Luke the beloved physician wrote how, “Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had worked among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law. And they are informed of you, that you teach all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that you are come. Do therefore this that we say to you: We have four men which have a vow on them”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse twenty-four of the book of Acts Luke shared how the Jews told Paul, “take them, and purify yourself with them” where we read:
Them take, and purify yourself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning you, are nothing; but that you yourself also walk orderly, and keep the law.
The verse begins, “Them take, and purify yourself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads:” Luke began with the words, “them take” which means “join your own self to the four men who had a vow upon themselves”, “and purify yourself with them” or “and ceremonially and morally cleanse and sanctify your own self alongside the four men”, “and be at charges with them” which means “and be consumed, spent and with inner cost alongside the four men”, “that they may shave their heads” or “that the four men who made the vow cut all their hair off their physical heads with a razor”. Luke shared how “James and the elders in Jerusalem” told “Paul” to “cleanse” his own self by joining the “four men who had a vow” by shaving their “heads”.
The verse continues, “and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning you, are nothing;” Luke added the words, “and all may know” which means “and each, every, the whole and everyone of the Jewish people will perceive, understand and discern” “that those things” or “that the words spoken by Paul toward the Jewish people”, “whereof they were informed” which means “about which the Jewish people were orally instructed, apprised, indoctrinated and taught” “concerning you” or “about you, Paul”, “are nothing” which means “do not exist as one thing of value”. Luke shared how “James and the elders in Jerusalem” told “Paul” the “Jewish people” who heard about him teaching the “Jews” who lived among the Gentiles against the “law of Moses” would not regard it as true if he joined himself with the “four men who were taking a vow”.
Finally the verse says, “but that you yourself also walk orderly, and keep the law.” Luke ended this verse with the words, “but that you yourself also” or “except, notwithstanding, nonetheless and moreover you, Paul, your own self even so and indeed” “walk orderly” which means “march, direct and proceed in order, rank and row”, “and keep the law” or “and guard, care for and do not violate the rule producing a state approved of God”. Luke shared how “James and the elders in Jerusalem” said the “Jewish people” would see that “Paul” proceeds in “order” and observes the “law of God”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “James and the elders in Jerusalem” handled the situation with “Paul” and the “Jewish people” who thought he was instructing the “Jews” among the “Gentiles” against them. “Four men” were taking a “vow” among the “elders in Jerusalem”, and if “Paul” joined them by shaving his head, the “Jewish people” who were against him would understand that he was not against the “Jewish law” but actually conducted himself in an “orderly” way by “keeping Moses' law”. God knew all these things would happen to “Paul”, and because He desires to have a personal relationship with every person, He sent Jesus to die on the cross to pay the price of death for their sins. Anyone who surrenders their life to Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God, and those who are wise will consider the Lord's work in and through “Paul” and desire to have Him work in their life as well.
Next time Luke shares how the Jews tell Paul that the Gentiles should, “keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication”, 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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