Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves.

我且说，他们失脚是要他们跌倒吗？断乎不是！反倒因他们的过失，救恩便临到外邦人，要激动他们发愤。

那么，我再问，他们失足是要他们跌倒吗？绝对不是！因他们的过犯，救恩反而临到外邦人，要激起他们嫉妒的心。

那么，我再问，他们失足是要他们跌倒吗？绝对不是！因他们的过犯，救恩反而临到外邦人，要激起他们嫉妒的心。

那么，以色列人一失足就再也爬不起来了吗？当然不是！恰好相反，因他们的过犯，救恩临到了外族人，使他们心生嫉妒。

那么我要说，他们失足是要倒下去吗？绝对不是！反而因为他们的过犯，救恩就临到外族人，为了要激起他们奋发。

所以我要问，难道以色列人跌倒了，是要他们败落吗？绝对不是！相反，因他们的过犯，救恩就临到了外邦人，为要激起以色列人的嫉妒之心。

我且說，他們失腳是要他們跌倒嗎？斷乎不是！反倒因他們的過失，救恩便臨到外邦人，要激動他們發憤。

那麼，我再問，他們失足是要他們跌倒嗎？絕對不是！因他們的過犯，救恩反而臨到外邦人，要激起他們嫉妒的心。

那麼，我再問，他們失足是要他們跌倒嗎？絕對不是！因他們的過犯，救恩反而臨到外邦人，要激起他們嫉妒的心。

那麼，以色列人一失足就再也爬不起來了嗎？當然不是！恰好相反，因他們的過犯，救恩臨到了外族人，使他們心生嫉妒。

那麼我要說，他們失足是要倒下去嗎？絕對不是！反而因為他們的過犯，救恩就臨到外族人，為了要激起他們奮發。

那麼我要說，難道他們猶太人失了腳，是要全然跌倒麼？斷乎不是。我乃是說，因他們的過犯、拯救便臨到了外國人，好激動他們的羨妒。

所以我要問，難道以色列人跌倒了，是要他們敗落嗎？絕對不是！相反，因他們的過犯，救恩就臨到了外邦人，為要激起以色列人的嫉妒之心。

然則彼蹶至於傾陷乎、非也、乃以其過犯而拯及異邦、致發其憤也、

曰、以色列人、豈蹶而躓歟、曰、非也、然彼躓、異邦人乃得救、使以色列人發奮、

我曰、以色列人躓蹶、以致傾仆乎、非也、乃因其躓蹶、躓蹶原文作過失下同異邦人得救、而使以色列人發奮、

然則義塞人之躓也、將一厥而不振乎？無是理也！夫因彼之顛墜、救恩乃普及於異邦之人、是亦所以激發之耳。

Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.

Again, here is what I ask. The Israelites didn’t trip and fall once and for all time, did they? Not at all! Because Israel sinned, the Gentiles can be saved. That will make Israel jealous of them.

So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.

I ask, then, have they stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.

I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? Far from it! But by their wrongdoing salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.

I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.

I say then, Did they stumble that they might fall? God forbid: but by their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.

I ask, then, have they stumbled in order to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their stumbling, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous.

I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but[ rather] through their fall salvation[ is come] unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

I ask then, they did not stumble into an irrevocable fall, did they? Absolutely not! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous.

I ask then, did they stumble that they might fall? May it never be! But by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.

But I ask, did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God said,“ I will rouse your jealousy through people who are not even a nation. I will provoke your anger through the foolish Gentiles.”

“ Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.

for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them.

As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?

I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live!

Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared,“ It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles.For the Lord gave us this command when he said,‘ I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’”When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers.

I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.

Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.

Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy.

But when they opposed and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said,“ Your blood is upon your own heads— I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles.”

Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe.And after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul:“ The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet,‘ Go and say to this people: When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’So I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it.”

I saw a vision of Jesus saying to me,‘ Hurry! Leave Jerusalem, for the people here won’t accept your testimony about me.’“‘ But Lord,’ I argued,‘ they certainly know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.And I was in complete agreement when your witness Stephen was killed. I stood by and kept the coats they took off when they stoned him.’“ But the Lord said to me,‘ Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!’”

As Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue that day, the people begged them to speak about these things again the next week.