The beloved physician Luke shared 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 brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city. And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them”, and in chapter sixteen and verse twenty-three of the book of Acts Luke shared, “when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison” where we read:
And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison,
charging the jailer to keep them safely:
The verse begins, “And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when they had laid many stripes upon them” which means “and at the time and moment the enforcers of the commanders put, attacked and assaulted Paul and Silas with an abundant and numerous amount of public blows, wounds and plagues”, “they cast them” or “the enforcers of the beatings threw and inserted Paul and Silas” “into prison” which means “into a guarded, watched and caged ward or place”. Luke shared how the enforcers of the command of the leaders “beat” “Paul and Silas” with a great number of strokes and threw them into a “guarded and watched” place.
The verse continues, “... charging the jailer to keep them safely:” Luke added the words, “charging the jailer” or “ordering and announcing to the keeper of the prison” “to keep them safely” which means “to attend carefully to and observe Paul and Silas securely and assuredly”. Luke shared how the enforcers of the beatings against “Paul and Silas” ordered the “keeper or warden” of the “prison” to watch over them in a secure and purposeful manner.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul and Silas” were “beaten” with rods a great number of times. Afterward, they were thrown into “prison”, and the ones who “beat” them ordered the “warden” or “overseer” of the “jail” to watch over them carefully. When we pause to think about this, we may be amazed that God's servants were treated in such a manner simply because they fulfilled His plan, purposes and mission. God told Ananias speaking of Paul, “For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake” (See Acts 9:16), and Paul was walking in that prophetic word. God never promised that people who believe and trust in His Son Jesus would never face persecution and difficulties, however, He promised to be with them in those tribulations. God loves people, and He is willing to “save” every person who submits themselves to His Son Jesus from the penalty of sin which is death. (See Romans 6:23) Though many oppose His “gospel”, those who surrender themselves to Him will enjoy eternal life with God forever and ever.
Next time Luke shares how the jailer, “thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks”, 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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