Luke the physician wrote how Peter told the Jewish “apostles and believers” in Jerusalem, “three men were already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house. And he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter. Who shall tell you words, whereby you and all your house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost”, and in chapter eleven and verse seventeen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter asked the Jewish believers, “what was I, that I could withstand God?” where we read:
Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
The verse begins, “Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ;” Luke began with the words, “forasmuch then” which means “whether and if at that time” “as God gave them” or “in the same manner and likeness that God the Heavenly Father granted, bestowed and supplied to the Gentiles” “the like gift” which means “the similar and equal gratuity” “as he did unto us” or “like and in the same manner as God did to the Jewish disciples and believers”, “who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ” which means “who trusted in, relied upon, clung to and had confidence in 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, Jesus, whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate as well as the anointed One and Messiah”. Luke shared how “Peter” referred to how God extended to the “Gentiles” the same “gift of the Holy Spirit” that was given to the Jewish “apostles and believers” in the Lord Jesus.
The verse continues, “what was I, that I could withstand God?” Luke added the words, “what was I” which means “who did I, Peter, exist as”, “that I could withstand God” or “that I, Peter, was able, capable, strong and powerful enough to hinder, prevent and forbid the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”? Luke shared how “Peter” asked the Jewish “apostles and believers” what ability or strength he had to resist and hinder “God” from pouring out His “Holy Spirit” upon the Gentiles.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Peter” reasoned with the Jewish “apostles and believers” that since God the Father poured out His Spirit upon the Gentiles in the same way He did the Jews, how could he resist or forbid Him from doing so. God desires to have a loving personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when they believe and trust in Him as their “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive their sins, grant them everlasting life and pour out His Holy Spirit upon them. Those who yield themselves to Jesus align with God's plan of “salvation” for all mankind, and those who are wise will ask the question, “who am I, that I could withstand God”?
Next time Luke shares when the Jewish believers, “heard these things, they held their peace”, 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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