Luke the physician wrote how, “Saul was certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came here for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him. But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket”, and in chapter nine and verse twenty-six of the book of Acts Luke shared how Saul, “assayed to join himself to the disciples” where we read:
And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples:
but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
The verse begins, “And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples:” Luke began with the words, “and when Saul was come to Jerusalem” which means “and at the time and moment Saul, whose name means desired and was the Jewish name for Paul, approached and came near to Jerusalem whose name means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine”, “he assayed to join himself” or “Saul attempted and was of the mind to fasten, cleave and keep company his own self” “to the disciples” which means “toward the students, pupils and attendants of Jesus”. Luke shared how “Saul” approached “Jerusalem” and wanted to “keep company” with the “disciples” of Jesus there.
The verse goes on to say, “but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.” Luke continued with the words, “but they were all afraid of him” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the disciples of Jesus were each, every, the whole and everyone of them in fear, put to flight and venerated by Saul”, “and believed not” or “and did not have the faith, trust or confidence” “that he was a disciple” which means “that Saul existed as a student, pupil and attendant of Jesus”. Luke shared how the “disciples” of Jesus were in fear of “Saul” because they did not “trust” that he was actually a “believer and disciple” of Jesus.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn after “Saul” escaped “Damascus”, he went to “Jerusalem” where he desired to “keep company” with the “disciples of Jesus” there. This was a problem for the “disciples of Jesus” because they knew the reputation of “Saul” who previously arrested and consented to the death of Jesus' followers. We shall see how this is remedied in our next verse, but for now, we should understand that not everyone will “believe” the change that has occurred within a person who puts their faith in Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”. Reputation is huge in the minds of those who have known the life-style and behavior of people before they come to Christ Jesus, and only when God forgives and alters them completely do people see a transformation. God loves people, and He is able to take those who are in opposition to Him and His Son Jesus and make them believers and disciples of Him. Let all who read these words carefully examine these things and yield themselves to Him.
Next time Luke shares how, “Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles”, 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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