The physician Luke wrote how Peter told the Jewish “apostles and believers” in Jerusalem, “three men were already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house. And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter. Who shall tell you words, whereby you and all your house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?”, and in chapter eleven and verse eighteen of the book of Acts Luke shared about the Jewish believers, “when they heard these things, they held their peace” where we read:
When they heard these things, they held their peace,
and glorified God, saying, Then has God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
The verse begins, “When they heard these things, they held their peace, ...” Luke began with the words, “when they heard these things” which means “at the time and moment the Jewish apostles and believers were endowed with the faculty of hearing, perceiving and understanding the words of Peter”, “they held their peace” or “the Jewish apostles and believers were quiet and silent”. Luke shared how the Jewish “apostles and believers” ceased their speaking and kept quiet after “Peter's” explanation.
The verse goes on to say, “and glorified God, saying, Then has God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” Luke continued with the words, “and glorified God” which means “and praised, extolled, magnified and celebrated the Godhead and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “then has God also” which means “therefore, wherefore and on this account the Godhead and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit even so and indeed” “to the Gentiles” or “to the multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus who were not Jews and known as pagans” “granted repentance unto life” which means “given, bestowed, supplied and furnished change of mind, reversal and compunction for guilt which included reformation toward life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever.” Luke shared how the Jewish “apostles and believers” began to “magnify and extol” “God” because He had given to the “pagan Gentiles” the same opportunity to “repent of their sins” and inherit “true life” which is blessed by Him.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we discover the response of the Jewish “apostles and believers” to “Peter's” story. They stopped their questioning of him and began to give “praise, adoration and glory” to God because He extended His gift of “salvation” to the Gentiles. God loves everybody, and regardless of whether they are Jews or Gentiles, He wants all of them to receive His “salvation” through His Son Jesus. Anyone, anywhere who trusts in, relies upon and clings to Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Those who are wise will rejoice with these Jewish people and understand the blessing of God's “salvation” being given to all mankind.
Next time Luke shares about, “they which were scattered abroad”, 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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