The beloved physician Luke wrote when mighty works were done by Paul in Ephesus, “fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed”, and in chapter nineteen and verse twenty-one of the book of Acts Luke shared how “Paul purposed in the spirit … to go to Jerusalem” where we read:
After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.
The verse begins, “After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, ...” Luke began with the words, “after these things were ended” which means “following the time when the people in Ephesus believing in Jesus and burning their magic art books”, “Paul purposed in the spirit” or “Paul, whose name means small or little, set, fixed and established within his simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, and possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding and acting”, “when he passed through Macedonia” which means “at the time and moment Paul journeyed and traveled through Macedonia whose name means extended land and was a country bounded on the south by Thessaly and Epirus, on the east by Thrace and the Aegean Sea, on the west by Illyria, and on the North by Dardania and Moesia” “and Achaia” whose name means “trouble” and was “the maritime region of northern Peloponnesus”. Luke shared how “Paul” desired within himself to journey to the following destination after he traveled through the areas of “Macedonia and Achaia” along the way.
The verse goes on to say, “ to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” Luke continued with the words, “to go to Jerusalem” which means “to continue on his journey toward Jerusalem whose name means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “after I have been there” which means “following the time I, Paul, have appeared, completed and finished my time in Jerusalem”, “I must also see Rome” or “I, Paul, even so and indeed need to observe, pay heed to and experience Rome whose name means strength and was the famous capital of the ancient world”. Luke shared how “Paul” was determined to journey to “Jerusalem”, and afterward he was determined to experience “Rome”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn more about “Paul's” travels. After his experience in “Ephesus” with people believing and trusting in Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”, he purposed to go to “Jerusalem”. Along the way he passed back through “Macedonia and Achaia”, and he knew after being in “Jerusalem” for some time, it was necessary for him to travel to “Rome”. “Paul” would eventually “see Rome”, but not in the way he had planned. God knew, and he would direct his steps there. God's plan is always best, and many times His ways begin with a thought, an inspiration or an idea that complies with one's desires. (See Philippians 2:13) After the thought or idea arises, it is best to allow God to fulfill His purpose and plan. God loves people, and He desires to have a personal relationship with them through His Son Jesus. When they submit themselves to Him, He will forgive their sins, grant them everlasting life and lead and guide them to fulfill His purposes for His Kingdom. Let all who read these words see the Lord's leading of “Paul” and desire to have God's Holy Spirit direct them in their adventures as well.
Next time Luke shares how Paul, “sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus”, 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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