责和控诉，而不看重爱的见证。
Of course, the greatest example of unjust suffering is that of Jesus Christ,
and we must imitate Him (see 1 Peter 2:13-25).
Jesus teaches us that righteous protest against injustice always involves
sacrifice and suffering, and must be motivated by love. God's people must be
careful not to clothe their prejudice in the garments of "righteous
indignation" and pass themselves off as courageous soldiers of conscience.
We must examine our own hearts honestly to make certain we are not conducting a
"holy war" just to satisfy inner frustrations.
耶稣基督的受苦, 誠然是世上最不公正的使人受苦顯著的例証，我们必须學像祂
（參彼前 2：13-25）。耶稣教导我们以正义對抗不公正, 总是需要牺牲和受苦的，而且必须出於爱的动机。上帝的子民更要小心，不要穿上“义愤” 偏见的外衣來冒充是捍衛良心的勇敢战士。 必须真誠的审视内心，不要引起“圣战”只是為了釋放我們心中的郁闷。
Because they had no real case to offer, the council could only threaten
the men and let them go. After all, when you have a living miracle before you,
as well as an approving
public around you, you must be careful what you
do!
因为公會提供不出真實的犯罪証明，公會只能威胁他們後，釋放他们走。毕竟，当你有以前你生活的神迹，並有你周围的市民作証，你去做的時一定要小心！
3. The Church: Calling on His Name (Acts 4:23-31) 3. 教会：呼召耶穌的名（使 4：23-31）
The greatest concentration of power in Jerusalem that day was in
the prayer meeting that followed the trial. This is one of the truly great
prayers recorded in the Bible, and it is a good example for us to follow. 那天耶路撒冷最大的能力集中在审判后的祷告会上。 这是圣经中记载的真正伟大的祷告之一，是我们遵循的很好的例子。
To begin with, it was a prayer that was born out of witness and service
for the Lord. Peter and John had just come in "from the trenches,"
and the church met to pray in order to defeat the enemy. Too often today,
believers gather for prayer as though attending a concert or a Party. There
is little sense of urgency and danger because most of us are comfortable in our
Christian walk. If more of God's people were witnessing for Christ in daily
life, there would be more urgency and blessing when the church meets for
prayer.
首先，它是为主作见证和事奉的祷告。 彼得和约翰刚刚 “从战壕”
回来，教会正为了要打败敌人而祷告。 今天信徒经常好像参加音乐会或舞会一样的聚会祷告。 没有紧迫感和危险，因为大多数的我们基督徒在事奉中很舒服。 如果更多上帝的子民在日常生活中為基督作見證，當教会祷告時, 將有加深紧要和祝福。
It was a united prayer meeting as they "lifted up their voice to God
with one accord" (v. 24, and see 1:14).
The people were of one heart and mind, and God was pleased to answer their
requests. Division in the church always hinders prayer and robs the church of
spiritual power.
當他们“同心合意的向上帝禱告”, 是集體的祷告会（第24節 參 1:14）。 當人同心合意的祈禱，上帝很高兴回答他们的祈求。 分裂的教会的祷告常常受阻，并且喪失教会的屬靈能
Their praying was based solidly on the Word of God, in this case, Psalm 2.
The Word of God and prayer must always go together (John 15:7). In His Word,
God speaks to us and tells us what He wants to do. In prayer, we speak to Him and
make ourselves available to accomplish His will. True prayer is not telling God what to do,
but asking God to do His will in us and through ..us (1John
5:14-15). It means getting
God's will done on earth, not man's will done in heaven.
他们的祷告是坚定地以上帝的话為基礎，如诗篇第2篇所述的情况. 上帝的话和祷告必须常常結合在一起（约 15：7）。 在上帝的话中，祂对我们说话，告诉我们要做的事。 在祷告中，我们对祂说话，使自己能够完成祂的旨意。 真正的祷告不是告诉上帝怎么办，而是懇求祂使用我们完成祂的旨意（约壹 5：14-15）。 这意味着要在地上完成上帝的旨意，而不是在天上完成我們的意願。
They did not pray to have their circumstances changed or their enemies put
out of office. Rather, they asked God to empower them to make the best use of their
circumstances and to accomplish what He had already determined (Acts 4:28). This was not ''fatalism'' but
faith in the Lord of history who has a perfect plan and is always victorious.
They asked for divine enablement, not escape; and God gave them the power that
they needed.
没有為使他们的情况发生变化，或者他们的敌人不在官所而祈祷。相反的，要求上帝赋予他们充分能力利用他們現有的情况，并完成祂已经決定的使命（使 4:28）。这不是“宿命论”，而是对历史之主的信靠，因祂的计划完美，总是得胜。他们要求上帝的屬天能力，不是逃避; 並且上帝賜给了他们所需的能力。
"Do not pray for easy lives," wrote Phillips Brooks." Pray
to be stronger men and women. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray
for powers equal to your tasks." That is the way the early Christians
prayed, and that is the way God's people should pray today.
