The beloved physician Luke wrote as Paul was making his defense before King Agrippa, he asked, “Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse eleven of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul told King Agrippa, “I punished them often in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme” where we read:
And I punished them often in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme;
and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
The verse begins, “And I punished them often in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme;” Luke began with the words, “and I punished them often” which means “and I, Paul, succored, avenged the honor of and took vengeance upon the believers in Jesus many times and frequently” “in every synagogue” or “within each, all, the whole and everyone of the assemblies of Jews formally gathered together to offer prayers and listen to the reading and expositions of the scriptures”, “and compelled them” which means “and drove, constrained and forced the believers in Jesus” “to blaspheme” or “to defame, rail on, revile and speak evil”. Luke shared how “Paul” told “king Agrippa” that he took vengeance upon the believers in Jesus in every sacred worship place, and he forced them to revile and speak evil of Jesus as well.
The verse continues, “and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.” Luke added the words, “and being exceedingly mad against them” which means “and existing as superabundantly and out of measure with a rage in opposition and contrary to the believers in Jesus”, “I persecuted them” or “I, Paul, mistreated, pursued and harassed with trouble the believers in Jesus” “even unto strange cities” which means “also and indeed to far away dwelling places, habitations and abodes”. Luke shared how “Paul” told “king Agrippa” that he was so hostile to the believers in Jesus that he mistreated and harassed them not only in Jerusalem, but also into other cities where believers were found.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how concentrated the anger of “Paul” was against people who put their faith and trust in Jesus. Before he met Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, “Paul” was an enemy to Jesus Christ, and anyone who believed and trusted in Him because a target for “Paul” to harass, imprison or kill. In other words, “Paul” desired to eliminate Christianity from the face of the earth, and anyone who believed in Jesus was to be extinguished as well. Though he was this intense in his opposition to faith and trust in Jesus, God still desired to “save” “Paul”, and when a person acts, speaks and has an attitude that is in opposition to God, they may be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with Him when they put their faith and trust in His Son Jesus. God loves everyone, and regardless of their past, when they humble themselves and yield to Him, He will save them, forgive them and provide them with eternal life with Him.
Next time Luke shares how Paul begins to tell King Agrippa what happened, “as I went to Damascus”, 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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