QT 19/05/2026 Tue Acts 10 When God Breaks the Boundaries 当神打破界限
QT 19/05/2026 Tue Acts 10 When God Breaks the Boundaries
READ http://www.esv.org/acts10
God is already working on both sides of the story—preparing the messenger and the listener. Acts 10 shows how the Holy Spirit breaks barriers in ways we never expect.
Acts 10 reveals how the Holy Spirit directs God’s mission across boundaries, working in both the messenger and the recipient, and extending the reach of the gospel to all nations.
(1) The Holy Spirit Acts and Directs God’s Mission—Believers Are to Be Sensitive and Follow Along (Acts 10:1-8)
In Acts 10, we are introduced to Cornelius, a centurion in the Italian Cohort, who "feared God with all his household" (Acts 10:2). This man, despite not being a Jew, lived with a reverence for the God of Israel and prayed regularly. It was a significant moment in the early church, as Cornelius, though devout, had not yet heard the full gospel of Jesus Christ. God, in His grace, chose to reveal Himself to Cornelius, sending an angel to tell him to send for Simon Peter.
Reflection: The Holy Spirit was already at work in Cornelius, preparing his heart for the gospel. However, notice that God did not just leave it to Cornelius’ prayer life and devotion. He directed him to seek out Peter, the apostle, to hear the message of salvation. The Holy Spirit was also at work in Peter’s life. Peter’s willingness to break from Jewish tradition and go to a Gentile’s home was a monumental shift. It speaks to the reality that sometimes God calls us to move beyond our comfort zones, even when it may feel uncomfortable or counter-cultural.
Application: Are we, like Peter, sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading, even when it takes us into unfamiliar, even controversial, spaces? Do we recognize the hand of God at work in people who are seeking Him, but may not yet have heard the gospel clearly? Ever felt like God was leading you somewhere uncomfortable? In Acts 10, Peter faces that exact moment—and it changes the mission of the church forever.
(2) The Holy Spirit Prepares Both the Witness and the Recipients of the Gospel, But One Step at a Time (Acts 10:9-33)
In verses 9-33, the narrative shifts to Peter. As he prayed, Peter experienced a vision in which a sheet descended from heaven containing all kinds of animals, both clean and unclean according to Jewish law. God commanded him to kill and eat, but Peter, being a devout Jew, refused. Yet God responded, “What God has made clean, do not call common” (Acts 10:15). This threefold vision broke down Peter’s preconceived notions of purity and the boundaries of God’s mission.
Reflection: Peter's hesitance was understandable. The law of Moses had clearly defined which animals were clean and unclean, and maintaining these distinctions was part of Israel's holiness. But God’s message was clear: the gospel is not restricted by Jewish laws or cultural boundaries. God was preparing Peter to take the gospel beyond Israel—to the Gentiles.
Application: The Holy Spirit prepares us step by step. Sometimes God calls us to go places and reach people we never expected. In what ways are we allowing the Holy Spirit to challenge our own boundaries—whether cultural, racial, or even denominational? Are we willing to take the next step, even when it’s not fully clear, trusting that the Holy Spirit is guiding us?
(3) The Phenomenon of "Speaking in Tongues and Extolling God" as the Gospel Crosses Significant Boundaries (Acts 10:46-48)
When Peter finally arrives at Cornelius' house, the Holy Spirit descends upon all who heard the message, and they begin to speak in tongues and extol God (Acts 10:46). This was a powerful moment, confirming that the gospel was for all people, not just the Jews. It was the same sign that had accompanied the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The same Holy Spirit that had poured out on the Jews now poured out on the Gentiles, breaking down any remaining walls between the two groups.
Reflection: The speaking in tongues was not just an isolated phenomenon. It was a sign, a visible endorsement from the Holy Spirit, that these Gentiles were now part of God’s family. Peter’s words—“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” (Acts 10:47)—highlight the unifying power of the Holy Spirit, confirming that Gentiles, just like Jews, could be fully integrated into the household of faith.
Application: As believers, we are part of a global family, bound together by the Holy Spirit. The gospel is not just for us or those like us—it is for every tribe, nation, and language. Are we open to seeing the Holy Spirit at work in unexpected places and people? Are we willing to extend the same grace that God has extended to us?
Conclusion: Acts 10 serves as a powerful reminder that the Holy Spirit is active and intentional in directing the mission of God. From preparing the heart of the messenger (Peter) to opening the heart of the recipient (Cornelius), the Spirit moves in ways that break down barriers and extend the gospel to all people. The church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, is called to follow the Spirit’s lead, no matter where it may take us.
