The beloved physician Luke wrote how Paul began to give defense for himself in Hebrew before a hostile Jewish crowd by saying, “I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as you all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse five of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul said, “the high priest does bear me witness”, where we read:
As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.
The verse begins, “As also the high priest does bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders:” Luke began with the words, “as also the high priest” which means “in which manner even so and indeed the chief and principal priest” “does bear me witness” or “affirms, gives report, conjures and implores me, Paul, as honorable testimony”, “and all the estate of the elders” which means “and each, every, the whole and everyone of the body of presbytery, senate and council of Jewish leaders”. Luke shared how the “chief priest” as well as every one of the “presbyters” in Jerusalem would testify concerning “Paul's” zeal and instructing of the “Jewish” religion.
The verse goes on to say, “from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.” Luke continued with the words, “from whom also I received letters” which means “by the high priest I, Paul, even so and indeed took in hand, was granted access and embraced favorable epistles or messages” “unto the brethren” or “toward the fellow believers who were united to each other by the bond of affection”, “and went to Damascus” which means “and departed, left, traveled and journeyed to one of the most ancient and most important cities of Syria lying in [a most]1 lovely and fertile plain at the eastern base of the Antilibanus, Damascus whose name means silent is the sackcloth weaver”, “to bring them which were there” or “to lay hold of, lead and direct the people who believe in Jesus who were located in Damascus” “bound unto Jerusalem” which means “seized, arrested, tied and fastened with chains toward Jerusalem whose name means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine”, “for to be punished” or “in order and so that the people they seize and arrest may be succored, avenged and have a penalty inflicted upon them”. Luke shared how “Paul” told the crowd that he received “permissive messages” from the “high priest” to capture believers in Jesus and take them back to “Jerusalem” so they could be penalized for their belief in Him.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” referred to the way he received “letters” from the “high priest” that permitted him to “arrest” the believers in Jesus who lived in “Damascus”, and he would also be allowed to carry them back to “Jerusalem” where they would be “punished” for their beliefs. God allowed this, and He permits people to believe in whatever they desire even when it is against His way of salvation through His Son Jesus. Many people are “persecuted and put to death” for their belief and trust in Jesus even to this day, and “Paul” aligned with the opposition at this point in his life. God loves everyone, and even when they resist Him through their “belief and trust” in other gods or belief systems, He still offers a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus. Those who carefully study the life of “Paul” will find the mercy and grace of God is available to every person even when they have beliefs and “letters” that give them permission to attack the believers in Jesus.
Next time Luke shares how Paul tells how, “suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me”, 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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