Luke the beloved physician wrote how Paul spoke to the people in the synagogue in Antioch about Jesus' death, burial and resurrection, and said, “Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets. Behold, you despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which you shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you”, and in chapter thirteen and verse forty-two of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul said, “the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them”, where we read:
And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue,
the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
The verse begins, “And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when the Jews” which means “and at the time and moment the people of the Jewish nation by origin, birth or religion” “were gone out” or “left and were departed out” “of the synagogue” which means “from the assembly of Jews formally gathered together to offer prayers and listen to the reading and expositions of the scriptures”. Luke shared at the time the “Jewish” people left the assembly of Jewish believers the following occurred.
The verse goes on to say, “... the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.” Luke continued with the words, “the Gentiles” which means “the people of the same genus or nature who were not Jews or pagans” “besought that these words” which means “summoned, begged, beckoned and entreated that the tone and speech of uttered declarations concerning the good news of Jesus Christ” “might be preached to them” or “would be heralded, declared and proclaimed to them, the Gentiles” “the next sabbath” which means “on the next seventh day of the week which was a sacred festival on which the Israelites were required to abstain from all work”. Luke shared how “pagan non-Jewish people” wanted “Paul and his companions” to share the good news of Jesus Christ with them on the next formal day of rest.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the Jewish people left the “synagogue” where Paul and his companions were teaching, but as they left, the “pagan non-Jewish” people wanted to hear what they had to say. They desired to have “Paul and his companions” share with them on the next “Sabbath day”, and we shall see how this comes to be. God's “gospel of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ” is a message to every person in the world. Because “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (See Romans 3:23), everyone needs Jesus. Jesus came to die for the sins of the world, and He was raised from the dead three days later not only to defeat death, but also to extend eternal life to every person who believes and trusts in Him. Let all who read these word be like these “Gentiles” and desire the “words” of the good news of God to be “preached” to them.
Next time Luke shares, “when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas”, 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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