Luke the beloved physician shared how Paul, Silas and Timothy went to “Thessalonica” and shared the gospel with the Jews located there. After some of them believed, other non-believing Jewish people rose up against them, and “the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming there went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came there also, and stirred up the people. And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still”, and in chapter seventeen and verse fifteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens” where we read:
And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.
The verse begins, “And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens:” Luke began with the words, “and they that conducted Paul” which means “and the people who constituted and were appointed over Paul whose name small or little” “brought him to Athens” or “carried and lead Paul to Athens whose name means uncertainty and was a famous city in Greece, the capital of Attica, and the chief seat of learning and civilization during the golden period of the history of Greece”. Luke shared how the people who were appointed over “Paul” lead him to the city of “Athens” in Greece.
The verse continues, “and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.” Luke added the words, “and receiving a commandment” or “and laying hold of, claiming and procuring an order, charge, precept and injunction” “unto Silas” which means “to Silas whose name means woody and was a Roman citizen and the companion of the apostle Paul on several of his missionary journeys” “and Timotheus” or “and Timothy whose name means honoring God and was a resident of Lystra, apparently, whose father was a Greek and mother a Jewess; he was Paul's traveling companion and fellow laborer” “for to come to him with all speed” which means “in order and so that Silas and Timothy would arise and appear to Paul expediently and very quickly”, “they departed” or “Silas and Timothy left and went forth from Berea”. Luke shared how “Paul” secured a means of informing “Silas and Timothy” that he wanted them to be with him in “Athens”, and after they received his communication, they left “Berea” to go to where Paul was.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn that “Paul” wanted “Silas and Timothy” to join him in “Athens”, so he secured a means of communicating with them his desire. “Paul” wanted “Silas and Timothy” to come to where he was without delay. “Paul”, as we shall see, saw tremendous opportunities in “Athens”, and he wanted his fellow workers to be with him as he seized opportunity with them. God often uses groups of people to accomplish His will, and because the “gospel” of Jesus Christ is for every person in the world, Paul thought he, Silas and Timothy should be involved. God loves everybody, and when they submit themselves to His Son Jesus, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. Let all who read this desire of Paul understand God's will was at work to reach all the world with His “good news of salvation”.
Next time Luke shares how Paul, “saw the city wholly given to idolatry”, 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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