The beloved physician Luke wrote how there was a large commotion in Ephesus over Demetrius the silversmith coming against the teachings of Paul, and “after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece, ...”, and in chapter twenty and verse three of the book of Acts Luke shared concerning Paul, “when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia” where we read:
And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him,
as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.
The verse begins, “And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, ...” Luke began with the words, “and there abode three months” which means “and Paul stayed and continued in Greece for three months time”. “And when the Jews” or “and at the time and moment the people of the Jewish nation as respects to origin, birth and religion” “laid wait for him” which means “formed a plan or plot against Paul” the following occurred. Luke shared how “Paul” stayed in “Greece” for three months time, and then the Jewish people there plotted against him according to the following plan.
The verse goes on to say, “... as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.” Luke continued with the words, “as he was about to sail” which means “while and during the time Paul intended and had in mind to travel by ship” “into Syria” or “into the area of Syria whose name means exalted and was a region of Asia bounded on the north by Taurus and Amanus ranges, on the east by the Euphrates and Arabia, on the south by Palestine, and the west by Phoenicia and the Mediterranean”, “he purposed to return” which means “Paul reasoned, intended and resolved to turn or go back” “through Macedonia” or “by way of Macedonia whose name means extended land and was a country bounded on the south by Thessaly and Epirus, on the east by Thrace and the Aegean Sea, on the west by Illyria and on the North by Dardania and Moesia”. Luke shared how “Paul” was determined to “sail” to “Syria” and was resolved to travel through the area of “Macedonia” again.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we discover that “Paul” continued in the country of “Greece” for three months time before Jewish people began to come against him again. This caused him to resolve to leave them and travel by boat to “Syria”. Along the way he decided to journey through “Macedonia” again, and once again “Paul's” mission was to promote and continue the gospel of Jesus Christ. In other words, “Paul” was traveling and ministering in different places as the Lord led him. God desires to have His message of salvation presented throughout the world, and He not only will forgive sins and grant eternal life to everyone who yields to Him, He will also employ them in His Kingdom to be His disciples and witnesses to others who do not believe. God loves people, and those who have submitted themselves to His Son Jesus will make themselves available to travel anywhere He deems necessary to share His “good news”.
Next time Luke shares about the men who, “accompanied” Paul, 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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