The beloved physician Luke wrote, “And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from there unto Patara: And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth. Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden. And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed. And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse seven of the book of Acts Luke shared, “when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais” where we read:
And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais,
and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.
The verse begins, “And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when we had finished our course” which means “and at the time and moment we, Luke, Paul and the men traveling with them, completed and accomplished their navigation or voyage” “from Tyre” or “apart from the city of Tyre whose name means a rock and was a Phoenician city on the Mediterranean, very ancient, large, splendid, flourishing in commerce, and powerful by land and sea”, “we came to Ptolemais” which means “we, Luke, Paul and the men traveling with them arose and appeared to Ptolemais or “Accho” whose name means warlike and was a maritime city of Phoenicia, which got its name, apparently, from Ptolemy Lathyrus, who captured it 103 BC, and rebuilt it more beautifully”. Luke shared how he, “Paul” and the men traveling with them completed their voyage from the city of “Tyre” and arrived in “Ptolemais”.
The verse continues, “... and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.” Luke added the words, “and saluted the brethren” which means “and embraced and greeted the fellow believers who are united to each other by the bond of affection”, “and abode with them” or “and remained with the fellow believers in Ptolemais” “one day” which means “for one sunrise to sunset”. Luke shared how he, “Paul” and the men traveling with them greeted and embraced the fellow believers in Jesus in “Ptolemais” and stayed with them for “one day's” time.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn more about the travels of him, “Paul” and the men traveling with them. This time they reached the city of “Ptolemais”, found the believers in Jesus there and remained with them for a “day's” time. “Paul” was visiting the places where the gospel of Jesus Christ was believed, and the disciples of Jesus in those places were “greeted and embraced” by him and the men with him. This is another example of the reuniting of the family of God, and when a person believes and trusts in Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, they become as family to one another. Their time together is precious, and even when they meet together for a day, they enjoy the community designed by God to be lived with Him in Heaven forever. Those who are wise believe in Jesus, have their sins forgiven, inherit eternal life and become part of God's family in the world.
Next time Luke shares, “the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea”, 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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