1583英翻中 (使徒行傳17課) It's always too soon to quit 常常是太快的放棄。 23/05/2026

1583英翻中 (使徒行傳17課)    It's always too soon to quit    常常是太快的放棄。 23/05/2026

親愛的主內訪友, 編輯者把 "司布貞提醒他的伦敦教會的会友說，'坚持不懈，蜗牛能到方舟'” 這句座右銘寫在我的心板上. 。您們讀到編輯者寫防洪水災害那篇文章時,提到挪亞方舟的神跡時, 任何動物都是自己走進方舟的.要信主耶穌基督得救,別無他法,只有學蜗牛親自爬進方舟的榜樣.當時上帝要徹底毀滅這淫亂污穢不堪的世界,方舟預表耶穌基督,只有挪亞一家八口蒙拯救,中國的"船"字含有這意思.

Dear Christian friends, the editor has inscribed the motto "Spurgeon reminded his London church members, 'With perseverance, even a snail can reach the ark,'" on my heart's altar. When you read the editor's article on flood prevention, mentioning the miracle of Noah's Ark, you'll see that all animals entered the ark on their own. There is no other way to be saved by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ except by following the example of the snail crawling into the ark. At that time, God wanted to completely destroy this adulterous and defiled world; the ark symbolized Jesus Christ, and only Noah and his family of eight were saved. The Chinese word for "boat" contains this meaning.

  

Capter 17                  IT’S ALWAYS TOO SOON TO QUIT                                    Acts  18:1–22       第十七課                      常常是太快的放棄。                                                         使徒行传18：1-22                                                                  

         A man was shoveling snow from his driveway when two boys carrying snow shovels approached him.
当两个带着雪铲的男孩走近他时，他正在车道上铲雪。
 
         “Shovel your snow, Mister?” one of them asked. “Only two dollars!”
其中一个孩童问道,  “要铲雪嗎，先生？ 只有两美元！”
 
        Puzzled, the man replied, “Can’t you see that I’m doing it myself?”
那人困惑地说，“你难道没有看到我自己正在铲吗？”
 
        “Sure,” said the enterprising lad; “that’s why we asked. We get most of our business from people who are half through and feel like quitting!”
有进取心的小伙子说道,  “当然，这就是我们要问的原因。我们的大部分工作都来自半途而废的人。“
 
         Dr. V. Raymond Edman used to say to the students at Wheaton (Illinois) College, “It’s always too soon to quit!” And Charles Spurgeon reminded his London congregation, “By perseverance, the snail reached the ark.”
V.  雷蒙 . 埃德曼博士曾经对惠顿（伊利诺伊州）神学院的学生说：”现在放弃总是太早了!”而司布貞提醒他的伦敦教會的会友說，“坚持不懈，蜗牛能到方舟”。
 
        Corinth, with its 200,000 people, would not be the easiest city in which to start a church, and yet that’s where Paul went after leaving Athens. And he went alone! The going was tough, but the apostle did not give up.
雖然哥林多城拥有20万人，但不是最容易開始建立教堂的城市，但保罗却仍然离开雅典來到这城。他單獨去的！这过程很艰难，使徒保羅没有放弃。
 
         Corinth’s reputation for wickedness was known all over the Roman Empire. (Rom. 1:18–32 was written in Corinth!) Thanks to its location, the city was a center for both trade and travel. Money and vice, along with strange philosophies and new religions, came to Corinth and found a home there. Corinth was the capital of Achaia and one of the two most important cities Paul visited. The other was Ephesus.
哥林多城的邪恶声誉是在罗马帝国广为人知。 （罗马书1：18-32是保羅在哥林多寫的！）这城市能為贸易和旅游的中心,   得感謝它所在的位置。金钱和罪恶，连同奇怪的哲学和新的宗教，都来到哥林多，并在這里找到了窩。哥林多是亞西亚的首府，也是保罗访问过的两座最重要的城市之一。另一座城是以弗所。
 
         When God opens doors, the enemy tries to close them, and there are times when we close the doors on ourselves because we get discouraged and quit. As Paul ministered in Corinth, the Lord gave him just the encouragements that he needed to keep him going, and these same encouragements are available to us today.
当上帝敞开大门时，敌人会试图关闭它，而且有时是我们自己关闭它的，因为感到灰心并放棄。正如保罗在哥林多服事的那样，主给了他恰當需要的鼓励，让他能继续前进，今天我们也可以得到同样的鼓励。
 
