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 spoke, 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”, and in chapter fifteen and verse twenty-one of the book of Acts Luke shared how James said, “Moses of old time has in every city them that preach him” where we read:
For Moses of old time has in every city them that preach him,
being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
The verse begins, “For Moses of old time has in every city them that preach him, ...” Luke began with the words, “for Moses of old time” which means “because, since and on account that Moses whose name means drawing out and was the legislator of the Jewish people and in a certain sense the founder of the Jewish religion” “has in every city” or “holds closely, owns and possesses in each, every, the whole and everyone of the dwelling places, habitations and abodes” “them that preach him” which means “people who herald, proclaim and publish him, Moses and his law”. Luke shared how “James” referred the Jewish believers in Jerusalem to how “Moses” from a long time ago was heralded and proclaimed by people in “every city” according to the following.
The verse continues, “... being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.” Luke added the words, “being read in the synagogues” or “acknowledging, distinguishing and recognizing within the assembly of Jews formally gathered together to offer prayers and listen to the reading and expositions of the scriptures” “every sabbath day” which means “each, all, the whole and everyone of the seventh days of each week which were a sacred festival on which the Israelites were required to abstain from all work”. Luke shared how “James” referred to the way “Moses” was declared on “every Sabbath day” within the Jewish believers' places of worship.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “James” reminded the Jewish believers that “Moses” or “the law of Moses” was spoken about in the “synagogues” on the “sabbath days”. In other words, “Moses' writings” were abundant, and anyone who was interested in them could hear about them every week. God loves everybody, and He desires to have a personal relationship with them through His Son Jesus. The “law” of God tells mankind about their need for Him, and when they submit to Jesus they will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. Those who observe the “law of Moses” should understand it's purpose was to drive people to Jesus Christ who alone is able to “save” them for all eternity. (See Galatians 3:24-25)
Next time Luke shares how, “then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch”, 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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