今日讀經

哈曼高升，末底改不跪拜

¹這事以後，亞哈隨魯王抬舉亞甲族哈米大他的兒子哈曼，使他高升，叫他的爵位超過與他同事的一切臣宰。After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him.

²在朝門的一切臣僕都跪拜哈曼，因為王如此吩咐；惟獨末底改不跪不拜。All the royal servants at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, because the king had commanded that this be done for him. But Mordecai would not bow down or pay homage.

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³在朝門的臣僕問末底改說：「你為何違背王的命令呢？」Then the royal servants at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the command of the king?”

⁴他們天天勸他，他還是不聽，他們就告訴哈曼，要看末底改的事站得住站不住，因他已經告訴他們自己是猶大人。Day after day they warned him, but he would not comply. So they reported it to Haman to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, since he had told them he was a Jew.

⁵哈曼見末底改不跪不拜，他就怒氣填胸。When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or pay him homage, he was filled with rage.

⁶他們已將末底改的本族告訴哈曼；他以為下手害末底改一人是小事，就要滅絕亞哈隨魯王通國所有的猶大人，就是末底改的本族。And when he learned the identity of Mordecai’s people, he scorned the notion of laying hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he sought to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the kingdom of Xerxes.

掣普珥定日子

⁷亞哈隨魯王十二年正月，就是尼散月，人在哈曼面前，按日日月月掣普珥，就是掣籤，要定何月何日為吉，擇定了十二月，就是亞達月。In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the Pur (that is, the lot) was cast before Haman to determine a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

哈曼求王滅絕猶大人

⁸哈曼對亞哈隨魯王說：「有一種民散居在王國各省的民中；他們的律例與萬民的律例不同，也不守王的律例，所以容留他們與王無益。Then Haman informed King Xerxes, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples of every province of your kingdom. Their laws are different from everyone else’s, and they do not obey the king’s laws. So it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.

⁹王若以為美，請下旨意滅絕他們；我就捐一萬他連得銀子交給掌管國帑的人，納入王的府庫。」If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will deposit ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury to pay those who carry it out.”

¹⁰於是王從自己手上摘下戒指給猶大人的仇敵─亞甲族哈米大他的兒子哈曼。So the king removed the signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.

¹¹王對哈曼說：「這銀子仍賜給你，這民也交給你，你可以隨意待他們。」“Keep your money,” said the king to Haman. “These people are given to you to do with them as you please.”

滅族的旨意傳遍各省

¹²正月十三日，就召了王的書記來，照著哈曼一切所吩咐的，用各省的文字、各族的方言，奉亞哈隨魯王的名寫旨意，傳與總督和各省的省長，並各族的首領；又用王的戒指蓋印，On the thirteenth day of the first month, the royal scribes were summoned and the order was written exactly as Haman commanded the royal satraps, the governors of each province, and the officials of each people, in the script of each province and the language of every people. It was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the royal signet ring.

¹³交給驛卒傳到王的各省，吩咐將猶大人，無論老少婦女孩子，在一日之間，十二月，就是亞達月十三日，全然剪除，殺戮滅絕，並奪他們的財為掠物。And the letters were sent by couriers to each of the royal provinces with the order to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—and to plunder their possessions on a single day, the thirteenth day of Adar, the twelfth month.

¹⁴抄錄這旨意，頒行各省，宣告各族，使他們預備等候那日。A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued in every province and published to all the people, so that they would be ready on that day.

¹⁵驛卒奉王命急忙起行，旨意也傳遍書珊城。王同哈曼坐下飲酒，書珊城的民卻都慌亂。The couriers left, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was in confusion.

末底改和猶大人悲哀禁食

¹末底改知道所做的這一切事，就撕裂衣服，穿麻衣，蒙灰塵，在城中行走，痛哭哀號。When Mordecai learned of all that had happened, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.

²到了朝門前停住腳步，因為穿麻衣的不可進朝門。But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering that gate.

