The beloved physician Luke shared how Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke himself went, “to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spoke unto the women which resorted there. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshiped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul”, and in chapter sixteen and verse fifteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Lydia, “was baptized, and her household” where we read:
And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
The verse begins, “And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when she was baptized” which means “and at the time and moment Lydia was immersed, submerged and cleansed by dipping as an outward demonstration of an inward decision”, “and her household” or “and those who took up residence within Lydia's home or domicile”, “she besought us” which means “Lydia summoned, entreated and beseeched Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming” the following words. Luke shared how “Lydia” and those within her home were “baptized in water”, and she summoned “Paul” and his traveling companions by proclaiming the following words.
The verse continues, “... If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.” Luke added the words, “if you have judge me” or “whether you, Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke, have approved, esteemed, deemed, resolved and decreed Lydia” “to be faithful to the Lord” which means “to exist as faithful, trustworthy and confiding toward the One to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has power to decide; master, and the title given to God the Messiah”, “come into my house” or “enter my, Lydia's, home, dwelling place, habitation and abode”, “and abide there” which means “and stay, remain and continue in Lydia's home”. “And she constrained us” or “and Lydia compelled, entreated and constrained Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke”. Luke shared how “Lydia” emphatically appealed to “Paul” and his companions to stay in her home if they deemed she had been “faithful to the Lord”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we discover how “Lydia” and the people within her home were “baptized” after they believed and trusted in Jesus as their Savior and Lord, and then she made herself and her home available to “Paul” and those with him if they thought she was “faithful” to the Lord. The apostle Peter told the people on the day of pentecost, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost”, and anyone who yields themselves to Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. This same offer remains today, and those who are wise will surrender to Jesus and make themselves available to be used in any manner He desires.
Next time Luke shares how, “a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us”, 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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