Luke the beloved physician wrote how Paul was in Ephesus, and “went into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spoke evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus”, and in chapter nineteen and verse ten of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “this continued by the space of two years” where we read:
And this continued by the space of two years;
so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
The verse begins, “And this continued by the space of two years;” Luke began with the words, “and this continued” which means “and Paul kept on performing teachings and holding discourses” “by the space of two years” or “for about two years of time”. Luke shared how “Paul” kept teaching in the “Tyrannus school” for about two years.
The verse goes on to say, “... so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.” Luke continued with the words, “so that all they which dwelt” or “insomuch that each, every, the whole and everyone of the people who lived, abode and were inhabited” “in Asia” which means “within the orient and referred to proper or proconsular Asia embracing Mysia, Lydia, Phrygia, and Caria which corresponds closely to Turkey today”, “heard the word” or “were endowed with the faculty of hearing, perceiving and discerning of the speech, decree and mandate” “of the Lord Jesus” which means “pertaining to the One to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah”, “both Jews” or “not only the Jewish people as respects to origin, birth and religion but also” “and Greeks” which means “and people who were from Greece or other nations who were none-Jews, pagan and heathen”. Luke shared because “Paul” continued teaching and holding didactic discourses people who were both Jews and Greeks that were scattered throughout all of“Asia” also “heard” the word of the Lord.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul's” two extra years of teaching was to the benefit people throughout “Asia”. “Jews and Greeks” alike heard “Paul” share about the Kingdom of God, and God's plan of salvation was spreading farther and farther as the days and years went by. God loves everyone, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with them through His Son Jesus. When they surrender to Jesus, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. This word was true and available to those to whom “Paul” spoke, and it is available to everyone reading these words today. Let all who “hear” these words believe.
Next time Luke shares how, “God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul”, 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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