徒二十27~28　因为神的旨意，我并没有一样避讳不告诉你们。圣灵立你们作全群的监督，你们就当为自己谨慎，也为全群谨慎，牧养神的召会，就是祂用自己的血所买来的。

　　保罗不仅教导〔以弗所的〕圣徒，顾到他们的利益，并顾到对他们有益的事；他更向他们宣告神的旨意、神的计划并神的经纶。毫无疑问，保罗教导了以弗所人许多关于神新约经纶的事。

　　同样的，所有长老都必须学习什么是神新约的经纶，并向圣徒指明出来。因着认识神永远的经纶，大多数圣徒就会有坚固的根基，并深深地扎根。今天大多数基督徒只接受肤浅的教训，受教导要良善、谦卑、爱人、仁慈。……关于神新约的经纶、神永远的计划以及神为着召会的计划，这些事在他们中间完全欠缺。因此，我们中间所需要的乃是关于神永远经纶正确、合乎圣经的神圣启示（关于召会事奉的谈话，一三至一四页）。

　　Acts 20:27-28 For I did not shrink from declaring to you all the counsel of God. Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among whom the Holy Spirit has placed you as overseers to shepherd the church of God, which He obtained through His own blood.

　　Not only did Paul teach [the believers in Ephesus], care for their interests, and care for the things that were profitable to them, but he declared also God's counsel, God's plan, and God's economy. No doubt, Paul taught the Ephesians a great deal concerning God's New Testament economy.

　　Similarly, all the elders must learn what God's New Testament economy is and point this out to the saints. By knowing God's eternal economy, most of the saints would then be solidly grounded and deeply rooted. Most Christians today receive only shallow teachings, instructing them to be good, humble, loving, and kind....The things of God's New Testament economy, God's eternal plan, and God's plan for the church are absolutely lacking among them. Hence, what is needed among us is the proper biblical, divine revelation concerning God's eternal economy. (CWWL, 1989, vol. 4, "Talks concerning the Church Services," p. 212)

　　长老必须学习一切关于神经纶的事，并深入其中。……他们就能告诉圣徒关于神的经纶，借以安慰灰心的。对灰心的人来说，听到神的经纶并接受这样高的呼召，乃是极大的安慰和激励。我们今天在恢复中所面临的难处，主要的是由于对神永远的经纶缺少深入的领会和体认。

　　在行传二十章二十八节，保罗劝戒长老说，“圣灵立你们作全群的监督，你们就当为自己谨慎，也为全群谨慎，牧养神的召会，就是祂用自己的血所买来的。”

　　表面看是保罗设立他们作长老。实际上，乃是圣灵立他们作监督。这里保罗不用“长老”一辞，而用“监督”一辞。这两个同义辞是替换着使用。“长老”是指人，“监督”说出他们的职责。作监督的不该松懈或打盹，乃该常常儆醒。他必须留意召会的光景，并监督羊群中的每一个。这样，他就会知道有什么需要，以及他们该作什么。

　　保罗嘱咐长老不仅要教导，更要牧养神的召会，就是神用自己的血所买来的。神自己的血，这辞何等宝贝。神看召会是珍宝，在祂眼中是非常宝贝并珍贵的。祂爱召会到一个地步，用祂自己的血将召会买来。

　　同样的，长老也该像神那样爱召会。……神乃是用祂自己的血，所以我们必须用这种柔细的感觉和情爱来爱召会。

　　二十九节说，“我知道我离开以后，必有凶暴的豺狼进入你们中间，不爱惜羊群。”爱惜羊群，就是说我们爱羊群，借着保养顾惜，柔细地照顾他们。然而，豺狼不会这样照顾召会。相反的，他们会为着自己的利益和满足牺牲召会。他们乃是寻索猎物的豺狼。

　　三十节随着说，“就是你们中间，也必有人起来，说悖谬的话，要勾引门徒跟从他们。”不仅有豺狼从外面进来，更有人从召会里面起来，说悖谬的话。

　　末了，三十一节说，“所以你们应当儆醒，记念我三年之久，昼夜不住地流泪劝戒你们各人。”保罗不仅去到他们家里，更昼夜流泪劝戒各人。我们中间的长老必须拿起负担，昼夜作这事。他们该去到圣徒家里，流泪劝戒各人（关于召会事奉的谈话，一四至一七页）。

　　参读：关于建造基督身体更进一步的亮光，第二篇。

　　The elders must learn all the things of God's economy and dive into them....They will be able to comfort the disappointed saints by telling them God's economy. To hear God's economy and receive such a high calling will become a strong comfort and encouragement to the disappointed ones. The problems that we are facing today in the recovery are mainly due to the lack of a deep understanding and realization of God's eternal economy.

　　In Acts 20:28 Paul admonished the elders to "take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among whom the Holy Spirit has placed you as overseers."

　　Apparently, it was Paul who appointed them as elders. Actually, it was the Holy Spirit who placed them as overseers. Here Paul uses the term overseers instead of elders. These two synonyms are used interchangeably. The term elder refers to the person, but overseer speaks of his responsibility. An overseer should not be sloppy or sleepy but all the time watchful. He must be aware of the situation of the church and oversee each member of the flock. If so, he will know what the need is and what they should do.

　　Paul charged the elders not only to teach but also to shepherd the church of God, which God obtained through His own blood. To obtain in Greek also denotes "to acquire," or "purchase." His own blood is a dear term. God considers the church as a treasure that is very dear and precious in His eyes. He loves the church to such an extent that He purchased it with His own blood.

　　Similarly, the elders should also love the church as God does....God used His own blood. So we must love the church with this kind of fine feeling and affection.

　　Verse 29 says, "I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock." To spare the flock means that we love the flock with tender care by cherishing and nourishing. However, the wolves would not care for the church in this way. On the contrary, they would sacrifice the church for their own interests and satisfaction. They are wolves hunting for prey.

　　Verse 30 follows, "And from among you yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverted things to draw away the disciples after them." Not only will wolves come in from without, but men will rise up from within the church, speaking perverted things.

　　Finally, Acts 20:31 says, "Therefore watch, remembering that for three years, night and day, I did not cease admonishing each one with tears." Paul not only went to their house, but he also admonished each one of them with tears day and night. The elders among us must pick up a burden to do this day and night. They should go to the homes of the saints and admonish each one with tears. (CWWL, 1989, vol. 4, "Talks concerning the Church Services," pp. 212-214)

　　Further Reading: CWWL, 1988, vol. 4, "Further Light concerning the Building Up of the Body of Christ," ch. 2