Luke the beloved physician shared, “Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spoke against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing you put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set you to be a light of the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed”, and in chapter thirteen and verse forty-nine of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region”, where we read:
And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
The verse begins, “And the word of the Lord was published ...” Luke began with the words, “and the word” which means “and the utterance, declaration, proclamation and speech which embodied a concept, decree and mandate of the moral precepts” “of the Lord” or “belonging to the One to whom a person or thing belongs about which he had power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah” “was published” which means “was carried, transported and born” to the following. Luke shared how “God's word” was “carried, transported and spread” toward the following.
The verse continues, “... throughout all the region.” Luke added the words, “throughout all” which means “by reason and among each, every, the whole and everywhere around” “the region” which means “the surrounding country, ground and space where inhabitants lived”. Luke shared how the spreading of God's word of the “gospel of Jesus Christ” was to everywhere within that territory.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “God's word of salvation” was spreading, and Paul, Barnabas and their companions were being used by Him to tell it. God loves people everywhere, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with everyone. Anyone who comes to Him through belief and trust in His Son Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. Those who read these words are invited to receive Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” and to live forevermore with God in Heaven.
Next time Luke shares how, “the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city”, 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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