The physician Luke wrote, “then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty-seven of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “in these days came prophets from Jerusalem to Antioch” where we read:
And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
The verse begins, “And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem ...” Luke began with the words, “and in these days” which means “and within that time period of sunrises to sunsets” “came prophets from Jerusalem” or “arose and appeared men filled with the Spirit of God, who by God's authority and command in words of weight pleads the cause of God and urged salvation of men that were separated from Jerusalem which means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine”. Luke shared how some “prophets” who were part of the church in Jerusalem arose to go to the following.
The verse continues, “... unto Antioch.” Luke added the words, “unto Antioch” which means “to the city of whose name means driven against and was the Capital of Syria, situated on the river Orontes, founded by Seleucus Nicanor in 300 B.C. and named in honor of his father, Antiochus”. Luke shared how the “prophets” from Jerusalem traveled to “Antioch”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we discover another part of the expansion of the gospel throughout the world. This time, “prophets”, from the church in Jerusalem went to “Antioch” where the church of believers were assembled. God was building His church, and when He dispatched these “prophets” to “Antioch”, He was at work in the people who were known as “Christians” there. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when they surrender themselves to Him, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. Those who are wise will see the deliberate plan of God to build His church and realize, He continues to build His church to this day.
Next time Luke shares how, “there stood up one of them named Agabus”, 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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