Luke the beloved physician wrote as Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke himself went, “to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying. The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, ...”, and in chapter sixteen and verse twenty of the book of Acts Luke shared how the masters of the woman, “brought them to the magistrates” where we read:
And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
The verse begins, “And brought them to the magistrates, saying, ...” Luke began with the words, “and brought them” which means “and carried and drew Paul and Silas near” “to the magistrates” or “to the chief leaders and captains”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming” the following words. Luke shared how the “masters” of the “damsel” presented “Paul and Silas” before the “chief leaders and rulers” in the “marketplace”.
The verse goes on to say, “... These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, ...” Luke continued with the words, “these men” or “these male human beings, Paul and Silas”, “being Jews” which means “existing as members of the Jewish nation by birth, origin or religion”, “do exceedingly trouble our city” or “wholly disturb and agitate the dwelling place, habitation and abode of the masters and magistrates”. Luke shared how the “masters” of the “damsel” told the “magistrates” that “Paul and Silas” were “agitating and causing great trouble” within their dwelling place.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn about the accusation the “masters” of the “damsel” brought against “Paul and Silas”. They said “Paul and Silas” were causing “great trouble” in their “city”, and therefore they expected the “magistrates” to act against them. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, however, not everyone believes and trusts in Him. Those who oppose Jesus Christ are easily identified when they rise up against people who proclaim His name and perform miracles. Jesus said, “In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (See John 16:33), and when people bring opposition like “Paul and Silas” encountered, they not only fulfill Jesus' words, but also become witnesses that He is indeed God's Messiah and Christ.
Next time Luke shares how the masters of the woman tell the magistrates that Paul and his companions, “teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or 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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