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? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, ...”, and in chapter two and verse ten of the book of Acts Luke wrote how the multitude included people from, “Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt” and more where we read:
Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene,
and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
The verse begins, “Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, ...” Luke began with the word, “Phrygia” which means “dry or barren and referred to a region in Asia Minor bounded by Bithynia, Galatia, Lycaonia, Pisidia, Lydia and Mysia and it contained the cities of Laodicea, Hierapolis and Colosse”, “and Pamphylia” or “a province in Asia Minor, bounded on the east by Cilicia, on the west by Lycia and Phrygia Minor, on the north by Galatia and Cappadocia and on the south by the Mediterranean Sea whose name means of every tribe”, “in Egypt” which refers to “a country occupying the northeast angle of Africa whose name means double straits”, “and in the parts of Libya” or “and in the lot, destiny or constituent parts of the whole belonging to a large region of northern Africa which boarders Egypt. In that portion of it which had Cyrene for its capital and was thence called Libya Cyrenaica and whose name means afflicted or weeping” “about Cyrene” which means “toward a large and very flourishing city of Libya Cyrenaica or Pentapolitana about 11 miles (17 km) from the sea. Among its inhabitants were a great number of Jews, whom Ptolemy I had brought there and invested with the right of citizens whose name means supremacy of the bridle”. Luke shared how other Jewish people who were in the multitude came from “Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt and Libya toward Cyrene”.
The verse continues, “... and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,” Luke added the words, “and strangers of Rome” or “and sojourners or foreign residents from the capital city of Italy which is situated in the western part of the country whose name means room”, “Jews” which means “people from the Jewish nation by origin, birth or religion” “and proselytes” or “and ones who have come over from a Gentile religion to Judaism”. Luke shared how there were also people who were “sojourners” of the city of “Rome” as well as “ converts to Judaism” among the crowd.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how there were more places from which the people in the multitude came. These were all exposed to the different “languages” spoken by the people in the upper room. The idea is that all these people saw this manifestation of the Holy Spirit which initiated the beginning of the church. God was extending His “gospel” or “good news” of salvation to mankind through His Son Jesus, and the multitude was to be the first to hear it through those in the upper room. God loves people around the world, and anyone who comes to Him through His Son Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life Him. Those who are wise will carefully examine this outpouring of God's Spirit and yield their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Luke shares how the multitude says, “we hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God”, 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".
No comments:
Post a Comment