今日讀經

瑪拿西接續希西家作王

³³希西家與他列祖同睡，葬在大衛子孫的高陵上。他死的時候，猶大人和耶路撒冷的居民都尊敬他。他兒子瑪拿西接續他作王。And Hezekiah rested with his fathers and was buried in the upper tombs of David’s descendants. All Judah and the people of Jerusalem paid him honor at his death. And his son Manasseh reigned in his place.

相關經文 ›

瑪拿西大行惡事

¹瑪拿西登基的時候年十二歲，在耶路撒冷作王五十五年。Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years.

²他行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，效法耶和華在以色列人面前趕出的外邦人那可憎的事，And he did evil in the sight of the LORD by following the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

³重新建築他父希西家所拆毀的邱壇，又為巴力築壇，作木偶，且敬拜事奉天上的萬象，For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had torn down, and he raised up altars for the Baals and made Asherah poles. And he worshiped and served all the host of heaven.

⁴在耶和華的殿宇中築壇─耶和華曾指著這殿說：「我的名必永遠在耶路撒冷。」Manasseh also built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever.”

⁵他在耶和華殿的兩院中為天上的萬象築壇，In both courtyards of the house of the LORD, he built altars to all the host of heaven.

⁶並在欣嫩子谷使他的兒女經火，又觀兆，用法術，行邪術，立交鬼的和行巫術的，多行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，惹動他的怒氣，He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

⁷又在　神殿內立雕刻的偶像。　神曾對大衛和他兒子所羅門說：「我在以色列各支派中所選擇的耶路撒冷和這殿，必立我的名直到永遠。Manasseh even took the carved image he had made and set it up in the house of God, of which God had said to David and his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will establish My Name forever.

⁸以色列人若謹守遵行我藉摩西所吩咐他們的一切法度、律例、典章，我就不再使他們挪移離開我所賜給他們列祖之地。」I will never again cause the feet of the Israelites to leave the land that I assigned to your fathers, if only they are careful to do all that I have commanded them through Moses—all the laws, statutes, and judgments.”

⁹瑪拿西引誘猶大和耶路撒冷的居民，以致他們行惡比耶和華在以色列人面前所滅的列國更甚。So Manasseh led the people of Judah and Jerusalem astray, so that they did greater evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites.

相關經文 ›

瑪拿西被擄後自卑悔改

¹⁰耶和華警戒瑪拿西和他的百姓，他們卻是不聽。And the LORD spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they did not listen.

¹¹所以耶和華使亞述王的將帥來攻擊他們，用鐃鉤鉤住瑪拿西，用銅鍊鎖住他，帶到巴比倫去。So the LORD brought against them the military commanders of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.

¹²他在急難的時候，就懇求耶和華─他的　神，且在他列祖的　神面前極其自卑。And in his distress, Manasseh sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his fathers.

¹³他祈禱耶和華，耶和華就允准他的祈求，垂聽他的禱告，使他歸回耶路撒冷，仍坐國位。瑪拿西這才知道惟獨耶和華是　神。And when he prayed to Him, the LORD received his plea and heard his petition. So He brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.

瑪拿西修築城牆、除去偶像

¹⁴此後，瑪拿西在大衛城外，從谷內基訓西邊直到魚門口，建築城牆，環繞俄斐勒，這牆築得甚高；又在猶大各堅固城內設立勇敢的軍長；After this, Manasseh rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David from west of Gihon in the valley to the entrance of the Fish Gate, and he brought it around the hill of Ophel and heightened it considerably. He also stationed military commanders in all the fortified cities of Judah.

¹⁵並除掉外邦人的神像與耶和華殿中的偶像，又將他在耶和華殿的山上和耶路撒冷所築的各壇都拆毀拋在城外；He removed the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the LORD, along with all the altars he had built on the temple mount and in Jerusalem, and he dumped them outside the city.

¹⁶重修耶和華的祭壇，在壇上獻平安祭、感謝祭，吩咐猶大人事奉耶和華─以色列的　神。Then he restored the altar of the LORD and sacrificed peace offerings and thank offerings on it, and he told Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel.

¹⁷百姓卻仍在邱壇上獻祭，只獻給耶和華─他們的　神。Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the LORD their God.

