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 Jesus' name. 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?”, and in chapter four and verse twenty-six of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter and John's own company continued their reference to the scripture by saying, “the rulers were gathered together against the Lord” where we read:
The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord,
and against his Christ.
The verse begins, “The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, ...” Luke began with the words, “the kings of the earth” which means “the rulers, princes, leaders, commanders and lords” “stood up” which means “arose to a standing position”, “and the rulers” or “and the commanders, chiefs and leaders” “were gathered together” which means “were assembled, collected and joined in one” “against the Lord” or “in opposition to the One to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah”. Luke shared how Peter, John and their own company referred to King David's further words which proclaimed how the “rulers and leaders” of the world assembled in opposition to the “Lord” and Messiah of God.
The verse continues, “... and against his Christ.” Luke added the words, “and against” which means “and in opposition to” “his Christ” or “his, God's, anointed One, Messiah and Son”. Luke shared how Peter, John and their own company added how these “rulers and leaders” were also in opposition to His “Messiah and Son”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how Peter and John as well as their “own company” continued to pray to God employing King David's words which referred to the purpose of the “rulers and leaders” who attempted to rise up against His Messiah. Indeed people did “assemble” to rid themselves of the Messiah Jesus, and although they thought themselves free from Him, Jesus was raised to life again by His Heavenly Father. God's desire is for every person to have a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus, and when they submit themselves to Him as their “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. Let all who consider these words never align with those who “gather together against the Lord and against His Christ” and rather yield to Him to be saved.
Next time Luke shares how Peter and John's own company prayed, “For of a truth against the holy child Jesus … the people were gathered together”, 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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