³王的諭旨所到的各省各處，猶大人大大悲哀，禁食哭泣哀號，穿麻衣躺在灰中的甚多。In every province to which the king’s command and edict came, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

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末底改請以斯帖求王

⁴王后以斯帖的宮女和太監來把這事告訴以斯帖，她甚是憂愁，就送衣服給末底改穿，要他脫下麻衣，他卻不受。When Esther’s maidens and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, the queen was overcome with distress. She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.

⁵以斯帖就把王所派伺候她的一個太監，名叫哈他革召來，吩咐他去見末底改，要知道這是甚麼事，是甚麼緣故。Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs appointed to her, and she dispatched him to Mordecai to learn what was troubling him and why.

⁶於是哈他革出到朝門前的寬闊處見末底改。So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the king’s gate,

⁷末底改將自己所遇的事，並哈曼為滅絕猶大人應許捐入王庫的銀數都告訴了他；and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury in order to destroy the Jews.

⁸又將所抄寫傳遍書珊城要滅絕猶大人的旨意交給哈他革，要給以斯帖看，又要給她說明，並囑咐她進去見王，為本族的人在王面前懇切祈求。Mordecai also gave Hathach a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for the destruction of the Jews, to show and explain to Esther, urging her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead before him for her people.

⁹哈他革回來，將末底改的話告訴以斯帖；So Hathach went back and relayed Mordecai’s response to Esther.

¹⁰以斯帖就吩咐哈他革去見末底改，說：Then Esther spoke to Hathach and instructed him to tell Mordecai,

¹¹「王的一切臣僕和各省的人民都知道有一個定例：若不蒙召，擅入內院見王的，無論男女必被治死；除非王向他伸出金杖，不得存活。現在我沒有蒙召進去見王已經三十日了。」“All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned—that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.”

¹²人就把以斯帖這話告訴末底改。When Esther’s words were relayed to Mordecai,

¹³末底改託人回覆以斯帖說：「你莫想在王宮裡強過一切猶大人，得免這禍。he sent back to her this reply: “Do not imagine that because you are in the king’s palace you alone will escape the fate of all the Jews.

¹⁴此時你若閉口不言，猶大人必從別處得解脫，蒙拯救；你和你父家必致滅亡。焉知你得了王后的位分不是為現今的機會嗎？」For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

以斯帖決定冒死見王

¹⁵以斯帖就吩咐人回報末底改說：Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:

¹⁶「你當去招聚書珊城所有的猶大人，為我禁食三晝三夜，不吃不喝；我和我的宮女也要這樣禁食。然後我違例進去見王，我若死就死吧！」“Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”

¹⁷於是末底改照以斯帖一切所吩咐的去行。So Mordecai went and did all that Esther had instructed him.

以斯帖進見王、設筵席

¹第三日，以斯帖穿上朝服，進王宮的內院，對殿站立。王在殿裡坐在寶座上，對著殿門。On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace across from the king’s quarters. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the royal courtroom, facing the entrance.

²王見王后以斯帖站在院內，就施恩於她，向她伸出手中的金杖；以斯帖便向前摸杖頭。As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she found favor in his sight. The king extended the gold scepter in his hand toward Esther, and she approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

³王對她說：「王后以斯帖啊，你要甚麼？你求甚麼，就是國的一半也必賜給你。」“What is it, Queen Esther?” the king inquired. “What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given to you.”

⁴以斯帖說：「王若以為美，就請王帶著哈曼今日赴我所預備的筵席。」“If it pleases the king,” Esther replied, “may the king and Haman come today to the banquet I have prepared for the king.”

⁵王說：「叫哈曼速速照以斯帖的話去行」。於是王帶著哈曼赴以斯帖所預備的筵席。“Hurry,” commanded the king, “and bring Haman, so we can do as Esther has requested.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

⁶在酒席筵前，王又問以斯帖說：「你要甚麼，我必賜給你；你求甚麼，就是國的一半也必為你成就。」And as they drank their wine, the king said to Esther, “What is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”

⁷以斯帖回答說：「我有所要，我有所求。Esther replied, “This is my petition and my request:

⁸我若在王眼前蒙恩，王若願意賜我所要的，准我所求的，就請王帶著哈曼再赴我所要預備的筵席。明日我必照王所問的說明。」If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, may the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”

哈曼為末底改立木架

⁹那日哈曼心中快樂，歡歡喜喜地出來；但見末底改在朝門不站起來，連身也不動，就滿心惱怒末底改。That day Haman went out full of joy and glad of heart. At the king’s gate, however, he saw Mordecai, who did not rise or tremble in fear at his presence. And Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai.

