Luke the beloved physician 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. 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. So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto you, who has something to say unto you”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse nineteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately” where we read:
Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately,
and asked him, What is that you have to tell me?
The verse begins, “Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, ...” Luke began with the words, “then the chief captain” which means “at that time the chiliarch or Roman commander of a cohort” “took him by the hand” or “lay hold of and attained Paul's nephew by his physical hand”, “and went with him aside privately” which means “and departed and left alongside Paul's nephew separately and by himself”. Luke shared how the “Roman commander” lay hold of the “hand” of “Paul's nephew” and separated from the others.
The verse goes on to say, “... and asked him, What is that you have to tell me?” Luke continued with the words, “and asked him” which means “and inquired, questioned and ascertained from Paul's nephew”, “what is that you have to tell me” or “what information do you, Paul's nephew, have to disclose, utter, proclaim and declare to me, the chief captain”? Luke shared how the “chief captain” questioned “Paul's nephew” concerning the information he had to share with him.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “chief captain” complied with “Paul's” plan to have his nephew disclose the information about the over forty men. By one step at a time Paul's rescue was being secured. God often allows a process for His purposes and will, and when He decides to preserve or save someone from a situation, people may be involved without knowing what they are doing. God loves people, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with everyone who believes and trusts in His Son Jesus. When they yield to Him, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. Those who are wise will see God's plan to preserve His servant “Paul”, and know He wants to give everyone an opportunity to know Him and be used in His Kingdom.
Next time Luke shares how, “the Jews have agree to desire you that you would bring down Paul to morrow”, 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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