The physician Luke wrote how Peter and John were arrested for speaking to the people in the temple about the resurrection of the dead. After some discussion between them, the religious leaders put Peter and John away from them and said, “What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle has been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straightly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge you. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was showed. And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them”, and in chapter four and verse twenty-four of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter and John's own company, “lifted up their voice to God with one accord” where we read:
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:
The verse begins, “And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when they heard that” which means “and at the time and moment they, Peter and John's own company, were endowed with the faculty of hearing, perceiving and understanding the testimony of Peter and John”, “they lifted up their voice” which means “Peter and John's own company raised their sounds and tones of uttered words” “to God with one accord” or “toward the Heavenly Father God in unison and unity”, “and said” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed” the following words. Luke shared how Peter and John's own company began to raise their “voices” in unison to the Heavenly Father God and proclaimed the following words.
The verse continues, “... Lord, you are God, which have made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:” Luke added the word, “Lord” which refers to “master and ruler”, “you are God” which means “you exists as the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”, “which have made heaven” or “who have produced, constructed, made ready and prepared the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it and the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings”, “and earth” which means “and arable land, ground, country, territory and region”, “and the sea” or “and the large body of water known as the sea”, “and all that in them is” which means “and each, every, the whole and everything that exists within the seas”. Luke shared how Peter and John's “own company” addressed the “Lord God” who created the “heaven, earth, seas and everything within them”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how Peter and John's “own company” responded to their testimony concerning the “religious leaders” by praising God and making note of His power to “create” the “heavens, earth, seas and everything within them”. This acknowledgment of who God is becomes a great example for anyone who prays to Him. Recognizing that God is over everything is the first step in having a relationship with Him, and because He sent His Son Jesus to the world to save people from their sins, everyone should pay particular attention to His power and salvation. Anyone who gives praise and honor to God by believing in His Son Jesus aligns with God's plan of salvation for mankind, and those who are wise will not only acknowledge Him, but also yield themselves to His Son Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Luke shares how Peter and John's own company prayed, “who by the mouth of your servant David has said, why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?”, 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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