QT 31/05/2026 Sun Acts 18 God’s Hidden People 神的隐秘子民
QT 31/05/2026 Sun Acts 18 God’s Hidden People
READ http://www.esv.org/acts18
What if God already has people in your city—people you don’t know, wouldn’t expect, and would never think to partner with? Today, we’re diving into Acts 18, where God opens Paul’s eyes—and He wants to open yours too. Stay tuned!
Scripture Focus: Acts 18:9–11 (ESV)
“And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.’ And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.”
God has many in this city who are His people—people we might not know, would not have imagined, and never considered partnering with in the mission of the gospel. Be alert. Be open. God often expands our vision for His work through unexpected friendships and partnerships.
Examples of God’s “many people” in Acts 18:
(1) Aquila & Priscilla (Acts 18:1–4) – Tentmakers who became faithful co-laborers with Paul. Their work and hospitality opened doors for the gospel.
(2) Titius Justus (Acts 18:7) – A Gentile worshiper of God, someone already seeking God in his own way, whom Paul could connect with.
(3) Crispus and the Corinthians (Acts 18:8) – Crispus, the synagogue leader, and many others who received the gospel, showing that God’s people are sometimes found where we least expect.
(4) Apollos of Alexandria (Acts 18:24–28) – A gifted preacher from another city and culture, whose partnership in teaching advanced the gospel when Paul moved on.
Reflection Questions
(a) Are you open to co-working with others from different cultures or lifestyles who follow Jesus? Could God be calling you to learn from or serve alongside someone you would not naturally choose?
(b) The Apostles’ Creed speaks of the “universal church”—God’s people across the world and throughout time. How are you actively living out that truth in your life and church community?
Application
Take a moment to picture your city, your neighborhood, your workplace, or even your online communities. God is at work there. There are people He already calls His own—people you don’t know, wouldn’t expect, and maybe wouldn’t think to partner with in sharing the gospel. Like Paul, we may feel afraid or uncertain. But God’s promise is clear: He is with us, and He has already prepared hearts to receive His Word.
Personal Questions: Who in your life or city might God already be preparing that you haven’t noticed? How can you be alert and open to co-working with someone different from you for God’s purposes? What would it look like to see your community as part of the “universal church” God is gathering?
Prayer
Lord, open my eyes to the people You’ve already called. Help me notice and connect with them, even if they live differently from me. Give me courage to speak, serve, and love alongside them. Let me be a part of Your plan in ways I would never have imagined. Open our eyes to Your many people in our cities, our workplaces, and even across the world. Help us to serve alongside them for the advance of Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
QT 31/05/2026 星期三. 使徒行传 18 神的隐秘子民
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/act/18/
如果神早已在你所在的城市里安置了祂的子民——那些你素未谋面、始料未及、甚至从未想过要与之同工的人呢？今天，我们将深入研读《使徒行传》第18章，在这段经文中，神开启了保罗的眼睛——祂也渴望开启你的眼睛。敬请期待！
经文聚焦：《使徒行传》18:9–11
9 夜里，主借着异象对保罗说：“不要怕，只管讲，不要闭口！10 有我与你同在，必定没有人能害你，因为在这城里有许多属我的人。” 11 保罗在那里住了一年零六个月，把 神的道教导他们。
在这座城里，上帝有许多子民——他们可能是我们不认识的、从未想象过的，甚至从未考虑过在福音事工中与之同工的人。要保持警醒，敞开心扉。上帝常常通过意想不到的友谊和伙伴关系，拓展我们对祂工作的视野。
使徒行传18章中上帝“许多百姓”的例子：
(1) 亚居拉和百基拉（使徒行传18:1–4）——这两位制作帐篷的工匠，后来成为了保罗忠心的同工。他们的工作和款待为福音敞开了大门。
(2) 提多．犹士都（使徒行传18:7）——一位敬拜神的异教徒，他本就在以自己的方式寻求神，保罗得以与他建立联系。
(3) 基利司布和哥林多人（使徒行传18:8）——会堂领袖基利司布以及许多接受福音的人，表明神的子民有时就在我们最意想不到的地方。
(4) 亚历山大的亚波罗（使徒行传 18:24–28）——一位来自不同城市和文化背景、受过训练，心灵火热，很准确地讲论的传道人，当保罗离开后，他通过与保罗同工传道，推动了福音的传播。
反思问题
(a) 你是否愿意与来自不同文化或生活方式、但同样跟随耶稣的人同工？上帝是否正在呼召你去向那些你自然不会选择的人学习，或与他们并肩服事？
(b) 《使徒信经》提到“普世教会”——即遍布世界各地、贯穿历史长河的上帝子民。你在生活和教会群体中是如何积极活出这一真理的？
应用
花一点时间想象一下你的城市、你的社区、你的工作场所，甚至是你的网络社群。神正在那里动工。那里有祂早已称作自己子民的人——那些你不认识、意想不到，甚至可能从未想过要与之同工传福音的人。像保罗一样，我们或许会感到恐惧或忐忑。但神的应许很明确：祂与我们同在，并且祂早已预备好人心来领受祂的话语。
个人反思：在你身边或你所在的城市里，神或许正在预备着你尚未察觉的人？你如何能保持警醒并敞开心扉，为神的旨意与那些与你不同的人同工？若将你的社区视为神正在聚集的“普世教会”的一部分，这会是怎样的景象？
祷告
主啊，求祢开启我的眼睛，让我看见祢早已呼召的人。帮助我留意他们并与他们建立联系，即使他们的生活方式与我不同。赐给我勇气，让我能与他们一同说话、服侍并彼此相爱。愿我以我从未想象过的方式，成为祢计划的一部分。求祢开启我们的眼睛，让我们看见城市中、工作场所里，甚至世界各地的祢的子民。帮助我们与他们并肩事奉，为要推进祢的国度。奉耶稣的名求。阿们。
