保羅的第二次宣教旅行始自使徒行傳十五章卅六節，第三次旅行則從十八章廿三節開始。要把保羅拜訪過的城鎮全都記住是件難事，但你只要記得，他的足跡主要集中在今天土耳其西部和希臘一帶。安提阿是他的「外邦」大本營，耶路撒冷則是他的猶太大本營。還有一個特點也不難記，雖然保羅的事工主要針對外邦人，但他經常會先拜訪猶太人的會堂，在那裡與他的同胞辯論，證明耶穌的身分和事工即是舊約所預言的彌賽亞。

        的確如鑰節所言，保羅的講論極有能力。他本可滔滔不絕的敘述自己歸主的精彩故事，但在大部分的情況裡，他只強調並引證聖經的話，他寧可多講論客觀的真理，少說自己的經歷。

        但話又說回來，經驗老道的聽眾絕不會被你三言兩語就唬住了。也許在辯論賽裡，賣弄嘴皮子是有效的。但若要使人信服，甚至改變一個人的心意，就不一定是這樣了。你不能只賣虛有其勢的嘶嘶聲，你還必須把牛排端出來。因為，顧客要吃的是那塊牛排，而不是聲音。

        因此這裡的問題是：「信仰的實質究竟是什麼﹖」不論我對信仰的感覺如何，重要的是，我信仰的內容究竟是什麼﹖拿撒勒人耶穌會在我的生活中彰顯出來嗎﹖或者祂只是我的經驗而已﹖要能正確的傳福音，我們不只要認耶穌，還必須曉得有關耶穌的事。只有一條路能獲得這樣的知識──透過聖經。

        親愛的主耶穌，謝謝您讓我們可以個別經歷您，也可以藉著研讀聖經曉得，我們正如保羅所寫，是已被上帝接納了。求您幫助我們更認識您，也更知道有關您的事。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        Paul’s second missionary journey begins in Acts 15:36 and his third in 18:23. (See map on page 141). It’s difficult remembering all the towns and cities he visited. But it’s not so tough to remember that his ministry focused mainly on what is now Western Turkey and Greece. Antioch was his “gentile” home base, Jerusalem his mainly in the gentile world, he usually went first to the synagogues to reason, refute, and debate with his own people the messianic nature of Jesus’ person and ministry.

        Indeed, as the key verse says, he was vigorous about it. And, whereas he could have been vigorous in telling his personal story of conversion, he closes in most instances to emphasize and interpret the Scriptures. The subjective gave way to the objective.

        We’ve all heard the old adage; “A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument”. That may be true – in terms of winning an argument. But it’s not necessarily true in terms of convincing someone to change his mind. You’ve got to sell more than the sizzle; you’ve got to sell the steak. What’s more, the buyer has got to eat the steak!

        The question is, “What is the substance of my faith? Regardless of my feelings of faith, what is the content of faith? Will this Jesus of Nazareth be magnified, or merely my experience of Him?” To properly present the Gospel, we’ve got to not only know Him, we’ve got to know about Him. That kind of knowledge comes only one way – through the Scriptures.

        Dear Lord Jesus, we thank You that we can know You in personal experience, and we can also study to show ourselves approved unto God as Paul wrote. Please help us to know You better as well as know more about You. Amen.