Acts 12:1-3, 20-24 驕傲的王的下場

「1那時，希律王下手苦害教會中幾個人，2用刀殺了約翰的哥哥雅各。3他見猶太人喜歡這事，又去捉拿彼得。……20希律惱怒推羅、西頓的人。他們那一帶地方是從王的地土得糧，因此就託了王的內侍臣伯拉斯都的情，一心來求和。21希律在所定的日子，穿上朝服，坐在位上，對他們講論一番。22百姓喊著說：這是神的聲音，不是人的聲音。23希律不歸榮耀給上帝，所以主的使者立刻罰他，他被蟲所咬，氣就絕了。

24上帝的道日見興旺，越發廣傳」（使徒行傳12:1-3, 20-24）。

“About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. . . . . . Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

But the word of God increased and multiplied.”

希律王迫害基督徒，他殺害使徒之一的雅各，又將使徒彼得下在監裡。

希律王自以為是，聽見百姓讚美他，他就更為驕傲，不將榮耀歸給上帝。

在這段經文裡面，我們看到一個驕傲自大不將榮耀歸給上帝，不將上帝放在眼裏的人的下場是什麼：上帝派一隻蟲把他一咬，希律這王就死了。

那位迫害基督徒的王，竟被上帝派來的一條小蟲咬，就死了。王有什麼可自誇的呢？人又有什麼理由可以驕傲呢？人實在是太脆弱了，人實在沒有什麼好驕傲的。

希律死後，經文接著告訴我們，「上帝的道日見興旺，越發廣傳」。因為希律自以為神，上帝親自將這迫害基督徒的希律王處死，在這當中我看到主的道不受王的限制，王的迫害也不使基督徒退縮，上帝的道反而日見興旺，越發廣傳。

2011大肚山研經室筆記[註]