The beloved physician Luke wrote how, “Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus says the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse thirteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul asked, “what mean you to weep and to break my heart?” where we read:
Then Paul answered, What mean you to weep and to break my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
The verse begins, “Then Paul answered, What mean you to weep and to break my heart?” Luke began with the words, “then Paul answered” which means “at that time, therefore, wherefore, consequently and on this account Paul, whose name means small or little, responded, began to speak and asked”, “what mean you to weep” or “for what reason do you disciples of Jesus in Caesarea lament, mourn and show signs of grief” “and to break my heart” which means “and to crush, dispirit and incapacitate Paul's soul or mind they are the fountain and seat of his thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors”? Luke shared how “Paul” wanted to know why the believers in "Caesarea" were “crying and lamenting” and desiring to “crush” his soul and mind.
The verse continues, “for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Luke added the words, “for I am ready” which means “because, since and on account that I, Paul, exist as prepared” “not to be bound only” or “not only to be fastened, tied and thrown into chains”, “but also to die” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover even so and indeed to be slain, killed and removed from life” “at Jerusalem” or “in the city of Jerusalem whose name means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine” “for the name of the Lord Jesus” which means “on behalf of everything which the name covers including the thoughts or feelings which are aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing and remembering which belong to the One to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah”. Luke shared how “Paul” told the fellow believers in “Caesarea” that he was prepared not only to be fastened or chained, but also to “die” in the city of Jerusalem on behalf of the “name” of “Jesus Christ the Lord”.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how committed “Paul” was to Jesus Christ. Even though He was warned by the disciples of Jesus in “Caesarea” that he would be arrested in “Jerusalem” and turned over to the Gentiles, “Paul” was willing to travel there because of his love for “Jesus”. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when they submit to Him as their “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. Regardless of what happens to them on earth because of their belief in Jesus, God will vindicate them by granting them eternal life with Him in Heaven.
Next time Luke shares when the people, “would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, the will of the Lord be done”, 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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