Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Taking Their Leave - Acts 21:6

Luke the beloved physician wrote, “And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from there unto Patara: And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth. Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden. And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse six of the book of Acts Luke shared,when we had taken our leave one of another, we took shipwhere we read:

And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.

The verse begins, “And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; Luke began with the words, “and when we had taken our leave” which means “and at the time and moment we, Luke, Paul and the men traveling with them, left and departed from” “one of another” or “the disciples in Tyre”, “we took ship” which means “we, Luke, Paul and the men traveling with them boarded a sailing vessel or boat”. Luke shared how he, “Paul” and the men traveling with them boarded a “sailing vessel” as they departed from the disciples in “Tyre”.

The verse goes on to say, “and they returned home again.” Luke continued with the words, “and they returned home” which means “and the disciples as well as their families went back to their dwelling places, abodes and habitations” “again” or “once again”. Luke shared how the disciples in “Tyre” and their families went back to their homes again after leaving “Luke, Paul and the men traveling with them”.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how he, “Paul” and the men traveling with them left the disciples of “Tyre” and boarded a sailing vessel. Once they were apart, the disciples in “Tyre” went back home. This is another departure from fellow believers by “Paul” and those with him, and it seems like this is a “farewell” trip for them. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when they yield to Him, He will forgive their sin, grant them everlasting life and give them “appointed times” to be with fellow believers. One day, all who believe and trust in Jesus will be with Him in Heaven, and there will be no length of time to be with one another. However, for now separations occur, and those who are wise allow the Holy Spirit of God to guide them to the places they should go and the time they should be there.

Next time Luke shares,when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, 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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