The beloved physician Luke wrote how Paul told the elders in Ephesus, “You know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, ...”, and in chapter twenty and verse twenty-one of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul said he was, “testifying … repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” where we read:
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks,
repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
The verse begins, “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, ...” Luke began with the word, “testifying” which means “attesting, confirming and earnestly and religiously charging” “both to the Jews” or “not only toward the people in the Jewish nation as respects to origin, birth or religion”, “and also to the Greeks” which means “and even so and indeed to the people who were Grecian, heathen pagan and non-Jews”. Luke shared how “Paul” said he was “bearing witness” to “Jews and Greeks” alike the following ideas.
The verse goes on to say, “... repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Luke continued with the words, “repentance toward God” which means “change of mind and reversal of decisions toward the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”, “and faith toward” or “and belief, trust, reliance and confidence unto” “our Lord Jesus Christ” which means “our, Paul, Luke and his fellow disciples, One to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah, Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation who is the Messiah”. Luke shared how “Paul” bore witness to “Jews and Greeks” concerning “changing their minds” toward “God” and “believing, trusting and relying upon” the “Lord Jesus” who is God's Son, Christ and Messiah.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” referred to the way he spoke to the “Jewish” and “Grecian” people about “changing their minds” toward “God the Heavenly Father” and having “faith and trust” in the “Lord Jesus Christ”. This is God's desire and purpose for all people. He wants them to turn their minds toward Him and to believe and trust in His Son Jesus so they may have their sins forgiven and be granted everlasting life with Him in Heaven. Those who carefully examine “Paul's” emphasis toward the people of “Ephesus” and surrender themselves to the same ideas he promoted are wise.
Next time Luke shares how Paul says, “I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem”, 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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