Luke the physician wrote how, “Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven”, and in chapter nine and verse four of the book of Acts Luke shared how Saul, “fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” where we read:
And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?
The verse begins, “And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, ...” Luke began with the words, “and he fell to the earth” which means “and Saul descended suddenly to the arable land, ground and country”, “and heard a voice saying” or “and was endowed with the faculty for hearing, perceiving, noticing and discerning a tone and sound of uttered words uttering, declaring, proclaiming and asking” “unto him” which refers to “Saul” the following words. Luke shared how “Saul” fell to the ground after the “brilliant light” surrounded him, and he “heard a voice” asking the following question.
The verse goes on to say, “... Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Luke continued with the words, “Saul, Saul” which means “desired, desired and was the Jewish name of the apostle Paul” “why do you persecute me” or “for what reason and cause do you, Saul, put to flight, trouble and mistreat me, Jesus”? Luke shared how the “voice” asked “why” “Saul” was “troubling and mistreating” Jesus.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Saul” prostrated himself at the brilliance of the light from heaven that surrounded him. The idea was that “Saul” was “cast down” to the ground when he saw the light, and we can only imagine how fearful he became when the “voice” asked him why he was “persecuting” him. God intended to reach “Saul” with His gospel, and He said his name twice for emphasis. We shall see how this was a life changing event for “Saul”. God loves people, and even when their purpose is to “destroy” belief and trust in Jesus like “Saul”, He will reach out to them with His “saving grace” through His Son Jesus. Anyone, regardless of their position against the believers in Jesus, may have a “life change” like “Saul”, and those who are wise will read these words and be illuminated with God's truth and love to be “changed” forever.
Next time Luke shares how Saul asks, “who are you, Lord?”, 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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