The beloved physician Luke wrote how Paul continued to answer for himself before Felix the governor by saying, “herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men. Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse eighteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul told Felix, “certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple”, where we read:
Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple,
neither with multitude, nor with tumult.
The verse begins, “Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, ...” Luke began with the words, “whereupon certain Jews” which means “moreover particular people from the Jewish nation as respects to origin, birth or religion” “from Asia” or “separated from Asia whose name means orient and refers to Asia proper or proconsular Asia embracing Mysia, Lydia, Phrygia, and Caria, corresponding closely to Turkey today” “found me purified” which means “discovered, noticed and discerned me, Paul, made pure and morally cleansed” “in the temple” or “within the sacred worship place in Jerusalem”. Luke shared how Jewish people from the region of “Asia” discovered “Paul” in a morally cleansed state within the “temple” located in Jerusalem.
The verse goes on to say, “... neither with multitude, nor with tumult.” Luke continued with the words, “neither with multitude” which means “no and not in any way alongside or after a crowd or throng of people who flocked together”, “nor with tumult” or “no and not in any way alongside or after a noisy uproar or clamorous and riotous persons”. Luke shared how “Paul” told “Felix” the “Jews from Asia” did not discover him among a large throng of people nor alongside a riotous and clamorous group.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” attempted to share with “Felix” how there were particular Jewish people from the region of “Asia” who found him “purified” within the sacred worship place in Jerusalem and not with a “riotous” crowd of people. “Paul” was not inciting a riot, nor was he being rebellious like these men were accusing him. “Paul” shared the gospel of Jesus Christ, and when Jesus Christ is revealed to people, they will always respond in some way. Some receive Him and have their sins forgiven and are promised eternal life with God. Others refuse and reject Him and they have no covering for their future. God's desire is to have a personal relationship with everyone who surrenders to His Son Jesus who alone is able to “save” them for all eternity, and because He is “the way, the truth and the life”, (John 14:6) many will not submit to Him and create troubles for those who do.
Next time Luke shares how Paul tells Felix how the Jews from Asia, “ought to have been here before you, and object”, 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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