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 in chapter twenty-eight and verse seventeen of the book of Acts Luke shared, “after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together” where we read:
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.
The verse begins, “And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together:” Luke began with the words, “and it came to pass” which means “and it happened and occurred”, “that after three days” or “that following three sunrises to sunsets” “Paul called the chief of the Jews together” which means “Paul, whose name means small or little, summoned, beckoned and assembled the principal and first in influence, honor and rank belonging to the Jewish nation as respects to birth, origin or religion”. Luke shared how “three days” following the time when “Paul” was kept captive with a Roman guard watching over him, he assembled the principal and first in rank ones among the Jewish people.
The verse goes on to say, “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.” Luke continued with the words, “and when they were come together” which means “and at the time and moment the chief of the Jewish people assembled and gathered”, “he said unto them” or “Paul uttered, declared and proclaimed to the chief of the Jewish people”, “Men and brethren” which means “fellow male human beings and believers who were united to one another by the bond of affection” “though I have committed nothing against the people” or “even as I, Paul, have not made ready, prepared or produced one single things in opposition to the Jewish people”, “or customs” which means “or usages prescribed by law, institute, prescription or rite” “of our fathers” or “belonging to our, Paul and the Jewish peoples', forefathers, male ancestors and progenitors”, “yet was I delivered prisoner” which means “still I, Paul, was given over and betrayed treacherously” “from Jerusalem” or apart from the city of Jerusalem whose name means set you double peace which is the capital or Palestine” “into the hands of the Romans” which means “into the grasp, punishing and the determination and controlling of destinies of the Roman citizens”. Luke shared how the “chief of the Jewish people” assembled with “Paul”, and he confirmed that he “committed nothing” in opposition to the “Jewish people” or their prescribed laws and rites which caused him to be sent from “Jerusalem” to the Roman citizens in “Rome”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” waited “three days” before he called together the “chief” members of the Jewish people, and he contended with them that he performed nothing against the “Jewish people” and their “law and rites”. However, “Paul” was sent to “Rome” to be judged by the Romans. We shall see how the Jewish people respond to “Paul” in our next verses, however, for now let us admire “Paul's” desire to reach the “Jewish” people in “Rome” first as they were given the opportunity to receive Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord”. The gospel was to be given to the Jew first, (See Romans 1:16) and then to the Gentiles. In the same way, everyone in the world is invited by God to believe and trust in His Son Jesus and receive forgiveness of sins and everlasting life with Him, and those who are carefully examine these things should surrender their lives to Him.
Next time Luke shares, “when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in 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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