行动和话语的事工
圣灵降临节后不久，教会的合一就遭到威胁。在每天给穷乏人的供给上，有希腊背景的寡妇被忽略了。所以，带领教会的十二使徒聚集众人，要为此事商讨出一个解决方案。
于是，有七个人被选出来管理全教会的后勤和饭食。这样，教会又恢复了合一，神的话得以继续被广传。
司提反的事迹在这一章中特别突出。他有益的慈善事工与传讲话语的事奉连在一起。司提反让我们明白，神呼召我们以行动和话语来做祂的见证。靠着神的恩典和大能，司提反既行了大奇事，又说出了大智慧。
司提反的事迹充满大能，因为它是正直和真理的见证。他作为基督的信徒，行在其他基督徒中间，与他们谈论，并邀请他们来跟随耶稣。
然而，教会外那些有权势的领袖却视司提反是一个威胁。他们唆使假见证人毁谤他，而司提反却坚持做耶稣的见证。甚至他的容貌就好像天使的容貌，这表示他与神有着亲密的关系。
教会的主啊，求你藉着圣灵使我们以行动和话语做你的见证。愿我们的容貌——无论是喜乐还是忧伤——都显出我们对你和他人的爱。奉耶稣的名祷告。阿们。
使徒行传 6
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。
8司提反满得恩惠、能力，在民间行了大奇事和神迹。
9当时有称“利百地拿”会堂的几个人，并有古利奈、亚历山大、基利家、亚细亚各处会堂的几个人，都起来和司提反辩论。
10司提反是以智慧和圣灵说话，众人抵挡不住。
11就买出人来说：“我们听见他说谤讟摩西和神的话。”
12他们又耸动了百姓、长老并文士，就忽然来捉拿他，把他带到公会去，
13设下假见证说：“这个人说话不住地糟践圣所和律法。
14我们曾听见他说，这拿撒勒人耶稣要毁坏此地，也要改变摩西所交给我们的规条。”
15在公会里坐着的人都定睛看他，见他的面貌好像天使的面貌。
Word And Deed Ministry
“Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.” — Acts 6:8
Not long after Pentecost, the unity of the church was being threatened. Widows from a Greek background were being left out in the daily distribution of food for needy persons. So the twelve apostles who were leading the church gathered the community together to discuss a solution to this problem.
Seven people were then chosen to lead in the service ministries of the whole community. The unity of the church was restored, and the Word of God continued to spread.
Stephen’s work is especially highlighted in this chapter of Acts. His ministry of helpful deeds is also marked by a ministry of words. Stephen helps us understand that God calls us to be his witnesses with our actions and our words. By God’s grace and power, Stephen both did great wonders and spoke great wisdom.
Stephen’s work was full of power because it was a testimony of integrity and truth. He walked among fellow Christians as a disciple of Jesus, and he talked to others and invited them to follow Jesus.
But some powerful leaders outside the church saw Stephen as a threat. They persuaded false witnesses to speak against him, and yet Stephen remained a witness for Jesus. Even his face—looking like the face of angel—was a sign of his close relationship with God.
Lord of the church, empower us by your Spirit to be your witnesses in word and deed. May even our faces—in joy or sorrow—show our love for you and others. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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