The beloved physician Luke wrote after Paul defended himself for charges brought against him by the Jewish religious leaders, and “when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them. And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds. Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar. And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse two of the book of Acts Luke shared how he, Paul and the others, “entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia” where we read:
And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia;
one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
The verse begins, “And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia;” Luke began with the words, “and entering into a ship” which means “and getting aboard or embarking a sailing vessel or boat” “of Adramyttium” or “belonging to Adramyttium which means I shall abide in death and was a seaport of Mysia”, “we launched” which means “we, Luke, Paul and the others with them, set sail and departed”, “meaning to sail” or “intending and having in mind to navigate and travel by ship” “by the coasts of Asia” which means “beside, down from and throughout the cities, villages and districts belonging to Asia which means orient and was proper or proconsular Asia embracing Mysia, Lydia, Phrygia, and Caria, corresponding closely to Turkey today”. Luke shared how he, Paul and the others traveling with them embarked a ship at the seaport of “Adramyttium” and set sail on a voyage that traveled along the seaside of the cities and villages of “Asia”.
The verse continues, “one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.” Luke added the words, “one Aristarchus” which means “a certain man name Aristarchus whose name means the best ruler and was a certain Christian of Thessalonica who accompanied Paul on his third missionary journey”, “a Macedonian of Thessalonica” or “a citizen of the city of Thessalonica whose name means victory of falsity and was a famous and populous city, situated on the Thermaic Gulf, the capital of the second division of Macedonia and the residence of a Roman governor and quaestor in Macedonia whose name means extended land and was a country bounded on the south by Thessaly and Epirus, on the east by Thrace and the Aegean Sea, on the west by Illyria, and on the North by Dardania and Moesia”, “being with us” which means “traveling alongside and together with Luke, Paul and the others traveling with them”. Luke shared how a man named “Aristarchus” who was from the city of “Thessalonica” in Macedonia was also traveling with him, Paul and the others.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how Luke was with “Paul” and others who were sailing toward Rome. They sailed by the seasides of “Asia”, and a man named “Aristarchus” was also voyaging with them. God's plan to have “Paul” share His gospel in “Rome” was well under way, and as they sailed, the opportunity for the people in “Rome” to hear the gospel grew closer and closer. God prepares people in advance to hear His salvation plan, and when they are drawn by His Holy Spirit to hear the truth of forgiveness and everlasting life that is available through belief and trust in His Son Jesus, they align with His purpose as they surrender to Him. God loves people, and His desire is to live with them throughout eternity. For that to occur, people must humble themselves, turn from their sins, ask His forgiveness and receive His grace that lasts forever and ever.
Next time Luke shares how, “Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself”, 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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