¹⁸瑪拿西其餘的事和禱告他　神的話，並先見奉耶和華─以色列　神的名警戒他的言語，都寫在以色列諸王記上。As for the rest of the acts of Manasseh, along with his prayer to his God and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, they are indeed written in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

¹⁹他的禱告，與　神怎樣應允他，他未自卑以前的罪愆過犯，並在何處建築邱壇，設立亞舍拉和雕刻的偶像，都寫在何賽的書上。His prayer and how God received his plea, as well as all his sin and unfaithfulness, and the sites where he built high places and set up Asherah poles and idols before he humbled himself, they are indeed written in the Records of the Seers.

²⁰瑪拿西與他列祖同睡，葬在自己的宮院裡。他兒子亞們接續他作王。And Manasseh rested with his fathers and was buried at his palace. And his son Amon reigned in his place.

相關經文 ›

亞們行惡被殺

²¹亞們登基的時候年二十二歲，在耶路撒冷作王二年。Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years.

²²他行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，效法他父瑪拿西所行的，祭祀事奉他父瑪拿西所雕刻的偶像，And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh had done. Amon served and sacrificed to all the idols that his father Manasseh had made,

²³不在耶和華面前像他父瑪拿西自卑。這亞們所犯的罪越犯越大。but he did not humble himself before the LORD as his father Manasseh had done; instead, Amon increased his guilt.

²⁴他的臣僕背叛，在宮裡殺了他。Then the servants of Amon conspired against him and killed him in his palace.

²⁵但國民殺了那些背叛亞們王的人，立他兒子約西亞接續他作王。But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and they made his son Josiah king in his place.

相關經文 ›

約西亞年幼尋求神、潔淨全地

¹約西亞登基的時候年八歲，在耶路撒冷作王三十一年。Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.

²他行耶和華眼中看為正的事，效法他祖大衛所行的，不偏左右。And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

相關經文 ›

³他作王第八年，尚且年幼，就尋求他祖大衛的　神。到了十二年才潔淨猶大和耶路撒冷，除掉邱壇、木偶、雕刻的像，和鑄造的像。In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, Josiah began to seek the God of his father David, and in the twelfth year he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images.

⁴眾人在他面前拆毀巴力的壇，砍斷壇上高高的日像，又把木偶和雕刻的像，並鑄造的像打碎成灰，撒在祭偶像人的墳上，Then in his presence the altars of the Baals were torn down, and he cut to pieces the incense altars that were above them. He shattered the Asherah poles, the carved idols, and the cast images, crushed them to dust, and scattered them over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.

⁵將他們祭司的骸骨燒在壇上，潔淨了猶大和耶路撒冷；Then he burned the bones of the priests on their altars. So he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

⁶又在瑪拿西、以法蓮、西緬、拿弗他利各城，和四圍破壞之處，都這樣行；Josiah did the same in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them.

⁷又拆毀祭壇，把木偶和雕刻的像打碎成灰，砍斷以色列遍地所有的日像，就回耶路撒冷去了。He tore down the altars and Asherah poles, crushed the idols to powder, and cut to pieces all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

修殿時發現律法書

⁸約西亞王十八年，淨地淨殿之後，就差遣亞薩利雅的兒子沙番、邑宰瑪西雅、約哈斯的兒子史官約亞去修理耶和華─他　神的殿。Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, in order to cleanse the land and the temple, Josiah sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.

⁹他們就去見大祭司希勒家，將奉到　神殿的銀子交給他；這銀子是看守殿門的利未人從瑪拿西、以法蓮，和一切以色列剩下的人，以及猶大、便雅憫眾人，並耶路撒冷的居民收來的。So they went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites who guarded the doors had collected from the people of Manasseh and Ephraim, from all the remnant of Israel, from all Judah and Benjamin, and from the people of Jerusalem.

¹⁰又將這銀子交給耶和華殿裡督工的，轉交修理耶和華殿的工匠，They put it into the hands of those supervising the work in the house of the LORD, who in turn gave it to the workmen restoring and repairing the house of the LORD.

相關經文 ›

¹¹就是交給木匠、石匠，買鑿成的石頭和架木與棟樑，修猶大王所毀壞的殿。They also gave money to the carpenters and builders to buy dressed stone, as well as timbers for couplings and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to deteriorate.

