The beloved physician Luke shared when Paul, Barnabas and their companions, “were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, you know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe”, and in chapter fifteen and verse eight of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter said, “God, which knows the hearts, bare them witness” where we read:
And God, which knows the hearts, bare them witness,
giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
The verse begins, “And God, which knows the hearts, bare them witness, ...” Luke began with the words, “and God” which means “and the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”, “which knows the hearts” or “who understands, perceives and has knowledge of the souls and minds of people”, “bare them witness” which means “gave record and testified about the Gentiles receiving Jesus as their Savior”. Luke shared how “Peter” said “God Himself”, who is fully aware of what is in the souls and minds of people, testified of the faith and belief in Jesus by the Gentiles.
The verse goes on to say, “... giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;” Luke continued with the words, “giving them” or “granting, bestowing, furnishing and supplying to the Gentiles” “the Holy Ghost” which means “the sacred, pure, morally blameless and ceremonially and religiously consecrated third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, who is coequal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son”, “even as he did unto us” or “also and indeed in the same manner and way God made ready and performed to Peter, the apostles, the elders and the other believers”. Luke shared how “God” furnished His “Holy Spirit” to the “Gentiles” in the same manner as He did for the Jewish believers in the beginning.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we see how “Peter” reminded the people assembled for the first church council that God confirmed the belief in Jesus by the Gentiles by providing them with His Holy Spirit. God poured out His Spirit upon the Jewish believers on the day of Pentecost, and when “Peter” visited the house of “Cornelius”, He poured out His Spirit upon the “Gentiles” as well. (See Acts 10). God loves people, and He will give His Holy Spirit to every person who yields to His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”. When they submit to Him, He will forgive their sins, grant them everlasting life and pour out His Spirit upon them so they may have the power to be His “witnesses” in this world. Those who are wise will carefully examine “Peter's” words and realize, God will “save” and pour out His Spirit upon anyone who surrenders to Him.
Next time Luke shares how Peter said, God, “put no difference between us and them” 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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