The physician Luke wrote how the apostles were put in prison for teaching and preaching, and after an angel freed them, they were teaching and preaching again when the high priest confronted them and asked, “Did not we straightly command you that you should not teach in this name? and, behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men”, and in chapter five and verse thirty of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter and the other apostles continued to answer by saying, “the God of our fathers raised up Jesus” where we read:
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew and hanged on a tree.
The verse begins, “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, ...” Luke began with the words, “the God of our fathers” which means “the Heavenly Father God belonging to our, the people of Israel's, progenitors and ancestors” “raised up Jesus” or “caused to arise, stirred up and resurrected Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate”. Luke shared how “Peter and the other apostles” told the “high priest” and the religious leaders with him that “the Heavenly Father God”, who was their nation's God, resurrected Jesus from the dead.
The verse continues, “... whom you slew and hanged on a tree.” Luke added the words, “whom you slew” which means “who you religious leaders slayed and killed” “and hanged on a tree” or “and suspended and hung upon a cross”. Luke shared how “Peter and the other apostles” told the “high priest” and the other religious leaders with him that they “killed” Jesus and “hung” Him on a cross.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we see how bold “Peter and the other apostles” were in their response to the “high priest”. They not only told them they needed to “obey” God rather than men, but also that they “killed” Jesus by hanging Him on a cross. We can imagine the ire that was rising up in these religious leaders as “Peter and the other apostles” blamed them for Jesus' death. Though they “killed” Jesus, God raised Him from the dead, and this provided salvation from sins for every person who believes and trusts in Him. God loves people, and His message of the “gospel” was to be preached throughout the world. This beginning served to be start of the spread of God's “good news” of forgiveness and provision for everlasting life with Him. Let all who read these words understand, anyone who is a “sinner” killed Jesus, “all have sinned”, and He died so they might live forever in relationship with Him.
Next time Luke shares how Peter and the other apostles said God, “has exalted with his right hand” Jesus “to be a Prince and a Savior”, 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".
No comments:
Post a Comment