¹²這些人辦事誠實，督工的是利未人米拉利的子孫雅哈、俄巴底；督催的是哥轄的子孫撒迦利亞、米書蘭；還有善於作樂的利未人。And the men did the work faithfully. The Levites overseeing them were Jahath and Obadiah, descendants of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, descendants of Kohath. Other Levites, all skilled with musical instruments,

¹³他們又監管扛抬的人，督催一切做工的。利未人中也有作書記、作司事、作守門的。were over the laborers and supervised all who did the work, task by task. Some of the Levites were secretaries, officers, and gatekeepers.

¹⁴他們將奉到耶和華殿的銀子運出來的時候，祭司希勒家偶然得了摩西所傳耶和華的律法書。While they were bringing out the money that had been taken into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given by Moses.

¹⁵希勒家對書記沙番說：「我在耶和華殿裡得了律法書。」遂將書遞給沙番。And Hilkiah said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD!” And he gave it to Shaphan.

¹⁶沙番把書拿到王那裡，回覆王說：「凡交給僕人們辦的都辦理了。Then Shaphan brought the book to the king and reported, “Your servants are doing all that has been placed in their hands.

¹⁷耶和華殿裡的銀子倒出來，交給督工的和匠人的手裡了。」They have paid out the money that was found in the house of the LORD and have put it into the hands of the supervisors and workers.”

¹⁸書記沙番又對王說：「祭司希勒家遞給我一卷書。」沙番就在王面前讀那書。Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king.

約西亞撕裂衣服、求問耶和華

¹⁹王聽見律法上的話，就撕裂衣服，When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes

²⁰吩咐希勒家與沙番的兒子亞希甘、米迦的兒子亞比頓、書記沙番，和王的臣僕亞撒雅說：and commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king:

²¹「你們去為我、為以色列和猶大剩下的人，以這書上的話求問耶和華；因我們列祖沒有遵守耶和華的言語，沒有照這書上所記的去行，耶和華的烈怒就倒在我們身上。」“Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for those remaining in Israel and Judah concerning the words in the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that has been poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD by doing all that is written in this book.”

女先知戶勒大的回答

²²於是，希勒家和王所派的眾人都去見女先知戶勒大。戶勒大是掌管禮服沙龍的妻，沙龍是哈斯拉的孫子、特瓦的兒子。戶勒大住在耶路撒冷第二區；他們請問於她。So Hilkiah and those the king had designated went and spoke to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, the keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem, in the Second District.

²³她對他們說：「耶和華─以色列的　神如此說：『你們可以回覆那差遣你們來見我的人說，And Huldah said to them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Tell the man who sent you

²⁴耶和華如此說：我必照著在猶大王面前所讀那書上的一切咒詛，降禍與這地和其上的居民；that this is what the LORD says: I am about to bring calamity on this place and on its people, according to all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah,

²⁵因為他們離棄我，向別神燒香，用他們手所做的惹我發怒，所以我的忿怒如火倒在這地上，總不熄滅。』because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. My wrath will be poured out upon this place and will not be quenched.’

²⁶然而差遣你們來求問耶和華的猶大王，你們要這樣回覆他說：『耶和華─以色列的　神如此說：至於你所聽見的話，But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘As for the words that you heard,

相關經文 ›

²⁷就是聽見我指著這地和其上居民所說的話，你便心裡敬服，在我面前自卑，撕裂衣服，向我哭泣，因此我應允了你。這是我─耶和華說的。because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its people, and because you have humbled yourself before Me and have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I have heard you,’ declares the LORD.

²⁸我必使你平平安安地歸到墳墓，到你列祖那裡，我要降與這地和其上居民的一切災禍，你也不致親眼看見。』」他們就回覆王去了。‘Now I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the calamity that I will bring on this place and on its people.’” So they brought her answer back to the king.

約西亞帶領百姓立約

²⁹王差遣人招聚猶大和耶路撒冷的眾長老來。Then the king summoned all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.

