Luke the beloved physician 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. Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it”, and in chapter twenty-eight and verse twenty-nine of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves” where we read:
And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.
The verse begins, “And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when he had said these words” which means “and at the time and moment Paul uttered, declared and proclaimed his words concerning turning toward the Gentiles”, “the Jews departed” or “the Jewish people who gathered to him left and went forth”. Luke shared how the “Jewish” people who came to where “Paul” was being kept captive turned away from him after he told them how the message of God's redemption would be given to the “Gentiles”.
The verse continues, “... and had great reasoning among themselves.” Luke added the words, “and had great reasoning” which means “and had a massive and abundant amount of mutual questions, disputations and discussions” “among themselves” or “between their own selves”. Luke shared how the Jewish people who left “Paul” had numerous “questions, disputes and discussions” between themselves while they walked away.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “Jewish” people who gathered themselves to where “Paul” was located left him after he spoke of God's plan of salvation being offered to the “Gentiles”. Although they did not believe, they had a great amount of questions and disputes among themselves as they departed from him. Many who refuse to receive Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” have many discussions with others and in their own minds as they consider the truth of the the gospel of salvation. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for their sins and to be raised from the dead three days later. Those who believe in God's plan of redemption will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with Him, and those who do not will be left with their numerous questions for all eternity.
Next time Luke shares how, “Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him”, 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".
No comments:
Post a Comment