¹⁰哈曼暫且忍耐回家，叫人請他朋友和他妻子細利斯來。Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. And calling for his friends and his wife Zeresh,

¹¹哈曼將他富厚的榮耀、眾多的兒女，和王抬舉他使他超乎首領臣僕之上，都述說給他們聽。Haman recounted to them his glorious wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored and promoted him over the other officials and servants.

¹²哈曼又說：「王后以斯帖預備筵席，除了我之外不許別人隨王赴席。明日王后又請我隨王赴席；“What is more,” Haman added, “Queen Esther invited no one but me to join the king at the banquet she prepared, and I am invited back tomorrow along with the king.

¹³只是我見猶大人末底改坐在朝門，雖有這一切榮耀，也與我無益。」Yet none of this satisfies me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”

¹⁴他的妻細利斯和他一切的朋友對他說：「不如立一個五丈高的木架，明早求王將末底改掛在其上，然後你可以歡歡喜喜地隨王赴席。」哈曼以這話為美，就叫人做了木架。His wife Zeresh and all his friends told him, “Have them build a gallows fifty cubits high, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and enjoy yourself.” The advice pleased Haman, and he had the gallows constructed.

王夜裡睡不著

¹那夜王睡不著覺，就吩咐人取歷史來，念給他聽。That night sleep escaped the king; so he ordered the Book of Records, the Chronicles, to be brought in and read to him.

²正遇見書上寫著說：王的太監中有兩個守門的，辟探和提列，想要下手害亞哈隨魯王，末底改將這事告訴王后。And there it was found recorded that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the king’s entrance, when they had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.

³王說：「末底改行了這事，賜他甚麼尊榮爵位沒有？」伺候王的臣僕回答說：「沒有賜他甚麼。」The king inquired, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this act?” “Nothing has been done for him,” replied the king’s attendants.

⁴王說：「誰在院子裡？」（那時哈曼正進王宮的外院，要求王將末底改掛在他所預備的木架上。）“Who is in the court?” the king asked. Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to ask the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows he had prepared for him.

⁵臣僕說：「哈曼站在院內。」王說：「叫他進來。」So the king’s attendants answered him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” “Bring him in,” ordered the king.

哈曼親自尊榮末底改

⁶哈曼就進去。王問他說：「王所喜悅尊榮的人，當如何待他呢？」哈曼心裡說：「王所喜悅尊榮的，不是我是誰呢？」Haman entered, and the king asked him, “What should be done for the man whom the king is delighted to honor?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king be delighted to honor more than me?”

⁷哈曼就回答說：「王所喜悅尊榮的，And Haman told the king, “For the man whom the king is delighted to honor,

⁸當將王常穿的朝服和戴冠的御馬，have them bring a royal robe that the king himself has worn and a horse on which the king himself has ridden—one with a royal crest placed on its head.

⁹都交給王極尊貴的一個大臣，命他將衣服給王所喜悅尊榮的人穿上，使他騎上馬，走遍城裡的街市，在他面前宣告說：王所喜悅尊榮的人，就如此待他。」Let the robe and the horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them array the man the king wants to honor and parade him on the horse through the city square, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man whom the king is delighted to honor!’”

¹⁰王對哈曼說：「你速速將這衣服和馬，照你所說的，向坐在朝門的猶大人末底改去行。凡你所說的，一樣不可缺。」“Hurry,” said the king to Haman, “and do just as you proposed. Take the robe and the horse to Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything that you have suggested.”