³⁰王和猶大眾人，與耶路撒冷的居民，並祭司利未人，以及所有的百姓，無論大小，都一同上到耶和華的殿；王就把殿裡所得的約書念給他們聽。And he went up to the house of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as well as the priests and the Levites—all the people great and small—and in their hearing he read all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.

³¹王站在他的地位上，在耶和華面前立約，要盡心盡性地順從耶和華，遵守他的誡命、法度、律例，成就這書上所記的約言；So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of the covenant that were written in this book.

相關經文 ›

³²又使住耶路撒冷和便雅憫的人都服從這約。於是耶路撒冷的居民都遵行他們列祖之　神的約。Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin take a stand in agreement to it. So all the people of Jerusalem carried out the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.

³³約西亞從以色列各處將一切可憎之物盡都除掉，使以色列境內的人都事奉耶和華─他們的　神。約西亞在世的日子，就跟從耶和華─他們列祖的　神，總不離開。And Josiah removed all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the Israelites, and he required everyone in Israel to serve the LORD their God. Throughout his reign they did not turn aside from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.

約西亞守逾越節

¹約西亞在耶路撒冷向耶和華守逾越節。正月十四日，就宰了逾越節的羊羔。Then Josiah kept the Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem, and the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the fourteenth day of the first month.

²王分派祭司各盡其職，又勉勵他們辦耶和華殿中的事；He appointed the priests to their duties and encouraged them in the service of the house of the LORD.

³又對那歸耶和華為聖、教訓以色列人的利未人說：「你們將聖約櫃安放在以色列王大衛兒子所羅門建造的殿裡，不必再用肩扛抬。現在要事奉耶和華─你們的　神，服事他的民以色列。To the Levites who taught all Israel and were holy to the LORD, Josiah said: “Put the holy ark in the temple built by Solomon son of David king of Israel. It is not to be carried around on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and His people Israel.

⁴你們應當按著宗族，照著班次，遵以色列王大衛和他兒子所羅門所寫的，自己預備。Prepare yourselves by families in your divisions, according to the instructions written by David king of Israel and Solomon his son.

⁵要按著你們的弟兄，這民宗族的班次，站在聖所，每班中要利未宗族的幾個人。Moreover, stand in the Holy Place by the divisions of the families of your kinsmen the lay people, and by the divisions of the families of the Levites.

⁶要宰逾越節的羊羔，潔淨自己，為你們的弟兄預備了，好遵守耶和華藉摩西所吩咐的話。」Slaughter the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves, and make preparations for your fellow countrymen to carry out the word of the LORD given by Moses.”

⁷約西亞從群畜中賜給在那裡所有的人民，綿羊羔和山羊羔三萬隻，牛三千隻，作逾越節的祭物；這都是出自王的產業中。From his own flocks and herds Josiah contributed 30,000 lambs and goats plus 3,000 bulls for the Passover offerings for all the people who were present.

⁸約西亞的眾首領也樂意將犧牲給百姓和祭司利未人；又有管理　神殿的希勒家、撒迦利亞、耶歇將羊羔二千六百隻，牛三百隻，給祭司作逾越節的祭物。His officials also contributed willingly to the people and priests and Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the chief officials of the house of God, gave the priests 2,600 Passover offerings and 300 bulls.

⁹利未人的族長歌楠雅和他兩個兄弟示瑪雅、拿坦業，與哈沙比雅、耶利、約撒拔將羊羔五千隻，牛五百隻，給利未人作逾越節的祭物。Additionally, Conaniah and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, as well as Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad, officers of the Levites, contributed to the Levites 5,000 Passover offerings and 500 bulls.

¹⁰這樣，供獻的事齊備了。祭司站在自己的地方，利未人按著班次站立，都是照王所吩咐的。So the service was prepared; the priests stood in their places and the Levites in their divisions according to the king’s command.

¹¹利未人宰了逾越節的羊羔，祭司從他們手裡接過血來灑在壇上；利未人剝皮，And they slaughtered the Passover lambs, while the priests splattered the blood handed to them and the Levites skinned the animals.

¹²將燔祭搬來，按著宗族的班次分給眾民，好照摩西書上所寫的，獻給耶和華；獻牛也是這樣。They set aside the burnt offerings to be given to the divisions of the families of the people to offer to the LORD, as it is written in the Book of Moses. And they did the same with the bulls.

