让我们勇敢地为上帝作见证。

Do not be frightened. 1 Peter 3:14

不要惊慌。-彼得前书3章14节

Fear is Hadassah’s constant companion. Hadassah, a young Jewish girl living in the first century, is a fictional character in Francine Rivers’ book A Voice in the Wind. After Hadassah becomes a slave in a Roman household, she fears persecution for her faith in Christ. She knows that Christians are despised, and many are sent to their execution or thrown to the lions in the arena. Will she have the courage to stand for the truth when she is tested?

哈达萨时常处于恐惧之中。哈达萨是个虚构人物，在法兰辛·瑞维斯（Francine Rivers）的《风中之声》（A Voice in the Wind）一书中，哈达萨是个胆小的年轻犹太女孩，当她成为罗马人家中的奴隶之后，她时常担心自己会因为相信基督而受逼迫。她知道基督徒会被人藐视、被捉去处决，或是被丢进竞技场里喂狮子。她常想，当自己面对考验时，能有勇气持守真理吗？

When her worst fear becomes reality, her mistress and other Roman officials who hate Christianity confront her. She has two choices: recant her faith in Christ or be taken to the arena. Then, as she proclaims Jesus as the Christ, her fear falls away and she becomes bold even in the face of death.

哈达萨最害怕的事情真的发生了。当她面对她的女主人和仇视基督教的罗马官员的质问时，她有两个选择：放弃基督信仰，或被送入竞技场。然而，当她宣告耶稣是基督时，她的恐惧消散了，即使是在死亡面前，她也可以勇敢不惧怕。

The Bible reminds us that sometimes we will suffer for doing what is right—whether for sharing the gospel or for living godly lives that are against today’s values. We are told not to be frightened (1 Peter 3:14), but to “revere Christ as Lord” in our hearts (v.15). Hadassah’s main battle took place in her heart. When she finally made up her mind to choose Jesus, she found the courage to be faithful.

圣经提醒我们，有时我们会因为做正确的事而受苦，可能是为了传福音，或是为了过与当代社会价值观不同的敬虔生活。但圣经告诉我们不要惊慌（彼得前书3章14节），并要在心里“尊主基督为圣”（15节）。哈达萨的内心才是她的主战场，当她最后下定决心选择耶稣时，便得到勇气能坚守信仰。

When we make the decision to honor Christ, He will help us to be bold and to overcome our fears in the midst of opposition.

当我们决心要荣耀基督时，祂会帮助我们，赐给我们勇气，让我们在逼迫中克服恐惧。

Dear Heavenly Father, please give us boldness to stand firm in difficult times.

亲爱的天父，求祢让我们在困难中勇敢刚强、站立得稳。

Peter 3:13-18 New International Version (NIV)

3 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 

14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”

15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

彼得前书3:13-18

3 你们若是热心行善，有谁害你们呢？

14 你们就是为义受苦，也是有福的。不要怕人的威吓，也不要惊慌（“的威吓”或作“所怕的”），

15 只要心里尊主基督为圣。有人问你们心中盼望的缘由，就要常作准备，以温柔、敬畏的心回答各人。

16 存着无亏的良心，叫你们在何事上被毁谤，就在何事上可以叫那诬赖你们在基督里有好品行的人自觉羞愧。

17 神的旨意若是叫你们因行善受苦，总强如因行恶受苦；

18 因基督也曾一次为罪受苦（“受苦”有古卷作“受死”），就是义的代替不义的，为要引我们到神面前。按着肉体说，他被治死；按着灵性说，他复活了。

INSIGHT

灵粮透视

Writing to believers who were being persecuted because of their faith, Peter encouraged them not to be afraid but to remain faithful and to“revere Christ as Lord” (1 Peter 3:14–15). Peter was speaking from his own painful experiences. After Jesus was arrested, onlookers accused Peter of being Christ’s disciple, but out of fear he denied knowing Christ (Luke 22:54–62).

彼得写信给因信仰受逼迫的信徒，鼓励他们不要害怕，要忠心并“尊主基督为圣”（彼得前书3章14-15节）。彼得的由衷之言，源自他自己过去痛苦的经历。在耶稣被捕后，有人指控彼得是基督的门徒，但彼得由于害怕就否认自己认识基督（路加福音22章54-62节）。

The coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, however,changed and empowered Peter to be a fearless witness (Acts 2:14). When Peter was imprisoned for preaching in the temple courts (4:3), he was “filled with the Holy Spirit” and boldly preached Christ to them (vv. 8–12). Seeing the courage of Peter, his persecutors concluded he “had been with Jesus” (v. 13).Refusing to be intimidated by threats of punishment (v. 18), the believers resolved to honor Christ and were empowered to speak the Word boldly (v. 31).

不过，圣灵在五旬节的降临改变了彼得，并赐予他能力，让他成了一个勇敢的见证人（使徒行传2章14节）。彼得虽然因为在圣殿的院子里传福音而被囚禁（4章3节），但他却“被圣灵充满”，放胆向众人传讲基督（8-12节）。那些迫害彼得的人看到他的勇气，就下了个结论，认定他是“跟过耶稣的”（13节）。众信徒也不怕受罚的威胁（18节），定意尊崇基督，并得到能力放胆传讲上帝的道（31节）。

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would empower us to be Hiswitnesses (1:8) and help us to speak for Him.

耶稣应许圣灵会让我们得着能力为祂作见证（1章8节），并帮助我们传讲基督。

How has the Holy Spirit emboldened and empowered you to witness for Jesus?

圣灵曾如何给你勇气和能力，使你为耶稣作见证呢？

整理：于姊妹