耶穌在升天之前說得很清楚，福音是給普天下之人的，包括猶太人與外邦人（徒1：8），但在開始傳福音的兩年後，只有耶路撒冷聽到這個好消息，到了第八章，逼迫來襲－－所有使徒都分散到猶太全地和撒瑪利亞去了。腓利－－在第六章中被揀選出的一位執事－－深入非洲傳福音，使一個過路的權貴信了主；大數的掃羅－－信心萌芽期的頭號大敵－－在去大馬色的途中，經歷到和復活主面對面的相遇，而使他從「大敵掃羅」轉變為「外邦人的宣教士保羅」。

        你能夠將右邊的小名和左邊的名字配起來嗎？等你試過以後再查聖經！
         1.約瑟        a.磯法（約1：42）
        2.西門        b.尼結（徒13：1）
        3.雅各        c.巴拿巴（徒4：36）
        4.西面        d.小雅各（可15：40）
        小名足以顯出當事人的風格，因為它們正像鏡子反映出別人對你為人處事的看法。在今天的經文中，你遇到一位名叫約瑟的人，但你卻不是以他的本名讀他的事蹟，為什麼呢？因為他的一生以鼓勵的精神著稱，成為眾所周知的「巴拿巴」－－勸慰之子，也就是這個理由，使你只知巴拿巴而不知約瑟了（徒9：26，27，11：25，15：37-39）！
        下面那一個小名適合你，代表你生命中最突出的精神呢？抱怨之子？批評之女？信心之女？憐恤之女？挑選一個，使之成為你「巴拿巴計劃」的基礎，這真是個名字遊戲啊！

為何在巴勒斯坦上下顛倒──
        使徒行傳八章五節記載：「腓利下撒瑪利亞城去。」雖然撒瑪利亞是在耶路撒冷的南方。這是因為耶路撒冷聳立於山頂上，而撒瑪利亞則坐落於低窪的平原上。另外，我們繪的地圖北邊是在上方，而巴勒斯坦人繪的地圖東邊卻是在上方，是從地中海看向內陸。

仁慈是一種聾子聽得見、瞎子看得見的語言。

English

        Jesus had made it clear before His ascension that the Gospel was for both the Jew and the Gentile (1:8). But two years after delivering that commission, only Jerusalem had heard the glad tidings. In chapter 8 persecution hits—scattering all but the apostles into Judea and Samaria. Philip—one of the deacons chosen in chapter 6—extends his witness to Africa through the conversion of a visiting dignitary. Saul of Tarsus—archenemy of the infant faith—experiences a confrontation with the risen Lord on the Damascus road which transforms him from "Saul the Antagonist" into "Paul, Missionary to the Gentiles."

        Can you match the nicknames on the right with the given names on the left? No fair peeking till you've given it a try!
        1.Joses (Joseph)        a.Cephas (John 1:42)
        2.Simon        b.Niger (Acts 13:1)
        3.James        c.Barnabas (Acts 4:36)
        4.Simeon        d.The Less (Mark 15:40)
        Nicknames can be revealing, for they often act as a mirror reflecting back to you the way others view your life. In today's reading you met a man named Joses (Joseph). But chances are good you didn't recognize him by that name. Why? Because his life was so marked by an encouraging spirit that he came to be known as Barnabas—"son of encouragement." And with good reason (9:26-27; 11:25; 15:37-39)!
        What is your life so marked by that it would form a fitting nickname for you? "Son of         Complaining." "Daughter of Criticism," "Son of Faith," "Daughter of Compassion"? Pick one and make it the basis of a personal "Project Barnabas" today. That's the name of the game!

Why "Down" Is "Up" in Palestine —
        We read in 8:5 that "Philip went down to the city of Samaria," even though Samaria is north of Jerusalem, This makes sense when we realize that Israel's capital city is located atop a hill, and Samaria lies in a low plain. Moreover, we draw our maps with the top facing north, but the Palestinians drew them with the top facing east, looking inland from the Mediterranean.

Kindness is a language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see.