The beloved physician Luke shared when Paul was in Corinth he, “reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. And he departed from there, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshiped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. Then spoke the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not your peace”, and in chapter eighteen and verse ten of the book of Acts Luke shared how the Lord told Paul, “I am with you” where we read:
For I am with you, and no man shall set on you to hurt you: for I have much people in this city.
The verse reads, “For I am with you, and no man shall set on you to hurt you:”: Luke began with the words, “for I am with you” which means “because, since and on account that I, God the Heavenly Father, am alongside and beside you, Paul”, “and no man” or “and not one person whether male or female” “shall set on you” which means “will attack, make an assault or lay a wound upon you, Paul” “to hurt you” or “to oppress, afflict, harm or maltreat you, Paul”. Luke shared how the “Lord” told “Paul” in the vision that He was “with” him, and no one would be able to afflict or harm him.
The verse continues, “for I have much people in this city.” Luke added the words, “for I have much people” or “because, since and on account that I, God the Heavenly Father, possess and have acquired a great number of human beings both male and female” “in this city” which means “within this dwelling place, habitation and abode”. Luke shared God told “Paul” He possessed a great number of people within the city of Corinth.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “Lord” reassured “Paul” by reminding Him that His presence was with him, and since He had an abundant number of people who would believe His “gospel of salvation” through His Son Jesus, “Paul” would not be harmed while he was there. God gave “Paul” a supernatural message which encouraged him to continue his work in “Corinth”, and because God desires a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, He has a “special mission and message” for all who yield to Him. Let all who read these words examine themselves to discover whether they “believe” in Jesus Christ as their “Savior and Lord” and willing to be assured by the “Lord” to continue their work in His Kingdom.
Next time Luke shares how Paul, “continued there a year and six months”, 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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