菲利普 · 布鲁克（Phillips
Brooks）写道：“不要为了使生活容易而祷告，”要祈求成為更强壮的男人和和女，不要为与你能力同樣的事奉而祷告，要祈求与你的事工相同的能力。这是早期基督徒祷告的方式，就是上帝子民今天应该祷告的方式。
They addressed God as "Sovereign Lord," the God who is in control
of all things. The Greek word gives us our English word despot, a ruler
who exercises absolute power, either benevolently or abusively. Simeon used
this same title when he prayed in the temple(Luke 2:29). It is good to know the Sovereign Lord
when you are experiencing persecution.
他们称上帝为“全能的主”，即控制万物的上帝。希腊字的英文意思是专制(despot)，行使绝对权力的统治者，他是仁慈还是虐待。当西面在圣殿祈祷时，使用同样的头衔（路 2:29）。当遭遇迫害时，知道全能的主很好。
They also approached Him as the Creator, for,
after all, if your Father is "Lord of heaven and earth," what have
you to fear? (See Matt. 11:25-30.) Nehemiah
approached God on this same basis (Neh. 9:6), and so did the psalmist (see Ps.
145) and the Prophet Isaiah (Isa. 42). Years later, when he wrote his first
epistle, Peter encouraged suffering saints to yield themselves to the Faithful
Creator (1 Peter 4:19).
他们也稱祂为创造主，毕竟，如果你的天父是“天地之主”，你還惧怕什么？ （參
太 11：25-30）尼希米接近上帝處在同样的基础上（尼 9：6），诗篇（參 第145篇）和先知以赛亚（赛 42章）也是如此。多年后，当彼得写他的彼得前书时，彼得鼓励苦难的圣徒屈服于信实的造物主（彼前 4:19）。
Psalm 2 describes the revolt of the nations against the Lord and His
Christ. The psalm originally grew out of the crowning of a new king in Israel, perhaps
David or Solomon; but its ultimate message points to the King of kings, Jesus
Christ. When ever a new king was enthroned, the vassal rulers around were
required to come and submit to him; but some of them refused to do this. God
only laughed at their revolt, for He knew that they could never stand up
against His King.
诗篇第2篇描述了世上各国对主和他基督的反抗。 诗篇原是稱頌以色列的新国王，也许是大卫或所罗门; 但它的终极信息指向萬王的王 ── 耶稣基督。每当新的国王加冕时，周围屬國的统治者必须前来向他臣服; 但有些则拒绝这样做。上帝只是嘲笑他们的叛逆，因为祂知道他们永远不能反抗他們的国王。
The early believers applied the message of this psalm to their own
situation and identified their adversaries as Herod, Pilate, the Romans, and
the Jews. These enemies had "ganged up" against Jesus Christ and even
crucified Him, yet God raised Him from the dead and enthroned Him in heaven. All
of this was a part of God's perfect plan (see Acts 2:23; 3:18),
so there was no need to fear.
早期信徒将这篇诗篇的信息应用于自己的境遇，與他们的反对希律，彼拉多，罗马人和犹太人認同。这些敌人“联合起来” 与耶稣基督為敵，甚至钉祂在十字架上，可是上帝却将祂从死里复活，并升天冠祂為王。所有这一切都是上帝完美计划的一部分（參 使 2:23;
3:18），所以不要惧怕。
The early church strongly believed in God's sovereignty and His perfect
plan for His people. But note that they did not permit their faith in divine
sovereignty to destroy human responsibility, for they were faithful to witness
and pray. It is when God's people get out of balance and overemphasize either
sovereignty or responsibility that the church loses power. Again, we are
reminded of Augustine's wise words, “Pray as though everything depends on God, and work as though everything
depended on you."
Faith in a sovereign Lord is a tremendous
encouragement for God's people to keep serving the Lord when the going is difficult.
