Luke the beloved physician wrote, “when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, You men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on”, and in chapter thirteen and verse sixteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul said, “men of Israel, and you that fear God, give audience” where we read:
Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said,
Men of Israel, and you that fear God, give audience.
The verse begins, “Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, ...” Luke began with the words, “then Paul stood up” which means “at that time Paul whose name means small or little rose to his feet and stood”, “and beckoning with his hand” or “and signaling to the people in the synagogue with his physical hand” “said” which means “uttered, declared and proclaimed” the following words.. Luke shared how “Paul” “stood to his feet”, “signaled” to the people in the synagogue and began to speak the following words.
The verse goes on to say, “... Men of Israel, and you that fear God, give audience.” Luke continued with the words, “Men of Israel” which means “human beings both male and female who belong to the nation of Israel which means he shall be a prince of God”, “and you that fear God” or “and you people within the synagogue who reverence, venerate, obey and are in awe of the Heavenly Father God”, “give audience” which means “be endowed with the faculty of hearing, perceiving, attending to and understanding”. Luke shared how “Paul” instructed the people within the “synagogue” who “reverenced and were in awe of God” to “listen carefully” to what he was about to say.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” responded to the invitation from the leader of the “synagogue” to speak. He began by referring to the heritage of the people within the “synagogue” and appealed to those who “reverenced” God. “Paul” will continue his words in our next few verse but for now let us hear his appeal to those who “fear” or “reverence” God and pay particular attention to what he proclaimed. God wants people to hear Him. He desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and because Jesus came to die on the cross for the sins of the whole world, everyone is invited. Let all who read these words yield themselves to Jesus who will “forgive sins” and grant everlasting life to all who believe.
Next time Luke shares how Paul says, “the God of this people of Israel chose our fathers”, 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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