The beloved physician Luke wrote how he, Paul and others were sailing to Rome, and “Julius”, “a centurion of Augustus' band”, “courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself. And when we had launched from there, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse six of the book of Acts Luke shared, “there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein” where we read:
And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.
The verse begins, “And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy;” Luke began with the words, “and there the centurion” which means “and at Myra the officer in the Roman army who was captain of one hundred men” “found a ship” or “came upon and discovered by searching a sailing vessel or boat” “of Alexandria” which means “belonging to Alexandria who was a native or resident of Alexandria in Egypt” “sailing into Italy” or “setting sail or voyaging to Italy whose name means calf-like and was the whole peninsula between the Alps and the Straits of Messina ”. Luke shared how “Julius” the “centurion” discovered an Egyptian sailing vessel from “Alexandria” that was journeying to the country of “Italy”.
The verse continues, “and he put us therein.” Luke added the words, “and he put us” which means “and the centurion transferred, placed and caused Luke, Paul and the others traveling with them to board” “therein” or “within the sailing vessel from Alexandria”. Luke shared how the “centurion” transferred him, Paul and the others traveling with them to the “ship” that was from “Alexandria”.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how he, Paul and the others traveling with them boarded another ship that was from “Alexandria” in Egypt that was setting sail to “Rome”. Voyage by voyage and ship by ship “Paul” was to reach “Rome” with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and because God loves everyone in the world, He wanted His good news to be spread to the people in the epicenter of mankind at that time. God desires a personal relationship with each person through His Son Jesus, and when they put their faith and trust in Him as their “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life with Him. Those who carefully study the step by step travels of “Paul” will see God's purpose and design to reach the world with His salvation message, and they align with His plan and will when they surrender to Him.
Next time Luke shares how he, Paul and the others, “were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone”, 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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