The physician Luke 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”, and in chapter four and verse twenty-five of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter and John's own company referred to the scripture, “why did the heathen rage?” where we read:
Who by the mouth of your servant David has said,
Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
The verse begins, “Who by the mouth of your servant David has said, ...” Luke began with the words, “who by the mouth of your servant David” which means “God through the orifice of God's man of servile condition, bondman and slave David whose name means beloved and was the second king of Israel” “has said” which means “uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked” the following words. Luke shared how Peter and John as well as the people who were of their “own company” referred to “King David's” question which is as follows.
The verse continues, “... Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?” Luke added the words, “why did the heathen rage” which means “for what reason and caused did the company, troop and multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus stamp the ground, behave arrogantly, snort and be tumultuous”, “and the people imagine ” or “and the human beings both male and female devise, contrive, revolve in the mind and premeditate” “vain things” or “thoughts which are empty, destitute of spiritual wealth, fruitless and of no purpose”? (See Psalm 2:1-6) Luke shared how Peter and John's own company referred to David's words concerning the “raging” of the “arrogant and tumultuous” people and their “contriving and devising” of “empty and fruitless” acts and deeds.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how Peter and John along with their family and friends who were believers in Jesus employed the scripture in their prayer to God. King David of Israel spoke prophetically about the Messiah Jesus as he questioned the “wicked people and nations” “imagining” they were able to destroy the Christ of God. God loves people, and He sent Jesus into the world to pay the price of death on the cross for the sins of all mankind. Though people attempted to stop Him, God will forgive the sins of every person who believes and trusts in His Son Jesus. Those who are wise will not engage in “vain imaginations” but rather yield to Jesus who alone provided salvation to mankind.
Next time Luke shares how Peter and John's own company prayed, “The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ”, 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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