The beloved physician Luke wrote how Paul was being kept under guard in Rome, and “when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spoke the Holy Ghost by Isaiah the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and not perceive. For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them”, and in chapter twenty-eight and verse twenty-eight of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul said, “the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it” where we read:
Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles,
and that they will hear it.
The verse begins, “Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, ...” Luke began with the words, “Be it known therefore unto you” which means “then, wherefore and these things being so permit and allow the following to be notable and well-known to you Jewish people who did not believe Paul's words”, “that the salvation of God” or “that the hope for future rescue, defense and safety belonging to the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “is sent unto the Gentiles” which means “is appointed, set apart and at liberty toward the pagan, heathen and foreign nations who do not worship the true God and are of the same nature or genus”. Luke shared how “Paul” told the people who did not believe his words that because they rejected “God's” offer of redemption and “salvation” it was appointed to the “Gentiles” in the world.
The verse goes on to say, “... and that they will hear it.” Luke continued with the words, “and that they” which means “and so the Gentiles” “will hear it” or “will be endowed with the faculty of hearing, perceiving and understanding God's Kingdom and the salvation he offers through His Son Jesus”. Luke shared how “Paul” told the unbelieving Jews that the “Gentile” people would perceive, understand and believe the words of God's redemption through His Son Jesus.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” turned his attention toward the “pagan, heathen, non-Jewish and foreign” people of the world. The salvation of God through His Son Jesus was offered to the Jews first, and then to the Gentiles (See Romans 1:16), but many of the Jewish people refused to receive Jesus as the Messiah and remained in their unredeemed state. God turned to the “Gentiles” who for a certain period of time have the opportunity to accept Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”. Those who perceive the message of salvation within their hearts, humble themselves, repent of their sins and call upon Jesus to save them, and they will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Those who are wise believe and do not allow themselves to be abandoned for their unbelief while God offers His salvation plan to someone else.
Next time Luke shares how, “the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves”, 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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