Luke the beloved physician wrote how Paul and Barnabas shared the gospel with the Jews and Gentiles in the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia, and after almost the whole city gathered to hear them, “the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts”, and in chapter thirteen and verse fifty-one of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul and Barnabas, “shook off the dust of their feet against them”, where we read:
But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.
The verse begins, “But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, ...” Luke began with the words, “but they shook off the dust” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover Paul, Barnabas and their companions swung or violently shook away the pulverulence or raised and flying dirt” “of their feet” or “from their physical feet” “against them” which means “in opposition and before the Jewish people in the city”. Luke shared how “Paul, Barnabas and their companions” “shook” the dirt of the city of Antioch from their feet as a demonstration of opposition to those who threw them out of their city. (See Matthew 10:14, Mark 6:11 and Luke 9:5)
The verse continues, “... and came unto Iconium.” Luke added the words, “and came” which means “and arose and appeared” “unto Iconium” which means “in Iconium whose name means little image, was a famous city of Asia Minor and which was the capital of Lycaonia”. Luke shared how “Paul, Barnabas and their companions” left “Antioch” and traveled to “Iconium”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how Paul, Barnabas and their companions obeyed Jesus' instruction to “shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them” for any town or village that rejected the gospel of God. God's invitation is to everyone to be “saved” and forgiven of their sins through a relationship with His Son Jesus. However, if they refuse and reject Him and His message, those who bring the gospel are not even to have the “dust” of those cities clinging to their feet. Everyone will give an account of their lives before Jesus, and those who receive Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. Those who do not are not worthy to have their “dirt or dust” attached to those who deliver God's saving gospel, and the wise messengers move on to the next place to where God's message may be shared.
Next time Luke shares how, “the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost”, 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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