Luke the beloved physician shared how, “certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question”, and in chapter fifteen and verse three of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul and Barnabas, “passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles”, where we read:
And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
The verse begins, “And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, ...” Luke began with the words, “and being brought on their way” which means “and being sent forward, escorted and aided in travel” “by the church” or “through the means of the assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting”, “they passed through Phenice” which means “Paul, Barnabas and those with them journeyed and traveled through Phenice whose name means land of palm trees and was a territory of the province of Syria, situated on the coast of the Mediterranean between the river Eleutherus and the promontory of Carmel, some 30 miles (50 km) long and 3 (5 km) broad” “and Samaria” whose name means “guardianship” and was “a territory in Palestine which had Samaria as its capital”. Luke shared how “Paul, Barnabas and their contingency” were sent forth by the church in Antioch of Syria, and they journey through “Phenice and Samaria” as they traveled.
The verse continues, “... declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.” Luke added the words, “declaring the conversion” or “uttering, proclaiming, relating and telling about the reversion and moral revolution” “of the Gentiles” which means “pertaining to the heathen and pagan people who were non-Jews and of the same nature and genus”: “and they caused great joy” or “and Paul, Barnabas and their contingency” effected, made and brought forth large, numerous and abundant gladness” “unto all the brethren” which means “to each, every, the whole and everyone of the brothers who were fellow believers united to each other by the bond of affection”. Luke shared how “Paul, Barnabas and the people with them” told of the “reversion and moral revolution” within the “Gentile, non-Jewish” people, and this made the “fellow believers” in Jesus to be filled with exceeding gladness.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul, Barnabas and the men sent with them” were dispatched by the church in “Antioch of Syria”, and they told of the wonderful conversion of the “Gentile” people as they traveled through “Phenice and Samaria”. God was doing a mighty work in people who were non-Jews, and Paul and Barnabas were used to declare not only the word of His “gospel” but also the effectiveness of their ministry. God wants to have a loving personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and whether they are Jews or Gentiles, He desires that they yield their lives to Him. Those who are wise will see the mighty hand of God at work in and through people, and become “exceedingly glad” for all that He has done.
Next time Luke shares when Paul and Barnabas, “were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church”, 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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