The beloved physician Luke shared how Paul, Silas and Timothy went to “Thessalonica” and shared the gospel with the Jews located there. After some of them believed, other non-believing Jewish people rose up against them, and “the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming there went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came there also, and stirred up the people. And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still. And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed”, and in chapter seventeen and verse sixteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul, “saw the city wholly given to idolatry” where we read:
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him,
when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
The verse begins, “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, ...” Luke began with the words, “now while Paul” which means “moreover during the time Paul whose name means small or young” “waited for them” or “looked for, expected and awaited the arrival of Silas and Timothy” “at Athens” which means “in the city of Athens whose name means uncertainty and was a famous city in Greece, the capital of Attica, and the chief seat of learning and civilization during the golden period of the history of Greece”, “his spirit” or “Paul's heart and soul” “was stirred in him” which means “was irritated, provoked and aroused to anger within Paul”. Luke shared how “Paul” was “expecting” the arrival of “Silas and Timothy”, and while he “waited”, his “heart and soul” was provoked within him.
The verse goes on to say, “... when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.” Luke continued with the words, “when he saw the city” or “at the time and moment Paul observed, noticed, beheld and discerned the abode, dwelling place and habitation of Athens” “wholly given to idolatry” which means “utterly idolatrous and participating in the worship of idols”. Luke shared how “Paul” began to notice all the “idols” which were worshiped by the people in “Athens”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” began to observe all the idols that were worshiped by the people in “Athens” as he waited for “Silas and Timothy” to join him. This troubled “Paul” in his “spirit”, and we shall see how he reacts to this with the Jewish people in a synagogue located there in our next verse. God's desire is to turn people from “idols” to worship Him, the One True God, and He does this by helping people believe and trust in His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”. People worship something, and whatever occupies their time, energy, money and attention becomes their “god” or “idol”. God sent “Paul” to “Athens” like He did to Thessalonica to turn the people there “to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (See 1 Thessalonians 1:9), and everyone who reads these words should submit themselves to Jesus and align themselves with the One True God.
Next time Luke shares how Paul, “Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, ...”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or 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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