¹³他們按著常例，用火烤逾越節的羊羔。別的聖物用鍋，用釜，用罐煮了，速速地送給眾民。They roasted the Passover animals on the fire according to the regulation, and they boiled the other holy offerings in pots, kettles, and bowls and quickly brought them to all the people.

¹⁴然後為自己和祭司預備祭物；因為祭司亞倫的子孫獻燔祭和脂油，直到晚上。所以利未人為自己和祭司亞倫的子孫，預備祭物。Afterward, they made preparations for themselves and for the priests, since the priests, the descendants of Aaron, were offering up burnt offerings and fat until nightfall. So the Levites made preparations for themselves and for the priests, the descendants of Aaron.

¹⁵歌唱的亞薩之子孫，照著大衛、亞薩、希幔，和王的先見耶杜頓所吩咐的，站在自己的地位上。守門的看守各門，不用離開他們的職事，因為他們的弟兄利未人給他們預備祭物。The singers, the descendants of Asaph, were at their stations according to the command of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer. And the gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their posts, because their fellow Levites made preparations for them.

¹⁶當日，供奉耶和華的事齊備了，就照約西亞王的吩咐守逾越節，獻燔祭在耶和華的壇上。So on that day the entire service of the LORD was carried out for celebrating the Passover and offering burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD, according to the command of King Josiah.

¹⁷當時在耶路撒冷的以色列人守逾越節，又守除酵節七日。The Israelites who were present also observed the Passover at that time, as well as the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days.

¹⁸自從先知撒母耳以來，在以色列中沒有守過這樣的逾越節，以色列諸王也沒有守過，像約西亞、祭司、利未人、在那裡的猶大人，和以色列人，以及耶路撒冷居民所守的逾越節。No such Passover had been observed in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel ever observed a Passover like the one that Josiah observed with the priests, the Levites, all Judah, the Israelites who were present, and the people of Jerusalem.

¹⁹這逾越節是約西亞作王十八年守的。In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, this Passover was observed.

相關經文 ›

約西亞在米吉多中箭身亡

²⁰這事以後，約西亞修完了殿，有埃及王尼哥上來，要攻擊靠近幼發拉底河的迦基米施；約西亞出去抵擋他。After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt marched up to fight at Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to confront him.

²¹他差遣使者來見約西亞，說：「猶大王啊，我與你何干？我今日來不是要攻擊你，乃是要攻擊與我爭戰之家，並且　神吩咐我速行，你不要干預　神的事，免得他毀滅你，因為　神是與我同在。」But Neco sent messengers to him, saying, “What is the issue between you and me, O king of Judah? I have not come against you today, but I am fighting another dynasty, and God has told me to hurry. So stop opposing God, who is with me, or He will destroy you!”

²²約西亞卻不肯轉去離開他，改裝要與他打仗，不聽從　神藉尼哥之口所說的話，便來到米吉多平原爭戰。Josiah, however, did not turn away from him; instead, in order to engage him in battle, he disguised himself. He did not listen to Neco’s words from the mouth of God, but went to fight him on the Plain of Megiddo.

²³弓箭手射中約西亞王。王對他的臣僕說：「我受了重傷，你拉我出陣吧！」There the archers shot King Josiah, who said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded!”

²⁴他的臣僕扶他下了戰車，上了次車，送他到耶路撒冷，他就死了，葬在他列祖的墳墓裡。猶大人和耶路撒冷人都為他悲哀。So his servants took him out of his chariot, put him in his second chariot, and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. And Josiah was buried in the tomb of his fathers, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him.

耶利米為約西亞作哀歌

²⁵耶利米為約西亞作哀歌。所有歌唱的男女也唱哀歌，追悼約西亞，直到今日；而且在以色列中成了定例。這歌載在哀歌書上。Then Jeremiah lamented over Josiah, and to this day all the male and female singers recite laments over Josiah. They established them as a statute for Israel, and indeed they are written in the Book of Laments.

²⁶約西亞其餘的事和他遵著耶和華律法上所記而行的善事，As for the rest of the acts of Josiah and his deeds of loving devotion according to what is written in the Law of the LORD—

²⁷並他自始至終所行的，都寫在以色列和猶大列王記上。his acts from beginning to end—they are indeed written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.