¹¹於是哈曼將朝服給末底改穿上，使他騎上馬，走遍城裡的街市，在他面前宣告說：「王所喜悅尊榮的人，就如此待他。」So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai, and paraded him through the city square, crying out before him, “This is what is done for the man whom the king is delighted to honor!”

¹²末底改仍回到朝門，哈曼卻憂憂悶悶地蒙著頭，急忙回家去了，Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief.

¹³將所遇的一切事詳細說給他的妻細利斯和他的眾朋友聽。他的智慧人和他的妻細利斯對他說：「你在末底改面前始而敗落，他如果是猶大人，你必不能勝他，終必在他面前敗落。」Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has begun, is Jewish, you will not prevail against him—for surely you will fall before him.”

¹⁴他們還與哈曼說話的時候，王的太監來催哈曼快去赴以斯帖所預備的筵席。While they were still speaking with Haman, the king’s eunuchs arrived and rushed him to the banquet that Esther had prepared.

以斯帖揭穿哈曼

¹王帶著哈曼來赴王后以斯帖的筵席。So the king and Haman went to dine with Esther the queen,

²這第二次在酒席筵前，王又問以斯帖說：「王后以斯帖啊，你要甚麼，我必賜給你；你求甚麼，就是國的一半也必為你成就。」and as they drank their wine on that second day, the king asked once more, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given to you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be fulfilled.”

³王后以斯帖回答說：「我若在王眼前蒙恩，王若以為美，我所願的，是願王將我的性命賜給我；我所求的，是求王將我的本族賜給我。Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, grant me my life as my petition, and the lives of my people as my request.

⁴因我和我的本族被賣了，要剪除殺戮滅絕我們。我們若被賣為奴為婢，我也閉口不言；但王的損失，敵人萬不能補足。」For my people and I have been sold out to destruction, death, and annihilation. If we had merely been sold as menservants and maidservants, I would have remained silent, because no such distress would justify burdening the king.”

⁵亞哈隨魯王問王后以斯帖說：「擅敢起意如此行的是誰？這人在哪裡呢？」Then King Xerxes spoke up and asked Queen Esther, “Who is this, and where is the one who would devise such a scheme?”

⁶以斯帖說：「仇人敵人就是這惡人哈曼！」哈曼在王和王后面前就甚驚惶。Esther replied, “The adversary and enemy is this wicked man—Haman!” And Haman stood in terror before the king and queen.

哈曼被掛在自己的木架上

⁷王便大怒，起來離開酒席往御園去了。哈曼見王定意要加罪與他，就起來，求王后以斯帖救命。In his fury, the king arose from drinking his wine and went to the palace garden, while Haman stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life, for he realized that the king was planning a terrible fate for him.

⁸王從御園回到酒席之處，見哈曼伏在以斯帖所靠的榻上；王說：「他竟敢在宮內、在我面前凌辱王后嗎？」這話一出王口，人就蒙了哈曼的臉。Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Would he actually assault the queen while I am in the palace?” As soon as the words had left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.

⁹伺候王的一個太監名叫哈波拿，說：「哈曼為那救王有功的末底改做了五丈高的木架，現今立在哈曼家裡。」王說：「把哈曼掛在其上。」Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said: “There is a gallows fifty cubits high at Haman’s house. He had it built for Mordecai, who gave the report that saved the king.” “Hang him on it!” declared the king.

¹⁰於是人將哈曼掛在他為末底改所預備的木架上。王的忿怒這才止息。So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the fury of the king subsided.

末底改得了王的戒指

¹當日，亞哈隨魯王把猶大人仇敵哈曼的家產賜給王后以斯帖。末底改也來到王面前，因為以斯帖已經告訴王，末底改是她的親屬。That same day King Xerxes awarded Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai entered the king’s presence because Esther had revealed his relation to her.

²王摘下自己的戒指，就是從哈曼追回的，給了末底改。以斯帖派末底改管理哈曼的家產。The king removed the signet ring he had recovered from Haman and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai over the estate of Haman.

保羅向雅各和長老報告

¹⁸第二天，保羅同我們去見雅各；長老們也都在那裡。The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were present.

