Luke the beloved physician wrote as Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke himself went, “to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying. The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, and brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city. And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans”, and in chapter sixteen and verse twenty-two of the book of Acts Luke shared how “the multitude rose up together against them”, where we read:
And the multitude rose up together against them:
and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
The verse begins, “And the multitude rose up together against them:” Luke began with the words, “and the multitude” which means “and the crowd and assembly of people” “rose up together” or “stood with one another” “against them” which means “in opposition to Paul and Silas”. Luke shared how the “masters” of the “damsel” incited the crowd of people who were assembled, and they rose in opposition to “Paul and Silas”.
The verse goes on to say, “and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.” Luke continued with the words, “and the magistrates” or “and the commanders, governors, leaders and captains” “rent off their clothes” which means “tore off their garments”, “and commanded to beat them” or “and ordered, directed and bid Paul and Silas to be struck with sticks or rods”. Luke shared how the “commanders and rulers” tore off their garments in anguish over the accusations of the “masters” of the “damsel”, and they “ordered” “Paul and Silas” to be “beaten” with rods.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the assembly of people who were in the marketplace “rose up” against “Paul and Silas”, and the “commanders and leaders” tore their “clothing” and ordered “Paul and Silas” to be stricken with “rods”. This quick judgment by the “leaders” and the assembly of people demonstrates the opposition to the message of the “gospel” as presented by “Paul and Silas”. Not everyone believes Jesus Christ is the “Savior and Lord” of the world, and many people attempt to destroy His message and ministers. Those who believe and trust in Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and inherit everlasting life, however, those who oppose Him may think themselves successful on earth, but will give account of their attitudes and actions before Almighty God. (See Romans 14:12)
Next time Luke shares, “when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison”, 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".
No comments:
Post a Comment