Luke the beloved physician shared when Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke himself, “passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few”, and in chapter seventeen and verse five of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort” where we read:
But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
The verse begins, “But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, ...” Luke began with the words, “but the Jews” which means “however the people who belonged to the Jewish nation by origin, birth or religion” “which believed not” or “who did not allow themselves to be persuaded, did not comply and refused belief and obedience”, “moved with envy” which means “burned with zeal, desired earnestly and were moved with jealousy”, “took unto them certain lewd fellows” or “received and admitted to themselves particular hurtful, evil and calamitous influences” “of the baser sort” which means “belonging to the hucksters, petty traffickers and vulgar people”, “and gathered a company” or “and assembled and brought together a crowd of people”. Luke shared how the “Jewish” people who did not put their faith and trust in Jesus began to act with “envy and jealousy” as they assembled a crowd of “hurtful, calamitous, hucksters and vulgar” people.
The verse continues, “... and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.” Luke added the words, “and set all the city” or “and disturbed and clamored” “on an uproar” which means “and made a turbulent and tumultuous trouble and wailing within the dwelling place and habitation known as Thessalonica”, “and assaulted the house” or “set themselves and stood against the dwelling place, habitation and abode” “of Jason” which means “belonging to Jason whose name means one who will heal and was a Thessalonian who entertained Paul and Silas and maybe a cousin of Paul”, “and sought to bring them out” or “and strove, required and demanded to carry out and bring forth Paul and Silas” “to the people” which means “toward the male and female human beings in the city of Thessalonica”. Luke shared how the “envious, non-believing Jews” stirred up the whole city of “Thessalonica” and set themselves against the home of “Jason” where they demanded to have “Paul and Silas” brought out to the people in the city.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn about the “envious” Jewish people who heard that “Paul and Silas” were sharing the “gospel” of Jesus Christ, and they wanted them stopped. They caused the entire city of “Thessalonica” to be disturbed over this issue, and they came against the house of “Jason” where they believed “Paul and Silas” were staying. “Paul and Silas” were serving the Lord Jesus by spreading His word, however there was opposition to them. God wants everyone to be saved through a personal relationship with His Son Jesus, however, there are opposing forces that want people to remain in their sinful state. God loves people, and when they yield themselves to His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. Let all who read these words align with those who believe and trust in the Lord when people oppose them.
Next time Luke shares how the Jews said, “these that have turned the world upside down are come here also”, 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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