Paul's Company Departed - Acts 21:8

The beloved physician Luke wrote when he, Paul and their fellow disciples, “had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse eight of the book of Acts Luke shared, “the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea” where we read:

And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

The verse begins, “And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea:” Luke began with the words, “and the next day” which means “and the following sunrise to sunset” “we that were of Paul's company” or “we, Luke and the men traveling with them, existed as a part of the group of men traveling with Paul whose name means small or little”, “departed and came unto Caesarea” which means “left and went forth and apart from Ptolemais and approached Caesarea whose name means severed and was of Palestine was built near the Mediterranean by Herod the Great on the site of Strabo's Tower, between Joppa and Dora”. Luke shared how “Paul” and the men traveling with him left “Ptolemais” and approached “Caesarea”.

The verse goes on to say, “... and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.” Luke continued with the words, “and we entered into the house” which means “and we, Luke, Paul and the men traveling with them came into the dwelling place, abode and habitation” “of Philip the evangelist” or “belonging to Philip whose name means lover of horses and was chosen as a deacon and an apostle of Jesus Christ”, “which was one of the seven” which means “who existed as a particular and certain one of the seven deacons chosen by the church to serve Jews and Gentles in Acts chapter eight, and was a bringer of good news who heralded salvation through Jesus Christ”; “and abode with him” or “and dwelt, remained, sojourned and tarried with Philip”. Luke shared how he, “Paul” and the other men traveling with them came into and stayed in “Philip the evangelist's” home who was previously selected as one of the seven deacons within the church.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how he, Paul and those traveling with them entered “Philip the evangelist's” home and stayed with him. “Philip” was one of the “seven deacons” chosen to “serve tables” in the church, and he was used as an “apostle” of Jesus Christ who ministered for Him to that day. God loves to have a personal relationship with people through His Son Jesus, and when they submit to Him, He will forgive their sins, grant them everlasting life and employ them within His Kingdom to wherever He deems necessary. We shall see how “Philip” was used in this circumstance and his family will be mentioned as well. His life becomes an example of how God uses people to fulfill His Kingdom work when they surrender themselves to Him.

Next time Luke shares how Philip, “had four daughters … which did prophesy”, 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".