“在耶路撒冷门徒数目加增的甚多，也有许多祭司信从了这道。” - 徒 6:7

　　耶稣复活升天后的最初几个月，教会增长得非常快，在使徒行传的记载中，以上这节经文轻描淡写说，“有许多祭司也信从了这道”。这句话似乎亳不显眼，然而，如果我们还记起耶稣当日被祂自己的百姓拒绝和出卖，便发现这句话实在不简单。

　　这些祭司最初或许会服从他们领导人的做法，以为如果能阻止众人传讲耶稣，整件事便会不了了之；又或许，他们最初也会一起隐瞒耶稣复活的证据。要改变这些祭司是很困难的，毕竟他们一生都在圣殿服事敬拜，为百姓献祭并负责很多礼节仪式。现在他们又有了一个新的角色，就是成为耶稣的信徒。这位耶稣就是他们昔日所抗拒的，却也是他们一直在等待的弥赛亚。

　　这简短的话提醒我们，自我欺哄虽然会像病毒那样四处散播，但有一良方能战胜医治它，就是接受真理。正如耶稣自己曾应许的：“真理必叫你们得以自由” （约翰福音 8:32）。

　　今天，你已准备好接受耶稣是从神而来的弥赛亚吗？

祷告

主耶稣，自我欺哄是致命的，我们需要袮的真理来带领我们出死入生。惟愿祢真理的亮光叫我们得以自由。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。

 

使徒行传 6:1-7

1那时，门徒增多，有说希腊话的犹太人向希伯来人发怨言，因为在天天的供给上忽略了他们的寡妇。
2十二使徒叫众门徒来，对他们说：“我们撇下神的道去管理饭食，原是不合宜的。
3所以弟兄们，当从你们中间选出七个有好名声、被圣灵充满、智慧充足的人，我们就派他们管理这事。
4但我们要专心以祈祷、传道为事。”
5大众都喜悦这话，就拣选了司提反，乃是大有信心、圣灵充满的人，又拣选腓利、伯罗哥罗、尼迦挪、提门、巴米拿，并进犹太教的安提阿人尼哥拉，
6叫他们站在使徒面前。使徒祷告了，就按手在他们头上。
7神的道兴旺起来；在耶路撒冷门徒数目加增的甚多，也有许多祭司信从了这道。

The Power Of The Truth

"The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith." — Acts 6:7

英语音频 English Audio

It is tucked away almost like a footnote within the story of the rapid growth of the church of Christ in the first months after Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven. And yet, recalling the rejection and betrayal Jesus experienced from his very own people, these few words in today's verse come as a surprise: "a large number of priests became obedient to the faith."

Perhaps for a while these priests had gone along with the efforts of their leaders, thinking that if they could force people to stop talking about Jesus, the whole matter would just go away. Perhaps for a while they had tried to go along with covering up the evidence of Jesus' resurrection. It was probably very difficult for some of these priests to change; after all, they had spent their whole lives serving in the temple worship, bringing sacrifices and doing many other rituals on behalf of the people. But now they were called to new roles as believers in Jesus, whom they had opposed but who was also the Messiah they had been waiting for.

This little note reminds us how the penetrating virus of self-deception can be overwhelmed and healed by the medicine of simply admitting the truth. As Jesus himself promised, "The truth will set you free" (John 8:32).

Are you ready to acknowledge Jesus as God's Messiah?

Prayer

诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