The beloved physician Luke wrote, “after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, You men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and you that fear God, give audience. The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it. And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness. And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot. And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will. Of this man's seed has God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Savior, Jesus”, and in chapter thirteen and verse twenty-four of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul referred to, “when John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance” where we read:
When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
The verse begins, “When John had first preached before his coming ...” Luke began with the words, “when John” which means “at the time and moment John whose name means Jehovah is a gracious giver and was known as John the Baptist” “had first preached” or “had announced and proclaimed” “before his coming” which means “in advance and prior to Jesus' arrival and coming on the scene”. Luke shared how “Paul” referred to “John the Baptist” and his proclamation in advance of “Jesus'” arrival.
The verse goes on to say, “... the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.” Luke continued with the words, “the baptism of repentance” which means “the immersion and submersion pertaining to a change of mind, compunction and reversal” “to all the people” or “toward each, every, the whole and everyone of the human beings both male and female” “of Israel” which means “belonging to Israel whose name means he shall be prince”. Luke shared how “Paul” reminded the people in the synagogue how “John the Baptist” proclaimed “immersion in water” as a sign of their inward “change of mind” to “all” of the people who belonged to the nation of “Israel”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” referred to “John the Baptist” proclaiming to all the people of “Israel” “water baptism” as an outward sign of their inward “compunction to change”. “John the Baptist” lead people to believe and trust in Jesus, and anyone who studies the scriptures concerning him will discover his “fore-runner” roll in promoting Jesus. God loves people, and each step leading to Jesus was meant to provide “salvation” to mankind from their sins which would lead them to everlasting life. Let all who read these words yield themselves to God's Son Jesus who alone is able to provide them with eternal forgiveness of sins and everlasting life with God.
Next time Luke shares how Paul tells how John the Baptist said, “there comes one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose”, 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".
