Luke the physician wrote how “they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spoke unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty-one of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “the hand of the Lord was with them” where we read:
And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.
The verse begins, “And the hand of the Lord was with them:” Luke began with the words, “and the hand of the Lord” which means “and the right hand of help, power, authority and preservation from the One to whom a person or thing belongs upon which he has power of deciding, master, and the title to God the Messiah” “was with them” or “was alongside the believers in Jesus from Cyprus and Cyrene”. Luke shared how God's “power, authority and preservation” was with the “witnesses” of Jesus to the Grecian people in “Antioch”.
The verse continues, “and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.” Luke added the words, “and a great number believed” which means “and a large, numerous and massive amount of the Grecian people trusted in, relied upon and clung to Jesus”, “and turned unto the Lord” or “and caused them to revert and convert to Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate”. Luke shared how many “Grecian” people converted and put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “God” was with the “witnesses” of the “gospel” of Jesus Christ, and the “Grecian people” with whom they shared were converted to Jesus. God desires to share His “good news” of salvation through His Son Jesus with everyone, and anyone who yields their life to Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. Let all who read about the “testimony” of these believers from “Cyprus and Cyrene” understand God's desire to have a personal relationship with them.
Next time Luke shares how, “tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem”, 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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