Devout Men Out of Every Nation - Acts 2:5

Luke the physician wrote about the disciples, “when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance”, and in chapter two and verse five of the book of Acts Luke wrote how, “there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven” where we read:

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

The verse begins, “And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, ...” Luke began with the words, “and there were dwelling at Jerusalem” which means “and there were living, settling and residing in the city of Jerusalem which means set you double peace” “Jews” or “people who were Jewish by origin, birth or religion”, “devout men” which refers to “careful, reverent and pious male human beings”. Luke shared how “pious and reverent” Jewish people were dwelling in the city of “Jerusalem”.

The verse goes on to say, “... out of every nation under heaven.” Luke continued with the words, “out of every nation” or “from each, all and everyone of the companies, troops, tribes and peoples” “under heaven” which means “beneath the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it”. Luke shared how the Jewish people dwelling in the city of “Jerusalem” were from “people groups” from around the world.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how there were “pious” men who were gathered together in the city of “Jerusalem” from all the “nations” of the world. Coming to “Jerusalem” to observe “Pentecost” was a normal event for the Jewish people, and this occasion was no different than other times. We shall see how this group of people are affected by what happened to those who were in the upper room, but for now let us realize God knew the people from all over would be assembled at this time. God wants to have a personal relationship with every person around the world through His Son Jesus, and anyone who yields to Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Let all who consider the people who gathered in Jerusalem understand God's perfect timing for this event and submit themselves to the One who knows how to reach everyone regardless from where they come.

Next time Luke shares, “when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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".