早期教會坚信上帝的主权和对祂子民的完善计划。因为他们忠于见证和祈祷, 请注意他们不允許以對神圣主权的信心去摧毁人的责任。当上帝的子民失去平衡，不論过分强调的是主权或是责任, 教会都會失去能力。 奥古斯丁的智慧之言一再的提醒我们：“祈祷好像一切依靠上帝，而事奉則像完全要自己動手”。當上帝的子民事奉主而遭遇艰难, 却還要继续的服事时, 上帝主权在此時對他的信心是極大的鼓励。
They
did not ask for protection; they asked for power. They did not ask for fire from heaven to
destroy the enemy (see Luke 9:51-56),but
for power from heaven to preach the Word and heal the sick (see Matt. 5:10-12,43-48).Their great desire was
for boldness in the face of opposition (see Acts 4:17). The emphasis is on the hand of God at work in the
life of the church (vv. 28, 30), not the hand of man at work for God. Believing
prayer releases God's power and enables God's hand to move (Isa. 50:2 and
64:1-8). 他们不求保护; 只求能力。 他们不求從天上降下火來摧毁敌人（參路 9：51-56），只是懇求从天上賜下力量來传讲圣言，並且医治病人（參 太 5：10-12,43-48）。 他们的伟大的心志是勇敢的面对反抗者（參 使 4：17）。上帝的手在教会的生存中作工必須強調（28，30等節），而不是人的手为上帝工作。 帶信心的祷告能释放上帝的能力，能移动祂的手（赛 50：2 和 64：1-8）。
Finally, note that they wanted to glorify God's child (servant) Jesus
Christ (vv. 27, 30). It was His name that gave them power to minister
the Word and to perform miracles, and His name alone deserved the glory. The glory
of God, not the needs of men, is the highest propose of answered prayer.
最后，请注意，他们想要榮耀上帝的兒子（又稱仆人）耶稣基督（27,30等節）。是主耶穌的名赐他們能力傳祂的话，行神迹，單單祂的名配得荣耀。上帝的荣耀是回答祷告的最高目的，不是因人的需要。
God's answer was to shake the place where they were meeting and to fill
the people once again with the Spirit of God (v. 31). This gave them the
boldness that they needed to
continue to serve God in spite of official opposition.
This was not a "second Pentecost" because there cannot be another Pentecost
any more there can be another Calvary. It was
a new filling of the Spirit to equip the believers to serve the Lord and
minister to the people.
上帝的回答震動了他们聚会的地方，并再次使他們充滿上帝的灵（31节）。 给了他们需要的足夠勇气继续事奉上帝，不理官方的反对。 这不是“第二个五旬节”， 因为不能再有另外的骷髏地發生在另一个五旬节。 这是圣灵的新充滿，裝備信徒事奉主及服事百姓。
We will consider Acts 4:32-37in our next study, but it is worth noting
that the new fullness of the Spirit also created a deeper unity among the
people (v. 34) and a greater desire to sacrifice and share with one
another. They enjoyed "great power" and "great grace,"
which ought to be the marks of a "great" church. This led to a great
ingathering of souls for the Lord.
在下一次研究時, 我們將注意使徒行传4章32到37節，但要注意, 令信徒更加团结一致是圣灵的新充满（34节），并使他們有更大牺牲的心志和互相分享的愿望。 他们享有“大能力”和“大恩典”，这应该是“伟大的”教会的标志。 为主导致了拯救灵魂得到伟大的收獲。
"Lord, Thou art God !" What a declaration of faith and what a
practical application of good theology! However, if their lives had not been
submitted to His control, they could not have prayed that way. Boldness in
prayer is the result of faithfulness in life and service. The sovereignty of
God is not an abstract doctrine that we accept and defend. It is a living truth
that we depend upon and depend upon for every need. When you are loyal to
the Lord and put Him first (v. 19),then you can trust Him to be faithful
to you and see you through.
“主啊，你是上帝！” 多偉大的信仰的宣告和多好的神学实际应用！但是，如果他们的生命不向祂臣服，他们就不能如此的祷告。祷告的胆識出於對上帝以生命和事奉的信心的果實。我们接受和捍卫上帝的主权, 它不是的抽象教條。它是我们的依靠和對任何需要依赖活的真理。当你忠于主并把耶穌放在首位(19节)，然後, 你能信靠祂對你從頭到尾的信實。
The name of Jesus Christ has not lost its power, but many of God's people
have lost their power because they have stopped praying to the sovereign God.
"Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies outside
the will of God." I don't know who first said that, but the statement is
absolutely true. Dr. R.A.Torrey, the noted evangelist and educator, said, "Pray
for great things, expect great things, work for great
things, but above all-pray."
耶稣基督的名没有失去祂的能力，但许多神的子民因为已不向有主权的上帝祷告,因而失去了他們的能力。 “除了在上帝的旨意之外，否則没有任何事情不在祷告范围之内。” 不知道是谁先说這句話，但它却是绝对的真理。有名望的福音传教士和教育家托雷（R.A.Torrey）博士说：“祈求伟大的事情，期待伟大的事情，为伟大事情而努力，但最重要的是祈祷。“
The early church prayed, and God answered in mighty power.
早期的教会祷告，上帝用强大的能力回答。
God is still willing to answer.
上帝仍然愿意回答。
Are we praying?
我们正在祈祷吗?