1.  Devoted Helpers (18:1–5)                                                                                                                    1.  熱心的帮助者（18：1-5）                        

       Paul came to Corinth following his ministry to the philosophers in Greece, and he determined to magnify Jesus Christ and the cross, to depend on the Holy Spirit, and to present the gospel in simplicity (1 Cor. 2:1–5). There were many philosophers and itinerant teachers in Corinth, preying on the ignorant and superstitious population, and Paul’s message and ministry could easily be misunderstood.
保罗在對希腊的哲学家傳福音后，来到哥林多，他决心只講耶稣基督和祂的十字架，僅依靠圣灵，并传揚易了解的福音（林前 2：1-5）。哥林多有许多哲学家和巡回教师，他们藐视无知和迷信的人群，所以很容易误解保罗的信息和事工。
 
         One way Paul separated himself from the “religious hucksters” was by supporting himself as a tentmaker. By the providence of God, he met a Jewish couple, Aquila and Priscilla (“Prisca,” 2 Tim. 4:19), who were workers in leather as was Paul. Jewish rabbis did not accept money from their students but earned their way by practicing a trade. All Jewish boys were expected to learn a trade, no matter what profession they might enter. “He who does not teach his son to work, teaches him to steal!” said the rabbis, so Saul of Tarsus learned to make leather tents and to support himself in his ministry (see Acts 18:3; 1 Cor. 9:6–15; 2 Cor. 11:6–10).
保罗以自己織帐篷換來與 “宗教消费者” 分开的事實。他深受上帝的祝福，幸運的遇见了一對犹太夫妇亞居拉和百基拉（”百斯卡”，提摩太后书4:19），他们與保罗同是織帳篷的皮革工人。犹太拉比不接受学生的钱，而是以買賣交易赚取他們的收入。不管他们將要做什么工作，所有的犹太男孩都要学习貿易。拉比说,  “不教儿子去工作的人，是教他去偷东西！”  扫罗在大数学会了織皮革帐篷，并以這事工維持自己的生計（参   使徒行传18：3; 林前9：6 -15;林後11：6-10）。
 
        Were Aquila and Priscilla Christian believers at that time? We don’t know for certain, but it’s likely that they were. Perhaps they were even founding members of the church in Rome. We do know that this dedicated couple served most faithfully and even risked their lives for Paul (Rom. 16:3–4). They assisted him in Ephesus (Acts 18:18–28), where they even hosted a church in their home (1 Cor. 16:19). Aquila and Priscilla were an important part of Paul’s “team,” and he thanked God for them. They are a good example of how “lay ministers” can help to further the work of the Lord. Every pastor and missionary thanks God for people like Aquila and Priscilla, people with hands, hearts, and homes dedicated to the work of the Lord.
亞居拉和百基拉当时是基督信徒吗？ 不确定，但很可能是。也许他们甚至是罗马教会的创始成员。我们确实知道，这对敬虔的夫妇忠实的事奉,  甚至肯为保罗冒生命的危險（罗16：3-4）。他们在以弗所帮助保羅（徒18：18-28），在他们家里甚至有家庭教会（林前16:19）。亞居拉和百基拉当时是保罗 “宣教团队”的重要份子，保羅為有他們而感谢上帝。亞居拉和百基拉是 “傳福音的模範”,   他們帮助推动主的工作,  是很好的榜樣。牧师和传教士都感谢上帝，在他們的宣教事工上有亞居拉和百基拉这样肯擺上的人 – 他们的双手，心灵和家庭都為主的工作擺上。

         Paul lived and worked with Aquila and Priscilla, but on the Sabbath days witnessed boldly in the synagogue. After all, that was why he had come to Corinth. When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia (Acts 17:14–15; 18:5), they brought financial aid (2 Cor. 11:9), and this enabled Paul to devote his full time to the preaching of the gospel. What a joy it must have been for Paul to see his friends and to hear from them the good news of the steadfastness of the Christians in the churches they had planted together (1 Thess. 3).
保罗与亞居拉和百基拉一起生活和工作，但安息日却在廟堂里大胆地作见证。可見，这就是他来到哥林多的原因。当西拉和提摩太从马其顿来到哥林多时（使徒行传17：14-15; 18：5），他们带来了經濟上的援助（哥林多前书11：9），这使得保罗能夠全身心投入傳福音的事工。保罗看到他的朋友，并听到在他们一起建立的教会中,  坚信基督的好消息，真是天大的喜乐的事（帖前 3章）。

