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 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. And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus. These going before tarried for us at Troas”, and in chapter twenty and verse six of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul and the men with him, “sailed away from Philippi” where we read:
And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.
The verse begins, “And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days;” Luke began with the words, “and we sailed away” which means “and we, Paul, Luke and the other men with them, departed by ship” “from Philippi” or “separate and apart from Philippi whose name means lover of horses and was a city of Macedonia located on or near the northern coast of the Aegean Sea, between the rivers Strymon and Nestus, and the cities Neapolis and Amphipolis” “after the days of unleavened bread” which means “following the daily intervals pertaining to unfermented and free from yeast bread”, “and came unto them” or “and arose and appeared to the fellow travelers and men who accompanied Paul” “to Troas” which means “in Troas whose name means a Trojan and was a city near Hellespont” “in five days” or “in five sunrises to sunsets time”. Luke shared how it took “five days” for he, “Paul” and with the others traveling with them to meet up with the other disciples who went before them in the city of “Troas”.
The verse continues, “where we abode seven days.” Luke added the words, “where we abode” which means “in the place and location that he, Paul and all the other disciples stayed, remained and dwelt” “seven days” or “for seven sunrises to sunsets”. Luke shared how he, Paul and all the other disciples who accompanied “Paul” remained in “Troas” for a “seven day” period.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn more about the travels of “Paul” which included “Luke himself” and the others who accompanied them. God was to use this “team” of men to continue sharing His “good news” of salvation throughout the world. God loves people, and He not only forgives the sins and grants eternal life to those who submit to His Son Jesus, but He will also use them in His Kingdom to spread His “gospel”. God used “Paul” along with these men as a group, and He often sends “mission teams” to spread His word to this day. Those who are wise make themselves available to Him to share His words so other will be “saved” and inherit “eternal life”.
Next time Luke shares how, “Paul preached … and continued his speech until midnight”, 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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