Luke the beloved physician wrote how, “a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us”, and in chapter sixteen and verse ten of the book of Acts Luke shared after Paul, “had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia” where we read:
And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia,
assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
The verse begins, “And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, ...” Luke began with the words, “and after he had see the vision” which means “and following the time when Paul observed, beheld and noticed the supernatural spectacle or ecstasy in a sleep”, “immediately we endeavored to go” or “straightway, forthwith and right away we, Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke sought, craved and desired to leave and depart” “into Macedonia” which means “towards Macedonia which means extended land and was a country bounded on the south by Thessaly and Epirus, on the east by Thrace and the Aegean Sea, on the west by Illyria, and on the North by Dardania and Moesia”. Luke shared how “right after” “Paul” saw the supernatural spectacle of the man from “Macedonia” asking him to come “help” them, he, Silas, Timothy and now Luke himself desired to go there.
The verse goes on to say, “... assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.” Luke continued with the words, “assuredly gathering” or “causing to coalesce, joining together and uniting or knitting together in affection” “that the Lord” which means “that the One to whom a person or thing belong about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah” “had called us” or “summoned and invited Paul and those with him” “for to preach the gospel unto them” which means “to announce glad tidings, bring good news and share God's kindness to the people in Macedonia”. Luke shared how “Paul” and those with him agreed wholeheartedly that the “Lord” summoned them to “herald, announce and proclaim” the “gospel” to the people in “Macedonia”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” and his companions agreed that his “vision” from the Lord meant they were to share the “gospel” with the people in “Macedonia”. It is interesting to note that Luke used the pronoun “we” for the first time in this verse which means anyone reading his words should understand that he joined “Paul, Silas and Timothy” in “preaching” the good news of Jesus Christ to “Macedonia”. God's “good news of salvation” was spreading throughout the world, and He was leading “Paul” and those with Him to share about His Son Jesus and the eternal benefit to believing and trusting in Him. God loves people, and He desires to have a personal loving relationship with every person through Jesus. When they surrender to Him, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. Those who are wise will understand the importance of the people of Macedonia hearing the “gospel” and realize this was another step for people hearing God's good news of Jesus around the world.
Next time Luke shares how he, Paul and Silas, “came with a straight course to Samothracia”, 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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