Luke the physician wrote how Peter and John were arrested for speaking to the people in the temple about the resurrection of the dead. They answered the “religious leaders” and were released after being threatened not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. Afterward, “they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, you are God, which have made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is. Who by the mouth of your servant David has said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ”, and in chapter four and verse twenty-seven of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter and John's own company said the religious leaders were “gathered together”, “against your holy child Jesus” where we read:
For of a truth against your holy child Jesus, whom you have anointed,
both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
The verse begins, “For of a truth against your holy child Jesus, whom you have anointed, ...” Luke began with the words, “for of a truth” which means “because, since and on account that pertaining to that which is truthful, real, fact and certain” “your holy child Jesus” which means “your, God the Heavenly Father's pure, sacred, morally blameless and religiously and ceremonially consecrated son Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate”, “ whom you have anointed” or “that you, God the Heavenly Father, have consecrated and furnished with power necessary for its administration”. Luke shared how Peter, John and their own company referred to the “truthfulness” of the opposition to God's “holy child Jesus” whom God Himself “consecrated and empowered” to carry out His mission.
The verse goes on to say, “... both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,” Luke continued with the words, “both Herod” which means “not only Herod whose name means heroic and was the name of a royal family that flourished among the Jews in the times of Christ and the Apostles”, “and Pontius Pilate” or “but also Pontius which means of the sea, Pilate which means armed with a spear and refers to the sixth Roman procurator of Judah who crucified Christ”, “with the Gentiles” or “alongside the pagan nations, company, troop, swarm and multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus”, “and the people of Israel” which means “and the male and female human beings belonging to the nation of Israel which means he shall be a prince”, “were gathered together” or “were assemble and collected with one another”. Luke shared how Peter, John and their own company referred to “Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles and the people of Israel” who assembled to act in opposition to God's “holy child Jesus”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the people of the world were all assembled in opposition against God's Son Jesus. Regardless of their position against Him, Jesus came to die for the sins of them all. Anyone, even if they have assembled in opposition to Him, who surrenders their life to Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Let all who read these words understand the value of the sacrifice of God through His Son Jesus and yield their life to Him.
Next time Luke shares how Peter and John's own company prayed, “to do whatsoever your hand and your counsel determined before to be done”, 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".
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