使徒行传22:16 /03

作者：谢德华 (©By Edward Short)

Acts 22:16 /03

©By Edward Short

历史上有名的基督徒，很难找到一位比得上第一世纪的保罗。保罗原来名叫扫罗，但是成为基督徒后，大家叫他保罗。保罗还没成为基督徒以前，他逼迫基督徒，甚至于，一位名叫司提反的基督徒被打死时，保罗也参与此谋杀罪。多年后，这位保罗年老的时候，回想他成为基督徒以前的行为，形容自己逼迫基督徒如下：“我从前是亵渎神的，逼迫人的，侮慢人的...”[提摩太前书1:13]。

保罗成为基督徒的过程，包括耶稣基督亲自向保罗显现，证明他真复活了，证明他真是上帝的儿子。保罗不知道向他显现的是谁，就问他说：“主阿，你是谁？”耶稣对保罗说：“我就是你所逼迫的拿撒勒人耶稣”[使徒行传9章]。保罗又问：“主阿，我当作什么？”[使徒行传22:10] 。主说，“起来，进大马色去，在那里要将所派你作的一切事，告诉你”。有三天的时间保罗不能看见，他也不吃，也不喝，但是保罗心里经过180度的转变。保罗决定成为耶稣的门徒。当时主差遣一位名叫亚拿尼亚的基督徒，去看保罗，告诉他，他是上帝“所拣选的器皿，要在外邦人和君王并以色列人面前，宣扬我[上帝]的名”。最后，亚拿尼亚吩咐保罗说，“现在你为什么要耽延呢？起来！求告他的名受洗，洗去你的罪”[使徒行传22:16]。保罗马上就按照亚拿尼亚的吩咐而受了洗。

今天我请您注意的是亚拿尼亚说的一句话，“现在你为什么要耽延呢？起来！求告他的名受洗，洗去你的罪”。特别请您注意:“...求告他的名受洗，洗去你的罪”。亚拿尼亚告诉保罗要“求告[主]的名”，并且告诉他如何“求告他的名”。亚拿尼亚告诉保罗要“...求告他的名受洗...”从此句话可知，洗礼是主耶稣指定求告他的名，接受神的恩典，获得救恩的方法。

亚拿尼亚没有告诉保罗要爬山，付出钱，背诵经典或积功德。都不是的。他告诉保罗要受洗。很明显的，保罗已经相信耶稣是上帝的儿子，是复活的主。保罗已经懊悔了他逼迫基督徒的行为，悔改了一切的罪孽。最后亚拿尼亚向他说，“现在你为什么要耽延呢？起来！求告他的名受洗，洗去你的罪”。

今天，如果您也相信耶稣是上帝的儿子，您需要跟保罗一样悔改所有的过犯，然后跟保罗一样，“起来！求告[主]的名受洗，洗去你的罪”。

It would be difficult to find anywhere in history another Christian that would compare with the apostle Paul.  Originally, Paul was known as Saul, but after he became a Christian everyone called him Paul.  Before he became a follower of Jesus, Paul persecuted Christians.  In fact, when a Christian named Stephen was stoned to death, Paul took part in the murder.  Many years later, when Paul was an elderly person, he reflected on his pre-Christian life, and described himself in this way:  “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man…” [1 Timothy 1:13].

In the process of becoming a Christian, Jesus Christ appeared to Paul and proved that he had been raised from the dead and thus was the Son of God.  Paul didn’t know who it was that appeared to him, so he asked, “Who are you, Lord?”  Jesus replied, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” [Acts chapter 9].  Paul asked, “What shall I do, Lord?” [Acts 22:10].   Jesus said, “Get up, and go into Damascus.  There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.”  For three days, Paul was unable to see, nor did he eat or drink anything.  During this time, however, he made a 180 degree change of life!  He determined to become a Christian!  Just at this time, the Lord sent to Paul a disciple whose name was Ananias.  Ananias told Paul that he was God’s “chosen instrument to carry [God’s] name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.”  Finally, Ananias told Paul, “And now, what are you waiting for?  Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name” [Acts 22:16].  Paul then quickly heeded Ananias’ instruction and was baptized.

Today I’m asking you to look closely at one of the things Ananias said:  “And now, what are you waiting for?  Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”  Pay special attention to the words, “…be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”  Ananias told Paul to “call on the name of the Lord,” and Ananias told Paul precisely how to do that; he said, “…be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”  From this we know that baptism is the way that the Lord Jesus has determined for us to call on his name, to accept his grace and to receive salvation. 

Ananias didn’t tell Paul to climb a mountain, pay money, memorize Scripture or perform meritorious works.  He told Paul to be baptized.  It’s obvious that Paul had already come to belief in Jesus as the Son of God and the resurrected Savior.  Paul was deeply sorry that he had persecuted Christians and he repented of all his sins.  Finally then, Ananias told Paul, “And now, what are you waiting for?  Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”

Today, if you also believe that Jesus is the Son of God, you should do as Paul did and repent of all misdeeds.  Then follow Paul’s example, “And… be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”