“Never Giving up Is a Proper Response to Opposition/Rejection for the Gospel’s Sake 對為福音缘故的敵對/拒絶，一個適當的回應就是永不放棄“（Acts 使徒行傳 13:44-52）
… with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him. … ‘We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘“I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”’ When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honoured the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. But the Jewish leaders incited … stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
… 就滿心嫉妒，反駁保羅所講的，並且毀謗他們。…“神的道，先講給你們聽，是應該的。但因為你們棄絕這道，斷定自己不配得永生，所以我們現在就轉向外族人去了。因為主曾這樣吩咐我們說：‘我已立你作外族人的光，使你把救恩帶到地極去。’”外族人聽見了就歡喜，讚美主的道，凡指定得永生的都信了。於是主的道傳遍那地。但猶太人唆使 … 煽動大家迫害保羅和巴拿巴，把他們驅逐出境。兩人當眾跺掉腳上的塵土，往以哥念去了。門徒滿有喜樂，又被聖靈充滿。
Here, Luke used ‘the word of God/the Lord’ four times to emphasize that this was the primary power which attracted people. The dramatic response of the crowds gathered to hear God’s word made the leaders of the synagogue envious and oppose Paul. It was a privilege that the gospel should come to Jews first, a privilege they were now rejecting. The Gentiles responded to Paul’s invitation with enthusiastic belief, learning with joy that God does not hate Gentiles, but offered them salvation in Jesus. Jewish opposition was strong enough to force Paul and Barnabas to leave the area. Shaking the dust off their feet was a gesture of treating the city they visited as if it were a God-rejecting Gentile city. Being filled with joy that often contradicts circumstances and being filled with the Holy Spirit go together.
在這裡，路加用了四次「神/主的道」，強調這道就是那吸引人根本的能力。人群聚起來要聽神的道，這戲劇性的反應使會堂的領袖滿心嫉妒，並反對保羅。福音理應先臨到猶太人是一個特權，一個他們正在拒絶的特權。外族人以熱心的信奉回應了保羅的邀請，歡歡喜喜地知道神並不恨惡外族人，卻將在耶穌裡的救恩賜給他們。猶太人的反對大到足以強逼保羅和巴拿巴離開該地區。兩人跺掉腳上的塵土，是把他們到訪的城市看作為一座神拒絕的外族城市的示意動作。既被那與境況相矛盾的喜樂充滿，又被聖靈充滿，這是相輔相成的。
Prayer: Lord Jesus, the Word of Life, indeed it is your word and sacrificial love which attract people to come to you for salvation. Very often, rejection/opposition for the gospel’s sake makes us want to give up. Thank you for reminding us that it is a privilege for us to be the channel of your good news and blessing to others, a privilege we should not look lightly. We know we could not all be popular to the same degree as Paul. Rather, may we all serve and please you to the same degree in Jesus Christ. Amen.
禱告: 那生命之道的主耶穌啊，這確實是你的道和犧牲的愛，吸引人到你那裡來得著救恩。為福音緣故的敵對/拒絶，通常使我們要放棄。感謝你提醒我們，對我們來說，成為你給別人好消息和祝福的表達方式是一個特權，一個我們理應不可輕看的特權。我們曉得自己不可以面面皆圓、廣受歡迎到同保羅一樣的程度，相反，願意我們在耶穌基督裡，人人事奉和討你喜悅到同一樣的程度。阿們