相關經文 ›

希律殺雅各、捉拿彼得

¹那時，希律王下手苦害教會中幾個人，About that time, King Herod reached out to harm some who belonged to the church.

²用刀殺了約翰的哥哥雅各。He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.

³他見猶太人喜歡這事，又去捉拿彼得。那時正是除酵的日子。And seeing that this pleased the Jews, Herod proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

⁴希律拿了彼得，收在監裡，交付四班兵丁看守，每班四個人，意思要在逾越節後把他提出來，當著百姓辦他。He arrested him and put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out to the people after the Passover.

教會切切禱告

⁵於是彼得被囚在監裡；教會卻為他切切地禱告　神。So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him.

天使救彼得出監

⁶希律將要提他出來的前一夜，彼得被兩條鐵鍊鎖著，睡在兩個兵丁當中；看守的人也在門外看守。On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison.

⁷忽然，有主的一個使者站在旁邊，屋裡有光照耀，天使拍彼得的肋旁，拍醒了他，說：「快快起來！」那鐵鍊就從他手上脫落下來。Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists.

⁸天使對他說：「束上帶子，穿上鞋。」他就那樣做。天使又說：「披上外衣，跟著我來。」“Get dressed and put on your sandals,” said the angel. Peter did so, and the angel told him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”

⁹彼得就出來跟著他，不知道天使所做是真的，只當見了異象。So Peter followed him out, but he was unaware that what the angel was doing was real. He thought he was only seeing a vision.

¹⁰過了第一層第二層監牢，就來到臨街的鐵門，那門自己開了。他們出來，走過一條街，天使便離開他去了。They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city, which opened for them by itself. When they had gone outside and walked the length of one block, the angel suddenly left him.

¹¹彼得醒悟過來，說：「我現在真知道主差遣他的使者，救我脫離希律的手和猶太百姓一切所盼望的。」Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.”

彼得敲門，羅大報信

¹²想了一想，就往那稱呼馬可的約翰、他母親馬利亞家去，在那裡有好些人聚集禱告。And when he had realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying.

¹³彼得敲外門，有一個使女，名叫羅大，出來探聽，He knocked at the outer gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it.

¹⁴聽得是彼得的聲音，就歡喜的顧不得開門，跑進去告訴眾人說：「彼得站在門外。」When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that she forgot to open the gate, but ran inside and announced, “Peter is standing at the gate!”

¹⁵他們說：「你是瘋了！」使女極力地說：「真是他！」他們說：「必是他的天使！」“You are out of your mind,” they told her. But when she kept insisting it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”

¹⁶彼得不住地敲門。他們開了門，看見他，就甚驚奇。But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded.

¹⁷彼得擺手，不要他們作聲，就告訴他們主怎樣領他出監；又說：「你們把這事告訴雅各和眾弟兄。」於是出去，往別處去了。Peter motioned with his hand for silence, and he described how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. “Send word to James and to the brothers,” he said, and he left for another place.

希律審問看守的人

¹⁸到了天亮，兵丁擾亂得很，不知道彼得往哪裡去了。At daybreak there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.

¹⁹希律找他，找不著，就審問看守的人，吩咐把他們拉去殺了。後來希律離開猶太，下凱撒利亞去，住在那裡。After Herod had searched for him unsuccessfully, he examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent some time there.

希律自高被擊殺

²⁰希律惱怒泰爾、西頓的人。他們那一帶地方是從王的地土得糧，因此就託了王的內侍臣伯拉斯都的情，一心來求和。Now Herod was in a furious dispute with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they convened before him. Having secured the support of Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their region depended on the king’s country for food.

²¹希律在所定的日子，穿上朝服，坐在位上，對他們講論一番。On the appointed day, Herod donned his royal robes, sat on his throne, and addressed the people.

²²百姓喊著說：「這是　神的聲音，不是人的聲音。」And they began to shout, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!”

²³希律不歸榮耀給　神，所以主的使者立刻罰他，他被蟲所咬，氣就絕了。Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

神的道日見興旺

²⁴神的道日見興旺，越發廣傳。But the word of God continued to spread and multiply.