From Jerusalem to Gaza - Acts 8:26

The physician Luke wrote how Peter and John, “testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans”, and in chapter eight and verse twenty-six of the book of Acts Luke shared how an angel told Philip, “Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goes down from Jerusalem unto Gaza”, where we read:

And the angel of the Lord spoke unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goes down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

The verse begins, “And the angel of the Lord spoke unto Philip, saying, ...” Luke began with the words, “and the angel of the Lord” which means “and the spiritual messenger or envoy from 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” “spoke unto Philip” or “uttered a voice and sound of articulated words to Philip whose name means lover of horses and was one of Jesus' apostles”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming” the following words. Luke shared how the “Lord's angel” began to speak to “Philip” and told him the following words.

The verse goes on to say, “... Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goes down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.”. Luke continued with the words, “arise, go toward the south” which means “raise up and stand forth, depart and leave to the southern locality” “unto the way that goes down from Jerusalem” or “toward the path, roadway or traveled road that descends from the city of Jerusalem whose name means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine” “unto Gaza” which means “to the city of Gaza which means the fortified and strong and was one of the five chief cities of the Philistines in Palestine”, “which is desert” or “that exists as a solitary, lonely, isolated and uninhabited place”. Luke shared how the “angel” instructed “Philip” to descend to the “south” of the city of “Jerusalem” and go toward the “solitary, lonely, isolated and uninhabited place” known as “Gaza”.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how God instructed “Philip” to move from “Samaria” to the “desert place” known as “Gaza”. “Philip” was being used by the Lord Jesus in the area of “Samaria”, and many people were becoming believers in Jesus there. However, God had a new mission for “Philip”. “Philip” only had one instruction, “arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza”. He did not know why he was going there. He didn't know what he was going to do there. He only knew that he was to go. God often only gives one instruction according to His will and purpose for those who believe and trust in His Son Jesus, and after that step is obeyed, He will reveal the next step. God loves people, and His desire is to have an intimate relationship of trust with those who yield to Jesus. Anyone who surrenders to Jesus should know that even when God only gives one instruction, He knows where obedience to Him will lead. Let all who hear the instructions of God submit themselves to Him and obey.

Next time Luke shares about, “a man of Ethiopia”, 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".