The beloved physician Luke wrote how Paul was spreading the gospel throughout the city of Ephesus, and “there arose no small stir about that way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen. Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, you know that by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover you see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worships. And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theater. And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not”, and in chapter nineteen and verse thirty-one of the book of Acts Luke shared how certain people were, “desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theater” where we read:
And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him,
desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theater.
The verse begins, “And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, ...” Luke began with the words, “and certain of the chief of Asia” which means “and particular men who were officials in the province of Asia which means orient and was proconsular Asia embracing Mysia, Lydia, Phrygia, and Caria, corresponding closely to Turkey today”, “which were his friends” or “who existed as Paul's companions and associates”, “sent unto him” which means “dispatched and bid to Paul” the following desire. Luke shared how the “principal officers” in the city of “Ephesus” who were known to “Paul” “sent” him the following message.
The verse goes on to say, “... desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theater.” Luke continued with the words, “desiring him” which means “admonishing, exhorting, entreating, beseeching and begging Paul” “that he would not adventure himself” or “that he, Paul, would in no way give over, entrust and commit his own self” “into the theater” which means “into the public place in which games, dramatic spectacles and public assemblies were held”. Luke shared how the “principal officers” within the city of Ephesus sent word to “Paul” admonishing and entreating him not to come to the “assembly of riotous” people.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how there were “officials” within the city of Ephesus who heard that “Paul” wanted to come to the “theater”, however, they sent word to him that he should not come. They knew this crowd was gathered in opposition to the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ which caused the “silversmiths” and the fellow “Ephesians” to suffer loss of their “crafts”, the worship of the goddess Diana and the temple dedicated to her. In other words this hostile crowd would be adamantly against “Paul”, and his safety and the safety of the crowd was in jeopardy. God's gospel of Jesus Christ was being strongly opposed, and whenever the salvation of mankind is at hand, there will be those who come against it. God loves people, and the only way for them to be saved from the penalty of sins is to believe and trust in Jesus Christ as their “Savior and Lord”. This is an eternal decision, and the choice people make will last forever and ever. Not only do people who oppose Him desire to subvert that eternal decision, but also evil spiritual entities attempt to keep people away from this choice as well. Those who are wise will carefully examine the importance of this interaction of the “principal officers” and “Paul”, and choose to receive Jesus Christ as their eternal “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Luke shares how, “some cried one thing, and some another”, 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