        Everyone agrees that Paul was a great Christian and a great missionary evangelist, but how much would Paul have accomplished alone? Friends like Aquila and Priscilla, Silas and Timothy, and the generous believers in Macedonia, made it possible for Paul to serve the Lord effectively. His Christian friends, new and old, encouraged him at a time when he needed it the most.
任何人都同意認為保罗是位伟大的基督信徒和一位伟大的宣教者，但保罗單独一人能完成主的事工有多少呢？像亞居拉和百基拉，西拉和提摩太这样的朋友，以及马其顿慷慨奉獻的信徒，才使保罗能有效地为主的工作有事奉的可能。他的新舊基督信徒朋友在他最需要的时侯都一起來鼓励他。                                                         
 
        Of course, this reminds us that we should encourage our friends in the work of the Lord. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “God evidently does not intend us all to be rich or powerful or great, but He does intend us all to be friends.” “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of  Christ” is the way Paul expressed it (Gal. 6:2). Humanly speaking, there would have been no church in Corinth were it not for the devotion and service of many different people.
誠然，这提醒我们,  应该鼓励我们的朋友参与主的工作。拉尔夫 . 沃尔多 . 爱默生写道：“上帝显然不打算让我们所有人变得富有或者强大或者伟大，但是他确实希望我们所有人都成为朋友。”  “承担彼此的负担，以此履行基督的律法” 是保罗信心（加6：2）。从人的角度来说，哥林多没有任何一間教会不是有许多不同的人共同奉献和事奉。
 
2.  Opposition (18:6–8)
2.   反对（18：6-8）

         Whenever God is blessing a ministry, you can expect increased opposition as well as increased opportunities. “For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Cor. 16:9 nkjv). After all, the enemy gets angry when we invade his territory and liberate his slaves. As in Thessalonica and Berea (Acts 17:5–13), the unbelieving Jews who rejected the Word stirred up trouble for Paul and his friends (see 1 Thess. 2:14–16). Such opposition is usually proof that God is at work, and this ought to encourage us. Spurgeon used to say that the devil never kicks a dead horse!
只要上帝祝福事奉，就會增加更多的反对和宣教的机会。 “为我打开一扇伟大而有效的门，并且有许多敌人在等候”（林前16：9 新欽定版）。毕竟，当我们在牠的领域宣教, 并解放牠的奴隶时，牠們(敌人)就会生气。正如帖撒罗尼迦和庇哩亚（使徒行传17：5-13），拒绝圣经的不信的犹太人,  为保罗和他的同工帶來麻烦（参  帖前2：14-16）。这种反对通常证明上帝在工作，祂在試煉我们。司布真曾经说过，魔鬼从来不会踢死马！

         Jewish opposition had forced Paul to leave Thessalonica and Berea, but in Corinth, it only made him determined to stay there and get the job done. It is always too soon to quit! Like the undaunted Christopher Columbus, Paul could write in his journal, “Today we sailed on!”
犹太人的反对迫使保罗离开帖撒罗尼迦和庇哩亚，但留在哥林多，这只让他决心留在那里，完成工作。放棄总是太快！像无畏的克里斯托弗 . 哥伦布一样，保罗可以在他的日记中写下：“今天航行了！”
 
         Two interesting Old Testament images are found in Acts 18:6. To shake out one’s garments was an act of judgment that said, “You have had your opportunity, but now it’s over!” Today we might say that we were washing our hands of a situation. (See Neh. 5:13; and compare Acts 13:51 and Matt. 10:14.) While Paul never ceased witnessing to the Jews, his primary calling was to evangelize the Gentiles (Acts 13:46–48; 28:28).
在使徒行传18章6节中发现两个有趣的旧约圣经图像。摆脱人的衣服是判断的表示, 说：“你已有的机会，但现在已经過去了！”  今天可以说正為我们的情勢正在洗手。 （参  尼希米5:13; 比较使徒行傳13:51和 马太福音10:14）保罗从未停止向犹太人作见证過，但他的主要是被呼召向外邦人传福音（使徒行传13：46-48; 28:28 ）。
 
