The physician Luke wrote how the apostles were healing people and sharing the gospel throughout Jerusalem, and “the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life”, and in chapter five and verse twenty-one of the book of Acts Luke shared concerning the apostles, “when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught” where we read:
And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
The verse begins, “And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught.” Luke began with the words, “and when they heard that” which means “and at the time and moment the apostles, were endowed with the faculty for hearing, perceiving and understanding the angel's words”, “they entered into the temple” or “the apostles, arose, appeared and came into the sacred worship place in Jerusalem” “early in the morning” which means “at daybreak or early dawn”, “and taught” or “and held discourse with others to instruct them, deliver didactic speeches, discharge and instilled doctrine”. Luke shared how the apostles of Jesus were inspired by the words of the “angel” and rose up at dawn to begin “teaching” in the “temple” again.
The verse continues, “But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, ...” Luke added the words, “but the high priest came” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the chief and principal priest arose and appeared”, “and they that were with him” or “and the other religious leaders who were alongside of and beside the high priest”, “and called the council together” which means “and assembled the magistrates, judges and ambassadors with one another”, “and all the senate” or “and each, every, the whole and everyone of the council of elders or Sanhedrin” “of the children of Israel” which means “belonging to the progeny and offspring of the nation of Israel which means he shall be a prince of God”. Luke shared how the “chief priest” assembled the religious leaders and elders of the people of Israel and did the following.
Finally the verse reads, “and sent to the prison to have them brought.” Luke finished this verse by writing, “and sent to the prison” or “and put on a mission toward the jail or openly public prison” “to have them brought” which means “to have them, the apostles, carried and brought forth”. Luke shared how the “high priest” dispatched people to the “jail” to retrieve the “apostles” and have them brought forth in the presence of the assembly of “religious leaders, Sanhedrin, elders and senate”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “high priest” was unaware of the “angel” releasing the “apostles”, so he sent people to retrieve them that he and the other religious leaders and elders might interrogate them. We shall see more to this story in our next few verses, but for now let us understand that God does not reveal all His works to everybody. God's desire is to have a personal relationship with anyone who yields their life to His Son Jesus, and when they submit to Him, He will forgive their sins, grant them everlasting life and guide them step by step by His Holy Spirit. Those who are wise will carefully examine this story of the “apostles” and surrender themselves to the direction of God wherever He leads.
Next time Luke shares how, “the officers came, and found them not in the prison, 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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