保羅的榜樣
使徒行傳九章1至22節
1掃羅仍然向主的門徒口吐威嚇兇殺的話，去見大祭司，
2求文書給大馬士革的各會堂，若是找著信奉這道的人，無論男女，都准他捆綁帶到耶路撒冷。
3掃羅行路，將到大馬士革，忽然從天上發光，四面照著他。
4他就仆倒在地，聽見有聲音對他說：“掃羅，掃羅！你為甚麼逼迫我？”
5他說：“主啊，你是誰？”主說：“我就是你所逼迫的耶穌。
6起來！進城去，你所當做的事，必有人告訴你。”
7同行的人站在那裡，說不出話來，聽見聲音，卻看不見人。
8掃羅從地上起來，睜開眼睛，竟不能看見甚麼。有人拉他的手，領他進了大馬士革。
9三日不能看見，也不吃，也不喝。
10當下，在大馬士革有一個門徒，名叫亞拿尼亞。主在異象中對他說：“亞拿尼亞。”他說：“主，我在這裡。”
11主對他說：“起來！往直街去，在猶大的家裡，訪問一個大數人，名叫掃羅，他正禱告；
12又看見了一個人，名叫亞拿尼亞，進來按手在他身上，叫他能看見。”
13亞拿尼亞回答說：主阿，我聽見許多人說：這人怎樣在耶路撒冷多多苦害你的聖徒，
14並且他在這裡有從祭司長得來的權柄捆綁一切求告你名的人。
15主對亞拿尼亞說：你只管去！他是我所揀選的器皿，要在外邦人和君王，並以色列人面前宣揚我的名。
16我也要指示他，為我的名必須受許多的苦難。
17亞拿尼亞就去了，進入那家，把手按在掃羅身上，說：兄弟掃羅，在你來的路上向你顯現的主，就是耶穌，打發我來，叫你能看見，又被聖靈充滿。
18掃羅的眼睛上，好像有鱗立刻掉下來，他就能看見。於是起來受了洗；
19吃過飯就健壯了。掃羅和大馬色的門徒同住了些日子，
20就在各會堂裡宣傳耶穌，說他是神的兒子。
21凡聽見的人都驚奇，說：在耶路撒冷殘害求告這名的，不是這人麼？並且他到這裡來，特要捆綁他們，帶到祭司長那裡。
22但掃羅越發有能力，駁倒住大馬色的猶太人，證明耶穌是基督。
信息分享
保羅在哥林多後書五章17節的那句話，最能總結這種完全的改變：「若有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人，舊事已過，都變成新的了。」保羅在信主之後，便立即有改變。當他還在大馬色的路上，他必定就問主說：「主啊，你要我做甚麼？」他立刻就想按照主的心意做任何事──從那刻開始，這種渴望便一直成為他的人生鑰匙。
隨後保羅開始禱告，神親自對亞拿尼亞說，保羅正在禱告（九11）。接著，他被聖靈充滿（九17），再接受洗禮（18節），成為信徒。我們每個人是否也有這三個新生命的標記呢？
接著，他便與大馬色的信徒相交（九19）。這是非常重要的一步；可惜有些時候，我們忽略告訴初信者，與其他信徒相交對靈命成長的重要性。新約從沒教導信徒可以各自修行，所有信徒都應立即一起參與敬拜和相交服事生活。
第20節指出他「立即」就為基督做見証，結果，他的靈命便不斷成長（22節），他對基督的認識亦愈發加深。他的信主過程和信主後的連串行動，都為我們建立典范。你之前有沒有注意這些方面呢？我們有沒有教導其他初信者要學習保羅的榜樣呢？
保羅在各方面為我們樹立了美好的榜樣。我們有沒有成為他人的榜樣呢？他人在我們身上看得見耶穌嗎？我們有與其他信徒切實相交嗎？我們相互都有需要。我們有禱告嗎？有為主作見證嗎？有不斷成長嗎？讓我們再三反省，並每日切實地行在生活中。
THE EXAMPLE OF PAUL
Acts 9: 1-22
1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.
4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”
Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.
8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”
And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.
12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.
16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
20 Immediately he preached the Christin the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
Message
The best summary of the change is found in Paul’s own words in 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “If anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.” Notice the immediate effect in Paul’s life. On the Damascus road he must have said, “Lord what do you want me to do?’ He wanted immediately to do whatever the Lord wanted him to do. That continued to be the secret of his life from that moment on.
Then he began to pray (v.11). God Himself told Ananias this is what Paul was doing now. Then he was filled with the Holy Spirit (v.17). Next he was baptized (v.18) the mark of a believer in Christ. Are these three indications of new life present in the life of each one of us?
Next he joined in fellowship with the Christians in Damascus (v.19). This is very important but sometimes we neglect to tell new converts how important it is for their spiritual growth. There is no such thing as an isolated Christian in the New Testament. They joined with others in worship and service immediately.
Verse 20 says “at once” he began to witness about Christ. And as a consequence to all this, Paul grew in his Christian life (v.22) and in the knowledge of Christ. What an example his conversion is together with his subsequent actions. Have we ever noticed these things before? Are we passing them on to others?
Paul was a tremendous example in all of these. How is our individual example? Can others see Jesus in us? Are we in fellowship with God’s people? We need each other. Are we praying? Are we witnessing? Are we growing? Let’s think through these things again and make sure they have a place in our lives day by day.