         To have blood on your hands means that you bear the responsibility for another’s death because you were not faithful to warn him. The image comes from the watchman on the city walls whose task it was to stay alert and warn of coming danger (see Ezek. 3:17–21; 33:1–9). But to have blood on your head means that you are to blame for your own judgment. You had the opportunity to be saved, but you turned it down (see Josh. 2:19). Paul’s hands were clean (Acts 20:26) because he had been faithful to declare the message of the gospel. The Jews had their own blood on their own heads because they rejected God’s truth.
因为你沒有帶信心去警告他，你手上有血意味着你对他的死亡承担责任。图像来自城墙上的守望者，他们的任务是保持警觉，并警告即将到来的危险（參  以西结书3：17-21; 33：1-9）。但是，头上流血意味着要责备你自己的判断。你有机会得救，但拒绝了（參 约书亞2:19）。保罗的手很干净（使徒行传20:26），因为他一直忠心的宣告福音的信息。犹太人在自己的头上有自己的血，因为他们拒绝了上帝的真理。

         At just the right time, God brought another friend into Paul’s life—Gentile, God-fearing Titus Justus. Some Bible students think his full name was Gaius Titus Justus and that he was the “Gaius my host” referred to in Romans 16:23. The connection between Gaius and Crispus in Acts 18:7–8 and 1 Corinthians 1:14 is certainly significant.
正巧這时候，上帝為保罗带来另一位同工进入他的生命—敬畏上帝的提多猶士都。一些圣经学生认为他的全名是該由提多猶士都，他是罗马书16:23中提到的  “我的主人該由”。在使徒行传18：7-8和哥林多前书1:14中，述說該由和基利斯布之间的联系无疑的是很重要。

         Paul departed from the synagogue and began using the house of Titus Justus as his preaching station, right next to the synagogue! This was certainly a wise decision on Paul’s part, because it gave him continued contact with the Jews and Gentile proselytes, and as a result, even the chief ruler of the synagogue was converted! It was the ruler’s job to see to it that the synagogue building was cared for and that the services were held in a regular and orderly manner. We have here another instance of an entire family turning to the Lord (Acts 10:24, 44; 16:15, 34). How that must have stirred the Jewish population in Corinth!
保罗离开廟堂，开始使用提多猶士都的房子作为他的讲道處所，廟堂就在它的旁边！对于保罗来说，顯然是明智的决定，因为这让他与犹太人和外邦人可以一直保持接触，结果，甚至廟堂里的首席管理者也悔改变了！管廟堂的工作者的職責是廟堂的建筑的維修及得到照顾，并且有规律和有秩序的運作。在这里有另一全家歸主的例子（使徒行传10:24，44; 16:15，34）。这些事会激起在哥林多犹太人的情緒！
 
         When you examine Paul’s ministry in Corinth, you will see that he was fulfilling the Lord’s commission given in Matthew 28:19–20. Paul came to Corinth (“Go”), he won sinners to Christ (“make disciples”), he baptized, and he taught them (note Acts 18:11). He even experienced the assurance of the Lord’s “Lo, I am with thee always” (Acts 18:9–10).
在研究保罗於哥林多的事工时，你会看到他正在履行在马太福音28：19-20中所提出的主的大使命。保罗来到哥林多（“去”），他赢得罪人歸向基督（“成为门徒”），他施洗，并教導他们（注意  徒18:11）。他甚至经历了主的  “羅(保罗)，我永远与你同在” 的保证（徒18：9-10）。

