Luke the beloved physician wrote when the Jews in Jerusalem knew Paul was in the temple, “all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse thirty-one of the book of Acts Luke shared what happen when the Jewish people, “went about to kill him”, where we read:
And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band,
that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
The verse begins, “And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band,” Luke began with the words, “and as they went about” which means “and during the time and moment the Jewish people craved, demanded and required” “to kill him” or “to destroy, inflict mortal death upon and abolish Paul”, “tidings came” which means “reports and disclosures arose” “unto the chief captain” or “toward the chiliarch or military commander of the Roman cohort” “of the band” which means “belonging to the company or detachment of soldiers”. Luke shared during the time when the “Jewish people” wanted to “kill” Paul, the word of their desire became known to the “commander” of the Roman military in that area.
The verse goes on to say, “... that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.” Luke continued with the words, “that all Jerusalem” which means “so each, every, the whole and everyone of the people in Jerusalem whose name means set you double peace and was the capital of Palestine” “was in an uproar” or “commingled together, were disturbed and stirred up to a tumult or outbreak. Luke shared how the “report” that came to the “commander of the Roman military” was that everyone in “Jerusalem” was in a riotous mode concerning “Paul”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the commotion was so great among the “Jewish people” in Jerusalem that someone told the “commander of the Roman military” about it. This kind of riotous behavior was not allowed, and any time it occurred, the Roman military would deal with it when they knew. Each part of this story of “Paul” is to be used by the Lord Jesus to continue spreading His “gospel” to the world. God so loves people that He desires to have a personal relationship with them through His Son Jesus. When they submit to Him, they will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God in Heaven. “Paul's” commotion had everyone in “Jerusalem” on alert, and we shall see how even in this “Paul” will use this to tell the story of Jesus and His sacrifice for them.
Next time Luke shares how the chief captain, “immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them”, 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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