Luke the beloved physician wrote when the Jews in Jerusalem told Paul and the men traveling with him to “be at charges” with the people of the Jewish nation, Paul, “the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them. And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teaches all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and has polluted this holy place”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse twenty-nine of the book of Acts Luke parenthetically shares how the Jews, “had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian”, where we read:
(For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian,
whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
The verse begins, “(For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian,” Luke parenthetically began with the words, “(for they had seen before with him” which means “because, since and on account that the Jewish people who arrested Paul saw, observed and noticed in advance of Paul's time in Jerusalem alongside him” “in the city Trophimus” or “within the dwelling place, habitation and abode Trophimus whose name means nutritious and was an Ephesian Christian and friend of the apostle Paul” “an Ephesian” which means “a native of Ephesus”. Luke parenthetically shared how the Jewish people who accosted “Paul” previously saw him with a man named “Trophimus” who was from the city of “Ephesus”.
The verse goes on to say “... whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)” Luke continued with the words, “whom they supposed” which means “that the Jewish people who arrested Paul deemed and thought” “that Paul” or “that Paul whose name means small or little” “had brought into the temple” which means “carried into and lead into the sacred worship place in Jerusalem”). Luke shared how the “Jewish people” who “seized” “Paul” thought he led a pagan, non-Jewish Ephesian man named “Trophimus” into the sacred worship place located in Jerusalem.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn why the “Jewish people” were so upset with “Paul”. They thought he led a pagan and heathen man named “Trophimus” from “Ephesus” into the sacred “temple” which would be a violation of their law. They had see “Paul” with “Trophimus” in the city of “Ephesus”, and they knew he was bringing him into the “temple”. It is written that within the temple, “there was in the court of the Gentiles a sign on the wall that said, “Any Gentile that goes beyond this sign is responsible for his own death.”, and “Paul” would have violated this rule by bringing a “Gentile”, “Trophimus”, into the inner court of the “temple”. God knew this accusation would come against “Paul”, and His desire is for all people, Jew and Gentile, to believe and trust in His Son Jesus so they may be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. Let all who read these words receive the invitation of Jesus to come to Him regardless of the resistance others may bring to keep them from doing so.
Next time Luke shares how the Jews, “took Paul, and drew him out of the temple”, 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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