        Paul’s associates baptized most of the new converts (1 Cor. 1:11–17), just as our Lord’s disciples did when He ministered on earth (John 4:1–2; and note Acts 10:46–48). The important thing is the believer’s obedience to the Lord and not the name of the minister who does the baptizing. When I became senior pastor at the Moody Church in Chicago, an older member boastfully said to me, “I was baptized by Dr. Ironside!” He was surprised that I was not impressed. I was sure that Dr. Ironside would have lovingly rebuked him for speaking like that, for Dr. Ironside was a humble man who wanted Christ’s name exalted, not his own.
正如我们的主在世上作工时，祂的门徒所做的那样（约翰福音4：1-2;  注意，使徒行传10：46-48），保罗的同工为大多数新信徒施洗（林前1：11-17）。重要的是信徒顺服主，而不是對施洗的传道人。当我成为芝加哥慕迪教会的資深牧师时，一位年长的會友炫耀地对我说：“我受到了艾爾赛德博士的洗礼！” 他很惊讶我並不在意的表示。我确信艾尔賽德博士会亲切地责备他这样说，因为艾尔賽德博士是谦卑的人，他想的是基督的名,  而不是他自己的名字。

        To walk by faith means to see opportunities even in the midst of opposition. A pessimist sees only the problems; an optimist sees only the potential; but a realist sees the potential in the problems. Paul did not close his eyes to the many dangers and difficulties in the situation at Corinth, but he did look at them from the divine point of view.
凭信心行事為人是意味着，即使是存在於反对人之中，也能看到机会。悲观主义者只看到问题;  乐观主义者就看到未來的潜力;  但现实主义者看到问题的潜在性。保罗并没有看到哥林多局势中的许多危险和困难，但他确实从上帝的角度来注視他们。

         Faith simply means obeying God’s will in spite of feelings, circumstances, or consequences. There never was an easy place to serve God, and if there is an easy place, it is possible that something is wrong. Paul reminded Timothy, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12 nkjv).
簡單說,  信心是拋棄感受，忽視情况或后果,  只一味的顺从上帝的旨意。世上从来没有容易的地方为上帝工作，如果有的話，那地方可能有什么差错。保罗提醒提摩太说：“的確，凡是渴望在基督耶稣里生活敬虔的人都会遭受迫害”（提後3:12 新欽定版）。
 
         “Prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament,” wrote Francis Bacon; “adversity is the blessing of the New.” Paul did not allow adversity to keep him from serving God.
培根写道，“繁荣是旧约的祝福;  逆境是新約的祝福。” 保罗不讓逆境阻止他服侍上帝。
 
3.   The Word of Assurance (18:9–17)
3.   上帝之道有保障（18：9-17）

      The conversion of Crispus, an important Jewish leader, opened up more opportunities for evangelism and brought more opposition from the enemy! The Jewish community in Corinth was no doubt furious at Paul’s success and did everything possible to silence him and get rid of him. Dr. Luke does not give us the details, but I get the impression that between Acts 18:8 and 9, the situation became especially difficult and dangerous. Paul may have been thinking about leaving the city when the Lord came to him and gave him the assurance that he needed.
基利布斯是犹太人重要的领袖, 他的悔改为传福音开启更多的机会，也带来更多的敌人的反对！哥林多的犹太人社区无疑对保罗的成功感到愤怒，并竭尽全力使他閉口,  并摆脱他。路加博士没有告诉细节，但我认为在使徒行传18章8和9節之间，情况变得特别困难和危险。保罗可能一直在想到要离开該城时，主来到他的身边，并给了他需要的保证。
 
        It is just like our Lord to speak to us when we need Him the most. His tender “Fear not!” can calm the storm in our hearts regardless of the circumstances around us. This is the way He assured Abraham (Gen. 15:1), Isaac (Gen. 26:24), and Jacob (Gen. 46:3), as well as Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 20:15–17), Daniel (Dan. 10:12, 19), Mary (Luke 1:30), and Peter (Luke 5:10). The next time you feel alone and defeated, meditate on Hebrews 13:5 and Isaiah 41:10 and 43:1–7, and claim by faith the presence of the Lord. He is with you!                                                                          這正是我們主的行事的風格，祂總會在我們最需要祂的時候與我們說話。祂溫柔的充說「不要害怕！」能夠撫平我們心中的風暴，無論我們身處何種境地。祂就是這樣安慰亞伯拉罕（創 15:1）、以撒（創 26:24）、雅各（創 46:3）、約沙法（歷代誌下 20:15-17）、但以理（但以理書 10:12, 19）、馬利亞（路加福音 1:30）。下次當你感到孤單和沮喪時，不妨默想希伯來書 13:5 和以賽亞書 41:10 以及 43:1-7，憑著信心宣告主的同在。祂與你同在！