司提反

司提反
聖經閱讀：使徒行傳6:8-15, 7:54-60
2012年8月15日(三)

司提反是耶路撒冷教會的領袖，使徒行傳6:1-6告訴我們，教會選出包括司提反在內的七位執事，他們要負責讓那些說希臘話的寡婦有東西吃。司提反和其他執事是「受聖靈充滿、又有智慧的人」(使徒行傳6:3b)。 今天的聖經閱讀告訴我們，司提反也能行神蹟，但是有些猶太人並不認同司提反，他們中間起了爭論。於是，聖靈賜下智慧並藉由司提反的口向大家說話；他向會眾發表了長長的演說（使徒行傳第7章），從亞伯拉罕談起，到摩西和約書亞，最後以耶穌作為結束。 猶太人很惱怒提司反，所以把他推到城外並用石頭打死他。司提反臨死之前，還求上帝饒恕那些想要殺他的人。 我們每一個人都應該要像司提反。司提反是一個慈愛並能寬恕人的基督徒，而且他願意為耶穌犧牲生命。—ECW 「司提反被聖靈充滿，舉目望天，看見上帝的榮耀，又看見耶穌站在上帝的右邊，」 使徒行傳7:55 禱告：上帝，我要像司提反一樣，對人慈愛並寬恕人。奉耶穌的名，阿們！ (尤榮輝譯/台南聖教會英語團契)

Stephen
Bible Reading: Acts 6:8-15, 7:54-60
Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Stephen was a leader in the church in Jerusalem. Acts 6:1-6 tells us that Stephen was one of the seven men chosen to make sure that the Greek-speaking widows had food to eat. Stephen and these other men were “full of wisdom and full of the Spirit” (Acts 6:3b). Our Bible Reading tells us that Stephen was able to do miracles, too. But some Jews did not agree with Stephen. They got into an argument. God’s Spirit spoke through Stephen and gave him wisdom. Stephen gave a long speech (Acts, chapter 7). He talked about Abraham and Moses and Joshua. Stephen ended by talking about Jesus. The Jews were so upset with Stephen that they dragged him out of the city and stoned him. Before Stephen died, he asked God to forgive the people who were killing him. We should all want to be like Stephen. He was a loving and forgiving Christian. And Stephen was willing to die for Jesus. —ECW “Stephen looked up into the sky. He saw the Glory of God. He saw Jesus standing at God’s right side.” Acts 7:55b PRAYER: God, I want to be loving and forgiving like Stephen. In Jesus’ name. Amen.