The beloved physician Luke wrote, “when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. But when the Jews spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of”, and in chapter twenty-eight and verse twenty of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul said, “for this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you:” where we read:
For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you:
because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.
The verse begins, “For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you:” Luke began with the words, “for this cause therefore” which means “consequently, because, since and on account of this reason then, wherefore and these things being so” “have I called for you” or “have I, Paul, summoned, begged and assembled you chief of the Jews”, “to see you” which means “to look at, observe and become acquainted with you, Jewish people”, “and to speak with you” or “and to talk and converse with you, Jewish people”. Luke shared how “Paul” told the “chief of the Jews” the reason he assembled them was because he wanted to see them face to face and speak with them as well.
The verse continues, “because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.” Luke added the words, “because that for the hope of Israel” which means “since the reason and cause belonging to the expectation pertaining to Israel whose name means he shall be a prince of God and refers to the family or descendants of the patriarch Jacob whose name was change to Israel” “I am bound” or “I, Paul, exists as kept, compassed and enclosed” “with this chain” which means “with the bonds or manacles”. Luke shared how “Paul” told the “chief of the Jews” the reason he was in “bonds” and kept captive is because he aligned with the expectation of all Israel for the Messiah to appear.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn the reason “Paul” called for the Jewish people who were in the area of “Rome”, and he told them why he brought them together. He told them he was brought to “Rome” because he believed God would send them “hope” through Jesus Christ, and for this reason “Paul” was under arrest and to be tried by “Caesar”. God's desire is to reach every person with His good news of salvation, and anyone who believes and trusts in His Son Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with Him in Heaven. Let all who read these words carefully examine the words of “Paul” and yield themselves to Jesus Christ His Son.
Next time Luke shares how the Jews say to Paul, “We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning you”, 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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