The beloved physician Luke wrote how Paul told the Jewish people who came to him in Rome, “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. 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. And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning you, neither any of the brethren that came showed or spoke any harm of you. But we desire to hear of you what you think: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against”, and in chapter twenty-eight and verse twenty-three of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus” where we read:
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.
The verse begins, “And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging;” Luke began with the words, “and when” which means “and at the time and moment” “they had appointed him a day” or “and when a particular or certain sunrise to sunset was assigned, ordained and mutually agreed upon”, “there came many to him” which means “there arose and approached a numerous and abundant group of people to Paul” “into his lodging” or “to the place where Paul was hospitably cared for”. Luke shared how there was particular “day” mutually agreed upon when a great number of people came to where “Paul” was being kept as prisoner.
The verse goes on to say, “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.” Luke continued with the words, “to whom he expounded” which means “Paul set forth, declared and declared to those people who came to where Paul was being kept” “and testified” or “and bore witness and record of, attested and protested earnestly concerning” “the kingdom of God” which means “the royal power, kingship, dominion and rule belonging to the Godhead bodily and trinity which consists of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”, “persuading them” or “inducing, moving and striving to convince the people who came to Paul on the appointed day” “concerning Jesus” which means “about Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate”, “both out of the law of Moses” or “not only from the rule producing a state approved of God belonging to Moses whose name means drawing out and was the legislator of the Jewish people and in a certain sense the founder of the Jewish religion”, “and out of the prophets” which means “and from the writings of the men who were moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organs or spokesmen who solemnly declared to men what they received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation” “from morning till evening” or “from the start or origin of the dawn or day-break until sunset and the time thereafter”. Luke shared how “Paul” bore witness of God's Kingdom and His Son Jesus Christ all day long which began at dawn and lasted until the night time.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” was finally getting his opportunity to share the gospel with the people in “Rome”. There was an agreed upon date set when “Paul” would receive anyone who came to him, and he spent the entire day expounding and testifying about “God's Kingdom” and His Son Jesus. He employed the scriptures in the “law of Moses” as well as the Old Testament “prophets” as the basis for convincing those who came to him to believe. God's plan of redemption of mankind from their sins and it's penalty, death and separation from Him forever, was being told by “Paul”, and anyone who yielded themselves to Jesus would be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with Him. Those who are wise see this wonderful opportunity for “Paul” as an invitation from Jesus Himself to learn from the “law of Moses” and the “prophets” about His love and commitment to the salvation of all who believe.
Next time Luke shares how, “some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not”, 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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