The beloved physician Luke wrote when the Jews in Jerusalem knew Paul was in the temple, “all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse thirty-two of the book of Acts Luke shares how the chief captain, “immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them”, where we read:
Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them:
and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.
The verse begins, “Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them:” Luke began with the words, “who immediately took soldiers” which means “who, the chief captain, straightway and forthwith discharged Roman warriors” “and centurions” or “and officers who were in charge of one hundred men”, “and ran down unto them” which means “and hastened down to the Jewish people who desired to kill Paul”. Luke shared how the “chief captain” of the Roman military gathered “Roman soldiers” and “centurions” with him and descended to where the “Jewish people” were desiring to “kill” Paul.
The verse continues, “and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.” Luke added the words, “and when they saw the chief captain” which means “and at the time and moment the Jewish people observed, notice and perceived the chiliarch or military commander of the Roman cohort ” “and the soldiers” or “and the Roman warriors”, “they left beating of Paul” which means “the Jewish people stopped, ceased and desisted from striking, smiting, whipping and hitting Paul whose name means small or little”. Luke shared how the “Jewish people” who were “hitting and striking” “Paul” stopped doing so after they saw the “commander of the Roman military” and “Roman warriors” approaching them.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “Roman” military was used to stop the “beating” of “Paul”. The “Jewish people” who opposed “Paul” to the point of wanting him dead had already begun beating him, and as soon as they saw the “military” coming, they stopped. Let us be mindful that God sets up authorities and puts them down, and in this case, He employed the “pagan” “soldiers” to halt the “beating” and potential death of “Paul”. God has a purpose and plan to reach every person with His good news of salvation through His Son Jesus. Anyone who comes to Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life, and those who are wise realize even the intervention of the “Roman military” to save “Paul” was used to promote the “salvation” plan of God Almighty.
Next time Luke shares how, “the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains”, 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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