The beloved physician Luke wrote how, “Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse eleven of the book of Acts Luke shared how Agabus, “took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet” where we read:
And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus says the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
The verse begins, “And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when he was come unto us” which means “and at the time and moment Agabas arose and appeared to Luke, Paul and the men traveling with them”, “he took Paul's girdle” or “Agabus raised up, elevated and lifted the belt which served to gird on the flowing garments of Paul whose name means small or little”, “and bound his own hands and feet” which means “and fastened his own personal physical hands and feet”, “and said” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed” the following words. Luke shared at the time “Agabus” appeared to where he, “Paul” and the men traveling with them, and he took “Paul's” “girdle belt” and “wrapped” his physical “hands and feet” and proclaimed the following words.
The verse continues, “... Thus says the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.” Luke added the words, “Thus says the Holy Ghost” which means “the following words utters, declares and proclaims the sacred, pure, morally blameless and ceremonially and religiously consecrated third person of the triune God who is coequal and co-eternal to the Father and the Son”, “so shall the Jews” or “in this manner and likewise will the people of the Jewish nation by birth, origin or religion” “at Jerusalem” which means “in the city of Jerusalem whose name means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine” “bind the man” or “tie, fasten and wind the male human being” “that owns this girdle” which means “who holds and possesses the particular girdle belt which was used to bind Agabus' hands and feet”, “and shall deliver him” or “and will give Paul over and condemn him treacherously” “into the hands of the Gentiles” which means “into the punishing and controlling hands of destiny belonging to the company, troop, people, foreign and heathen group who were non-Jews”. Luke shared how “Agabus” said the “Holy Spirit of God” proclaimed that “Paul”, whose girdle belt was fastened about his hands and feet, would be bound by “men in Jerusalem” and given over to the foreign and heathen non-Jewish people.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Agabus” knew in advance was was to happen with “Paul” when he entered “Jerusalem”. God's “Holy Spirit” spoke to “Agabas” about “Paul”, and he gave a physical demonstration before the disciples in “Caesarea” by “binding his hands and feet” with “Paul's” “belt”. This became an illustration of “Paul” being seized by the Jewish people in Jerusalem, and afterward they would turn him over to “Gentile” non-believers who would try him as a criminal. This was all part of God's plan to reach both Jews and Gentiles with His “gospel”, and because He desires to save everyone from the penalty of death from sins, anyone who believes and trusts in His Son Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Those who are wise will carefully examine the life, travels and troubles of “Paul” and understand he was guided by the Holy Spirit of God into all of them so the world would know Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Luke shares when he and the fellow disciples of Paul, “heard these things” they “besought him not to go up to Jerusalem”, 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".
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