The beloved physician Luke wrote how “certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. Now therefore you with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though you would inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him. And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse seventeen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul told a centurion, “Bring this young man unto the chief captain” where we read:
Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said,
Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he has a certain thing to tell him.
The verse begins, “Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, ...” Luke began with the words, “then Paul” which means “therefore, wherefore, consequently and on this account Paul, whose name means small or little” “called one of the centurions unto him” or “beckoned, invited or summoned a particular one of the captains over one hundred men to himself”, “and said” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed” the following words. Luke shared how “Paul” summoned one of the “centurions” to come to where he was.
The verse goes on to say, “... Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he has a certain thing to tell him.” Luke continued with the words, “bring this young man” which means “lead and carry this youthful male, Paul's nephew” “unto the chief captain” or “to the chiliarch or Roman commander of a cohort”: “for he has a certain thing” which means “because, since and on account that he, Paul's nephew, holds, owns and possesses a particular word or speech” “to tell him” or “to bring tidings, proclaim, make know openly and declare to the chief captain”. Luke shared how “Paul” desired for the “centurion” to take his nephew to the “chief captain” because he had information to share with him.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” took action after his nephew told him about the over forty men's plot to kill him. “Paul”, being a Roman, had some influence among his captors as he was able to summon the “centurion” to have his nephew taken to the “chief captain”. “Paul” believed he could affect his outcome if he informed the “chief captain” about these men's plan, and when his nephew brought him word of their plot against him, he sent a message through his nephew to the one who had the power to save him. God used these people to preserve His servant “Paul” so the continuance of His gospel of salvation would continue throughout the world. God loves people, and His purpose is to share His forgiveness of sins and eternal life with everyone who believes and trusts in His Son Jesus. Those who are wise see the hand of God in “Paul's” situation and understand His desire is to bring salvation to everyone who believes.
Next time Luke shares how, “he took him, and brought him to the chief captain”, 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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