The beloved physician Luke wrote after he, “Paul” and their traveling companions spent time in “Caesarea”, “Paul” was warned that he should not go to Jerusalem. Then Luke shared how, “we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem. There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse seventeen of the book of Acts Luke shared, “when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly” where we read:
And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
The verse begins, “And when we were come to Jerusalem, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when we were come” which means “and at the time and moment we, Luke, Paul and the men traveling with them arose and appeared” “to Jerusalem” or “within the city of Jerusalem whose name means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine” the following occurred. Luke began to share what happened when he,“Paul” and the men traveling with them arrived in “Jerusalem”.
The verse continues, “... the brethren received us gladly.” Luke added the words, “the brethren” which means “and the fellow believers in Jesus who were united to each other by the bond of affection” “received us gladly” or “accepted and took in us, Luke, Paul and the men traveling with them, with exceeding joy and pleasure”. Luke shared how the “fellow believers” in “Jerusalem” accepted and took in him, Paul and all the men traveling with them with exceeding joy.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul, Luke and the men traveling with them” were accepted by the fellow believers in “Jerusalem”. The believers in “Jerusalem” were overjoyed to see them, and we can imagine how there was a celebration among them as they met together again. God loves for His “family” to be reunited, and they should celebrate when they reunite with one another. Times of refreshment and happiness are appropriate when these meetings take place, and because God loves people and desires to forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life, their “family reunions” become special to Him as well. Let all who read these words understand the value of reuniting with fellow believers, and may they enjoy the company of others as they come together after being apart.
Next time Luke shares, “the day following Paul went in with us unto James”, 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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