¹⁹保羅問了他們安，便將　神用他傳教，在外邦人中間所行之事，一一地述說了。Paul greeted them and recounted one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

長老擔心猶太信徒的誤會

²⁰他們聽見，就歸榮耀與　神，對保羅說：「兄台，你看猶太人中信主的有多少萬，並且都為律法熱心。When they heard this, they glorified God. Then they said to Paul, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law.

²¹他們聽見人說，你教訓一切在外邦的猶太人離棄摩西，對他們說，不要給孩子行割禮，也不要遵行條規。But they are under the impression that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or observe our customs.

²²眾人必聽見你來了，這可怎麼辦呢？What then should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come.

²³你就照著我們的話行吧！我們這裡有四個人，都有願在身。Therefore do what we advise you. There are four men with us who have taken a vow.

²⁴你帶他們去，與他們一同行潔淨的禮，替他們拿出規費，叫他們得以剃頭。這樣，眾人就可知道，先前所聽見你的事都是虛的；並可知道，你自己為人，循規蹈矩，遵行律法。Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is no truth to these rumors about you, but that you also live in obedience to the law.

²⁵至於信主的外邦人，我們已經寫信擬定，叫他們謹忌那祭偶像之物，和血，並勒死的牲畜，與姦淫。」As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they must abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.”

保羅行潔淨的禮

²⁶於是保羅帶著那四個人，第二天與他們一同行了潔淨的禮，進了殿，報明潔淨的日期滿足，只等祭司為他們各人獻祭。So the next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he entered the temple to give notice of the date when their purification would be complete and the offering would be made for each of them.

殿裡的暴動

²⁷那七日將完，從亞細亞來的猶太人看見保羅在殿裡，就聳動了眾人，下手拿他，When the seven days were almost over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him,

²⁸喊叫說：「以色列人來幫助，這就是在各處教訓眾人糟踐我們百姓和律法，並這地方的。他又帶著希臘人進殿，污穢了這聖地。」crying out, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and against our law and against this place. Furthermore, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.”

²⁹（這話是因他們曾看見以弗所人特羅非摩同保羅在城裡，以為保羅帶他進了殿。）For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

³⁰合城都震動，百姓一齊跑來，拿住保羅，拉他出殿，殿門立刻都關了。The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut.

千夫長把保羅救出

³¹他們正想要殺他，有人報信給營裡的千夫長說：「耶路撒冷合城都亂了。」While they were trying to kill him, the commander of the Roman regiment received a report that all Jerusalem was in turmoil.

³²千夫長立時帶著兵丁和幾個百夫長，跑下去到他們那裡。他們見了千夫長和兵丁，就止住不打保羅。Immediately he took some soldiers and centurions and ran down to the crowd. When the people saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

³³於是千夫長上前拿住他，吩咐用兩條鐵鍊捆鎖；又問他是甚麼人，做的是甚麼事。The commander came up and arrested Paul, ordering that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.

³⁴眾人有喊叫這個的，有喊叫那個的；千夫長因為這樣亂嚷，得不著實情，就吩咐人將保羅帶進營樓去。Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, and some another. And since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks.

³⁵到了臺階上，眾人擠得兇猛，兵丁只得將保羅抬起來。When Paul reached the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob.

³⁶眾人跟在後面，喊著說：「除掉他！」For the crowd that followed him kept shouting, “Away with him!”

保羅請求向百姓說話

³⁷將要帶他進營樓，保羅對千夫長說：「我對你說句話可以不可以？」他說：「你懂得希臘話嗎？As they were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” “Do you speak Greek?” he replied.

³⁸你莫非是從前作亂、帶領四千兇徒往曠野去的那埃及人嗎？」“Aren’t you the Egyptian who incited a rebellion some time ago and led four thousand members of the Assassins into the wilderness?”

³⁹保羅說：「我本是猶太人，生在基利家的大數，並不是無名小城的人。求你准我對百姓說話。」But Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Now I beg you to allow me to speak to the people.”