The beloved physician Luke wrote how, “Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome”, and in chapter nineteen and verse twenty-two of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul, “sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus” where we read:
So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus;
but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
The verse begins, “So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus;” Luke began with the words, “so he sent into Macedonia” which means “therefore, wherefore, then and these things being so Paul dispatched and assigned into the country bounded on the south by Thessaly and Epirus, on the east by Thrace and the Aegean Sea, on the west by Illyria, and on the North by Dardania and Moesia whose name means extended land” “two of them” or “two of the fellow travelers of Paul” “that ministered unto him” which means “who served, attended to and waited upon Paul”, “Timotheus” or “Timothy” whose name means “honoring God” and was “a resident of Lystra, apparently, whose father was a Greek and mother a Jewess; he was Paul's traveling companion and fellow laborer” “and Erastus” which refers to “the chamberlain or rather the public treasurer, of Corinth who was a companion of Paul” whose name means “beloved”. Luke shared how “Paul” dispatched “Timothy and Erastus” who served him into the country of “Macedonia”.
The verse continues, “but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.” Luke added the words, “but he himself” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover Paul his own self” “stayed in Asia” or “remained, continued and delayed within proconsular Asia embracing Mysia, Lydia, Phrygia, and Caria, corresponding closely to Turkey today whose name means orient” “for a season” which means “for a space of time”. Luke shared how “Paul” continued in “Asia” for a while after he dispatched “Timothy and Erastus” into “Macedonia”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn more about the travels of “Paul”. Although his destination was “Jerusalem” and afterward “Rome”, on his way he traveled near “Macedonia” where he dispatched his two servants, “Timothy and Erastus” to enter there. He stayed in “Asia” for a while, and continued the work the Lord had for him to do. Sometimes “Paul” planned and was attempting to travel to a particular place, but the timing for reaching those places had interruptions along the way. In other words, “Paul” planned, but then reacted when circumstances and situations changed. The idea was that he was being led by the Holy Spirit, and even though “Paul” had his ideas for his travels, sometimes they were altered. We may know this, God has a plan for every person's life, and the first step to following His plan is to yield to His Son Jesus as their personal “Lord and Savior”. Then He will forgive their sins, grant them everlasting life and begin to lead them by His Holy Spirit according to His purposes and plan that includes some delays and some met appointments along the way.
Next time Luke shares how, “there arose no small stir about that way”, 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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