Luke the physician wrote how Jesus' disciples, “returned unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey”, and in chapter one and verse thirteen of the book of Acts Luke wrote how the disciples of Jesus, “went up into an upper room” where we read:
And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
The verse begins, “And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when they were come in” which means “and at the time and moment they, Jesus' disciples, had arisen and arrived in Jerusalem”, “they went up” or “they, Jesus' disciples, ascended” “into an upper room” which means “into a room that was in the upper part of a house which was sometimes built upon the flat roof of the house”, “where abode both Peter” or “in what place or location dwelled, inhabited and remained Peter whose name means a little rock or stone”, “and James” which means “and James whose name means supplanter and was a son of Zebedee and the brother of the apostle John”, “and John” or “and John whose name means Jehovah is a gracious giver and was the son of Zebedee and the brother of James”, “and Andrew” whose name means “manly” and was “a native of Bethsaida in Galilee, brother of Simon Peter and a disciple of John the Baptist”. Luke shared when the disciples returned to Jerusalem, they went to a house that had a room that was in the upper part, and Jesus' disciples “Peter, James, John and Andrew” remained there.
The verse goes on to say, “... Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.” Luke continued with the word, “Philip” which refers to “Jesus' disciple whose name means lover of horses”, “and Thomas” which means “a twin and was one of Jesus' disciples”, “Bartholomew” or “the disciple of Jesus whose name means son of Tolmai”, “and Matthew” which refers to “the disciple of Jesus whose name means gift of Jehovah and was the son of Alphaeus”, “James the son of Alphaeus” which refers to “the disciple of Jesus whose name means supplanter and was the male progeny and offspring of Alphaeus which means changing”, “and Simon Zelotes” or “and Simon which means a rock or stone, Zelotes which means one burning with zeal and eagerly desirous”, “and Judas the brother of James” which refers to “the disciple of Jesus whose name means he shall be praised, was also named Lebbaeus and Thaddaeus and was the male sibling of James”. Luke shared how Jesus' disciples named, “Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James, Simon Zelotes and Judas who was the brother of James were also gathered in the upper room within the dwelling place in Jerusalem.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we see how Luke thought it necessary to name the other disciples of Jesus who gathered in the upper room. Jesus instructed His disciples to remain in Jerusalem until they received the promise He gave them concerning the outpouring of the power of the Holy Spirit. All of the disciples of Jesus were in attendance other than “Judas Iscariot” who betrayed Him, and now they were to “wait” for God's promise to be fulfilled. God had a plan through His Son Jesus to provide salvation and forgiveness of sins for every person who believes and trusts in Him, and those who are wise will be in attendance , like these disciples, for any event to which Jesus directs them.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus' disciples, “continued with one accord in prayer and supplication”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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