Prayer
Lord, we thank You for Your faithful leading and for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Help us to be sensitive to Your direction and to follow You wherever You may lead. Open our hearts to see all people as You see them—valuable and worthy of the gospel. Break down the barriers in our lives that hinder us from sharing Your love with everyone, and empower us to speak boldly in Your name. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
QT 19/05/2026 星期二. 使徒行传 10 当神打破界限
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/act/10/
神早已在故事的两端同时动工——既预备使者，也预备听众。《使徒行传》第10章展现了圣灵如何以我们意想不到的方式打破藩篱。
《使徒行传》第10章揭示了圣灵如何引导神的使命跨越疆界，在差遣者和受领者两方面同时做工，并将福音的范围扩展至万国。
(1) 圣灵运行并引导神的使命——信徒当敏锐察觉并顺服跟随（使徒行传10:1-8）
在《使徒行传》第10章中，我们认识了百夫长哥尼流，他是意大利营的一名百夫长，他“和全家都敬畏神”（《使徒行传》10:2）。尽管这位百夫长并非犹太人，但他敬畏以色列的神，并经常祷告。这对早期教会而言是一个重要的时刻，因为哥尼流虽然虔诚，却尚未听闻耶稣基督完整的福音。神在祂的恩典中，拣选向哥尼流显明自己，差遣天使告诉他去请西门彼得。
反思：圣灵早已在哥尼流心中动工，为他预备好接受福音的心。然而，请注意，上帝并没有仅仅将此事交由哥尼流的祷告生活和虔诚来完成。祂引导他去寻找使徒彼得，聆听救恩的信息。圣灵也在彼得的生命中动工。彼得愿意打破犹太传统，前往外邦人的家中，这是一种巨大的转变。这说明了一个事实：有时神呼召我们走出舒适区，即使这可能让我们感到不自在，甚至与主流文化相悖。
应用：我们是否像彼得一样，对圣灵的引导保持敏锐，即使这会带我们进入陌生甚至充满争议的领域？我们是否能认出，在那些寻求神却尚未清楚听闻福音的人身上，神的手正在动工？你是否曾感到神正引导你走向一个令你感到不自在的地方？在《使徒行传》第10章中，彼得正面临着这样的时刻——而这一刻永远改变了教会的使命。
(2) 圣灵同时预备传福音的见证人和接受福音的人，但是一步一个脚印（《使徒行传》10:9-33）
在第9至33节中，叙事转向了彼得。彼得祷告时，看见异象：一张布从天而降，上面有各种动物，既有按犹太律法视为洁净的，也有视为不洁的。上帝吩咐他宰杀并吃下，但身为虔诚犹太人的彼得拒绝了。然而上帝回应道：“神所洁净的，你不可当作俗物”（使徒行传10:15）。这三重异象打破了彼得关于洁净的成见，也打破了神使命的界限。
反思：彼得的犹豫是可以理解的。摩西律法明确界定了哪些动物是洁净的、哪些是不洁净的，维持这些区分是以色列圣洁的一部分。但神的信息很明确：福音不受犹太律法或文化界限的限制。神正在预备彼得，将福音传向以色列以外——传给外邦人。
应用：圣灵一步步地预备我们。有时神呼召我们前往意想不到的地方，接触意想不到的人。在哪些方面，我们正让圣灵挑战我们自身的界限——无论是文化、种族，甚至是宗派上的界限？即使前路尚未完全明朗，我们是否愿意迈出下一步，信靠圣灵的引导？
(3) 福音跨越重大界限时出现的“讲方言，尊 神为大”现象（使徒行传 10:46-48）
当彼得终于抵达哥尼流的家时，圣灵降临在所有听道的人身上，他们便说起方言，赞美上帝（使徒行传 10:46）。这是一个充满力量的时刻，证实了福音是为所有人的，而不仅仅是为犹太人。这与五旬节圣灵降临时的神迹如出一辙。那曾浇灌在犹太人身上的圣灵，如今也浇灌在外邦人身上，拆毁了这两个群体之间残存的隔阂。
反思：说方言并非孤立的现象。这是圣灵赐下的记号，是圣灵可见的印证，表明这些外邦人如今已成为神家的一员。彼得的话——“谁能禁止他们受水的洗礼呢？”（使徒行传10:47）——彰显了圣灵的合一大能，证实外邦人正如犹太人一样，能够完全融入信仰之家。
应用：作为信徒，我们属于一个由圣灵联结的全球大家庭。福音不仅是为了我们或与我们相似的人——它是为万族、万民、万方而预备的。我们是否愿意敞开心扉，看见圣灵在出人意料的地方和人群中动工？我们是否愿意将神赐予我们的恩典同样施予他人？
结论：《使徒行传》第10章有力地提醒我们，圣灵在引导神的使命时是积极且有目的的。从预备使者（彼得）的心，到开启受领者（哥尼流）的心，圣灵以打破隔阂、将福音传给万民的方式行事。蒙圣灵赋予能力的教会，被呼召跟随圣灵的引导，无论这引导将我们带往何处。
祷告
主啊，我们感谢祢信实的引导，也感谢祢赐下圣灵的恩赐。求祢帮助我们敏锐察觉祢的指引，无论祢引领我们去往何处，我们都愿跟随祢。求祢开启我们的心，使我们能像祢一样看待所有人——他们都是宝贵的，都配得福音。求祢拆毁我们生命中那些阻碍我们向众人分享祢之爱的隔阂，并赐给我们力量，使我们能奉祢的名大胆传讲。奉耶稣的名祷告。阿们。
