The beloved physician Luke shared how Paul the apostle told the philosophers of Athens on Mars' Hill, “Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent. Because he has appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained; whereof he has given assurance unto all men, in that he has raised him from the dead. And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear you again of this matter. So Paul departed from among them”, and in chapter seventeen and verse thirty-four of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “certain men clave unto him, and believed” where we read:
Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed:
among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
The verse reads, “Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed:” Luke began with the words, “howbeit certain men” which means “moreover particular male human beings” “clave unto him” or “were fastened, joined and firmly fastened themselves to Paul”, “and believed” which means “placed confidence in, trusted in and relied upon the gospel that Paul preached”. Luke shared how
The verse continues, “among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.” Luke added the words, “among the which” or “even so and also with the believers” “was Dionysius” whose name means “existed Dionysius whose name means devoted to Bacchus who was an Athenian” “the Areopagite” which means “who was a member of the Areopagus”, “and a woman named Damaris” or “as well as a female human being known as Damaris whose name means a heifer and was an Athenian”, “and others with them” which means “and other Athenians alongside Dionysius and Damaris”. Luke shared how there were some people in “Athens” who believed Paul's words concerning the “gospel of Jesus Christ” among whom were “Dionysius” and “Damaris”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” had some effect in the city of Athens as he shared the good news of Jesus Christ. “Dionysius and Damaris” along with a few other people “believed” in Jesus, and although many did not trust Paul's words, these people did. God wants everyone to believe and trust in His Son Jesus so their sins may be forgiven and they may inherit eternal life. Unfortunately, not everyone believes, and this is to their own demise. God desires to “save” people from the penalty of sin which is death, but should they refuse to receive Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”, they continue in their “condemned” state which shall remain forever and ever. (See John 3:17-18)
Next time we begin a new chapter and see Luke tell how, “Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth”, 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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