Luke the beloved physician shared how, “there came there certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed”, and in chapter fourteen and verse twenty-four of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul and Barnabas, “came to Pamphylia”, where we read:
And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
The verse begins, “And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, ...” Luke began with the words, “and after they had passed throughout” which means “and following the time when Paul and Barnabas journeyed and traveled through the region of” “Pisidia” or “the region in Asia Minor bounded by Pamphylia, and the Pamphylian Sea, Phrygia, and Lycaonia whose name means pitchy” the following occurred. Luke shared how “Paul, Barnabas and their companions” traveled through the “region of Pisidia” and proceeded to the following.
The verse goes on to say, “... they came to Pamphylia.” Luke continued with the words, “they came” or “Paul, Barnabas and their companions arose and appeared” “to Pamphylia” which means “toward a province in Asia Minor, bounded on the east by Cilicia, on the west by Lycia and Phrygia Minor, on the north by Galatia and Cappadocia, and on the south by the Mediterranean Sea whose name means of every tribe”. Luke shared how “Paul, Barnabas and their traveling companions” arrived in the area known as “Pamphylia”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul, Barnabas and their companions” were on the move again. They left “Lystra, Iconium and Antioch in Pisidia”, traveled through that area and arrived in the region known as “Pamplylia”. God's message of the gospel was spreading, and these men were deployed to share it. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person in the world through His Son Jesus, and even as Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (See John 3:16). Those who study the travels of these apostles of Jesus will find the Spirit of God was with them and empowering them to tell people about the saving grace of God through Jesus His Son that is available to everyone who believes.
Next time Luke shares when Paul and Barnabas, “had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia”, 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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