Luke the beloved physician wrote how the Jews in Jerusalem told Paul, “We have four men which have a vow on them. Them take, and purify yourself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning you, are nothing; but that you yourself also walk orderly, and keep the law. As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse twenty-six of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple” where we read:
Then Paul took the men, and 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.
The verse begins, “Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, ...” Luke began with the words, “then Paul” which means “at that time, therefore, wherefore, on this account and consequently Paul whose name means small or little” “took the men” or “acknowledged, accepted and received the male human beings”, “and the next day” which means “and the following sunrise to sunset” “purifying himself with them” or “ceremonially and morally cleansing his, Paul's, own self” “entered into the temple” which means “came into the sacred worship place in Jerusalem”. Luke shared how “Paul” received the “four men who had taken a vow”, and upon the day following the charge of James and the elders, they came into the sacred worship temple located in Jerusalem.
The verse continues, “... to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.” Luke added the words, “to signify the accomplishment” which means “to carry a message to, announce everywhere, publish abroad and declare the completing and fulfillment” “for the days of purification” or “apart and separated from the time of abstaining pertaining to ceremonial lustration and cleansing”, “until that an offering” which means “till the time that a sacrifice and oblation” “should be offered” or “be borne towards, lead to and tendered” “for every one of them” which means “on behalf of each, the whole, all and everyone of the men who had taken a vow”. Luke shared how “Paul” desired to publish abroad that he had taken the “vow” along with the other “four men”, and they continued in the temple until the time that a “sacrifice” was made for each of the men who vowed.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” complied with “James and the elders in Jerusalem's” suggestion that he take a “vow” alongside “four men” among them. By doing so, he outwardly demonstrated that he was in alignment with the “Jewish law and customs”, and he remained in his vowed condition until a sacrifice was made upon all of the men who made the vow. God loves people, and when they have an opportunity not to offend others by keeping traditions or customs, as long as they do not go against the law of God, they should do so. Everyone who comes to Jesus will receive forgiveness for their sins and be granted everlasting life, and any time they have an opportunity to share Him with others, they should comply so as not to keep people from receiving the mercy and grace of God.
Next time Luke shares what happened, “when the seven days were almost ended”, 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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