The beloved physician Luke wrote when the Jews in Jerusalem told Paul and the men traveling with him to “be at charges” with the people of the Jewish nation, Paul, “the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them. And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, ...”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse twenty-eight of the book of Acts Luke shared how the Jews were, “Crying out, Men of Israel, help” where we read:
Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teaches all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and has polluted this holy place.
The verse begins, “Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teaches all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place:” Luke began with the words, “crying out” which means “shouting aloud, vociferating, exclaiming and entreating”, “Men of Israel, help” or “male human beings who belong to the nation of Israel, which means God prevails, give aid, succor and relieve”: “this it the man” which means “the particular male human being we have seized exist as”, “that teaches all men every where” or “the one who instructs, holds discourses, imparts instruction and instills doctrine to each, every, the whole and everyone of the people both male and female in all places and locations” “against the people” which means “in opposition to the Jewish people both male and female”, “and the law” or “and the rule producing a state approved of God”, “and this place” which means “and the location of Jerusalem”. Luke shared how the men who captured “Paul” began to shout aloud for “aid” because “Paul” was the “man” who went to every person and place teaching and instructing in opposition to the “Jewish people”, God's rule and the city of Jerusalem.
The verse continues, “... and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and has polluted this holy place.” Luke added the words, “and further brought Greeks” which means “and besides, more and to a greater degree introduced and lead non-Jews, Hellenist, pagans and heathens” “also into the temple” or “even so and indeed into the sacred worship place in Jerusalem”, “and has polluted” which means “and has made common, unclean, unhallowed, defiled and profane” “this holy place” or “this sacred, pure, morally blameless and religiously and ceremonially consecrated location”. Luke shared how the men who captured “Paul” also shouted out that he had “led” pagan and heathen non-Jews into the sacred worship place and had made it unclean and profane by doing so.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the Jewish men who arrested “Paul” shouted for “help” among their fellow Jews, and they began to accuse “Paul” of imparting false instruction against them, God's law and Jerusalem. They said he “led” non-Jews into the “temple” in Jerusalem, and that act made the “temple” unclean and profane. Of course, they were wrong in their assessments, but God would use these accusations to further His “gospel” in the world. God's desire is to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when they yield themselves to Him, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life with Him. “Paul” endured what these men did so “God's good news” would continue, and those who are wise will submit themselves to God to be used by Him as well.
Next time Luke parenthetically shares how the Jews, “had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian”, 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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