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 there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?”, and in chapter two and verse nine of the book of Acts Luke wrote how the multitude included, “Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites,” and more where we read:
Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia,
and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
The verse begins, “Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, ...” Luke began with the word, “Parthians” which means “a pledge and refers to people who were inhabitants of Parthia, a district of Asia, bounded on the north by Hyrcania, on the east by Ariana, on the south by Carmania Deserta, on the west by Media”, “and Medes” or “middle land and were natives or inhabitants of Media which was a well known region of Asia whose chief city was Ecbatana”, “and Elamites” which refers to “inhabitants of the province of Elymais which was a region stretching southwards to the Persian Gulf, but boundaries of which are variously given”, “and the dwellers in Mesopotamia” or “and the inhabitants or residents of the entire country between the two rivers which were the Tigris and the Euphrates whose name means between two rivers”. Luke began to name some of the people groups who gathered in the multitude which included, “Parthians, Medes, Elamites and people from Mesopotamia”.
The verse goes on to say, “... and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,” Luke continued with the words, “and in Judaea” which means “he shall be praised” and refers to “people within all of Palestine or in a narrower sense to the southern portion of Palestine lying on this side of the Jordan and the Dead Sea as to distinguish it from Samaria, Galilee, Peraea, and Idumaea”, “and Cappadocia” which means “province of good horses and is a region in Asia Minor, bounded under the Roman empire on the north by Pontus, on the east by Armenia Minor, on the south by Cilicia and Commagene, on the west by Lycaonia and Galatia”, “in Pontus” or “within a region of eastern Asia Minor, bounded by the Euxine Sea, Armenia, Cappadocia, Galatia, Paphlagonia whose name means the sea”, “and Asia” which means “Asia proper or proconsular Asia embracing Mysia, Lydia, Phrygia, and Caria, corresponding closely to Turkey today whose name means orient”. Luke shared more of the people groups who gathered in the multitude which included people from “Judaea, Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia”.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn the names of some of the places from which the Jewish people in the crowd came to Jerusalem. The idea was to show all the different places and languages which were represented by the people who heard their “languages” being spoken. God desires to “save” people from around the world, and everyone is invited to have a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus. Regardless of the area from which they come, Jesus came to die for their sins and He will grant everlasting life with His Father God to all who yield to Him. Let all who read these words allow their minds to expand and realize, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. (See John 3:16)
Next time Luke shares how the multitude included people from, “Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt” and more, 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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