Luke the physician wrote how, “Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, ...”, and in chapter nine and verse two of the book of Acts Luke shared how Saul, “desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem” where we read:
And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way,
whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
The verse begins, “And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, ...” Luke began with the words, “and desired of him letters” which means “and begged, called for and craved from the high priest written epistles” “to Damascus” or “to one of the most ancient and important cities of Syria lying in a lovely and fertile plain at the eastern base of the Antilibanus whose name means silent is the sackcloth weaver” “to the synagogues” which means “to the assemblies of Jews who formally gathered together to offer prayers and listen to the reading and expositions of the scriptures”, “that if he found any of this way” or “that whether Saul discovered any people who were disciples following the course of conduct, feelings and journey”. Luke shared how “Saul” wanted the “high priest” to give him permission to go to the city of “Damascus” and the synagogues located there to discover whether there were any “disciples of Jesus” who “followed” His teachings and “ways”.
The verse goes on to say, “... whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.” Luke continued the words, “whether they were men or women” which means “regardless of whether the disciples where male or female”, “he might bring them bound” or “he, Saul, could lay hold of, take and carry the believers tied and fastened with chains” “unto Jerusalem” which means “toward Jerusalem whose name means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine”. Luke shared how “Saul” wanted the written documents from the “high priest” to give Him permission to arrest any “disciples of Jesus” that he found whether they were male or female and bring them back to “Jerusalem”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how determined “Saul” was to stop the disciples of Jesus. He believed with everything within him that he was doing the “right” thing, and when he stopped the “followers of Jesus”, he was doing “God's work”. God, the Heavenly Father knows when people believe they are on the correct “path” but are actually fighting against Him and His Son Jesus. God loves people, and He wants to have a personal relationship with them through His Son Jesus. When they humble themselves, turn from their sins and ask Jesus to come into their hearts and lives, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. Let all who read these words yield themselves to Jesus and commit any opposition they encounter to Him.
Next time Luke shares while Saul, “journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven”, 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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