Luke the beloved physician 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 in chapter seventeen and verse thirty-two of the book of Acts Luke shared, “when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked” where we read:
And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked:
and others said, We will hear you again of this matter.
The verse begins, “And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked:” Luke began with the words, “and when they heard” which means “and at the time and moment the philosophers were endowed with the faculty for hearing, perceiving and understanding” “of the resurrection of the dead” or “pertaining to the raising up from the non-living, breathless and destitute of life”, “some mocked” which means “a few of the philosophers jeered at and derided Paul”. Luke shared how a few of the “philosophers” began to “deride” “Paul” for his words concerning someone being “raised from the dead”.
The verse goes on to say, “and others said, We will hear you again of this matter.” Luke continued with the words, “and others said” or “and some of the other philosophers uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “we will hear you again” which means “we, philosophers, shall attend to and consider what Paul said another time” “of this matter” or “pertaining to the idea of God revealing Himself through His Son Jesus and resurrecting Him from the dead”. Luke shared how some of the “other” “philosophers” decided to consider what “Paul” told them at another time.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how there was a division among the “philosophers in Athens” concerning the words of “Paul”. Some of them scoffed and jeered at “Paul” for declaring a “resurrection” from the dead because they did not believe this could happen. Others of them, decided to listen to “Paul” speak about this another time. God knows those who will receive Him and His message of “salvation” through His Son Jesus, and He is aware of others who will not believe. God loves everybody, believers and non-believers, but only those who receive His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. All others will be banished and separated from God forever. This is not His desire, and those who are wise will carefully consider whether they “believe” or do not “believe” because their eternal future depends upon their decision.
Next time Luke shares how, “Paul departed from among 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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