The beloved physician Luke shared when Paul, Barnabas and their companions came to Jerusalem, “a certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed” were “saying” about the Gentile believers “That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” After much discussion among them, Peter stood up to speak, and afterward James declared, “Men and brethren, hearken unto me. Simeon has declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up. That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, says the Lord, who does all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God. But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time has in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day”, and in chapter fifteen and verse twenty-two of the book of Acts Luke shared, “then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch” where we read:
Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
The verse begins, “Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas;” Luke began with the words, “then pleased it” which means “at that time it seemed good, proper and right to” “the apostles” or “the delegates, messengers and sent forth ones of Jesus” “and elders” which means “and the senior ranking Christians who presided over the churches”, “with the whole church” or “alongside the entire and complete assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting”, “to send chosen men” which means “to dispatch and assign selected and elected male human beings” “of their own company” or “who were among the assembly of the Jewish believers” “to Antioch” which means “to Antioch of Syria whose name means driven against and was the Capital of Syria, situated on the river Orontes, founded by Seleucus Nicanor in 300 B.C. and named in honor of his father, Antiochus.” “with Paul and Barnabas” or “Paul whose name means little or small and Barnabas whose name means son of rest and was the surname of Joses or Joseph, a Levite, a native of Cyprus who was a distinguished Christian teacher and companion and colleague of Paul”. Luke shared how the “apostles and elders” along with the entire church in Jerusalem selected particular men to travel alongside of “Paul and Barnabas” to “Antioch of Syria”.
The verse goes on to say, “namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:” Luke continued with the words, “namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas” or “men whose names were Judas whose name means he shall be praised and whose invoked name, Barsabas, means son of Sabas”, “and Silas” which means “and Silas whose name means woody and was a Roman citizen and the companion of the apostle Paul on several of his missionary journeys”, “chief men among the brethren” or “rulers, authorities, princes or leaders among the fellow believers who were united to one another by the bond of affection ”. Luke shared how “Judas” and “Silas” were selected to accompany “Paul and Barnabas” to “Antioch of Syria”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the leaders within the church in Jerusalem chose to send “Judas and Silas” alongside of “Paul and Barnabas” to “Antioch of Syria”. These men would be responsible to carry the “letters” to the church located in Antioch, and they would aid in bringing them to the truth of the “gospel and grace” of Jesus Christ. This was God's idea from the start, and when people submit themselves to His Son Jesus, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. Afterward He equips them to serve in His Kingdom and employs them in the spreading of His “Kingdom” gospel by serving others. Let all who read these words yield to Jesus and be willing to be “sent” by God and His church to wherever there is need.
Next time Luke shares how, “they wrote letters by them after this manner”, 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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