司提反利用申辩的机会传福音 — 使徒行传读经随笔 第7章

使徒行传第七章司提反在面对大祭司的质问的时候，就开始在会堂里利用旧约里亚伯拉罕奉神的指示去应许之地和摩西领以色列人出埃及的两段历史向众人传福音。这两段历史都是预表弥赛亚耶稣要将他的百姓从罪恶里拯救出来，带领他们去天国；割礼预表了凡接受耶稣救赎的人要受圣灵的洗。被以色列百姓弃绝的摩西却是神立为救以色列人出埃及的首领，这与被以色列人弃绝的耶稣却是救他们脱离罪恶的弥赛亚何其相似。在出埃及的四十年里，神借摩西的手行神迹奇事，同样耶稣在世传道期间也行了大量的神迹奇事。摩西将神活泼的圣言传给以色列人反遭弃绝，因为他们心里归向埃及；耶稣传神国的福音给以色列人，反被他们钉在十字架上。摩西在后来预言耶稣说“神要从你们弟兄中间，给你们兴起一位先知像我的”。接下来司提反提到了所罗门给神所建的殿宇说“其实至高者并不住人手所造的”，这是司提反告诉人们神其实根本不住在人建造的殿宇里面，因为神需要住在人的心里，身体是神的殿。最后，司提反痛斥公会里的人颈项僵硬，抗拒圣灵，乱杀先知，还杀了弥赛亚耶稣，不遵守律法。众人听到司提反说的这些话就恼羞成怒，遂用石头打死了司提反。

徒7:37 那曾对以色列人说、『 神要从你们弟兄中间、给你们兴起一位先知像我的、』就是这位摩西。
This is that Moses, who said to the children of Israel, 'The Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me.'
徒7:38 这人曾在旷野会中、和西乃山上与那对他说话的天使同在、又与我们的祖宗同在、并且领受活泼的圣言传给我们。
This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received living oracles to give to us,
徒7:39 我们的祖宗不肯听从、反弃绝他、心里归向埃及、
to whom our fathers wouldn't be obedient, but rejected him, and turned back in their hearts to Egypt,
徒7:46 大卫在 神面前蒙恩、祈求为雅各的 神预备居所．
who found favor in the sight of God, and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob.
徒7:47 却是所罗门为 神造成殿宇。
But Solomon built him a house.
徒7:48 其实至高者并不住人手所造的．就如先知所言、
However, the Most High doesn't dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says,
徒7:49 『主说、天是我的座位、地是我的脚凳．你们要为我造何等的殿宇、那里是我安息的地方呢．
'heaven is my throne, and the earth a footstool for my feet. What kind of house will you build me?' says the Lord; 'or what is the place of my rest?
徒7:50 这一切不都是我手所造的么。』
Didn't my hand make all these things?'
徒7:51 你们这硬着颈项、心与耳未受割礼的人、常时抗拒圣灵．你们的祖宗怎样、你们也怎样。
"You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do.
徒7:52 那一个先知、不是你们祖宗逼迫呢．他们也把预先传说那义者要来的人杀了．如今你们又把那义者卖了、杀了。
Which of the prophets didn't your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers.
徒7:53 你们受了天使所传的律法、竟不遵守
You received the law as it was ordained by angels, and didn't keep it!"
徒7:54 众人听见这话、就极其恼怒、向司提反咬牙切齿。
Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.
徒7:59 他们正用石头打的时候、司提反呼吁主说、求主耶稣接收我的灵魂。
They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!"
徒7:60 又跪下大声喊着说、主阿、不要将这罪归于他们。说了这话、就睡了．扫罗也喜悦他被害。
He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, don't hold this sin against them!" When he had said this, he fell asleep.