The beloved physician Luke shared how “Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers”, and in chapter eighteen and verse four of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul, “reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks” where we read:
And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
The verse reads, “And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, ...”: Luke began with the words, “and he reasoned” which means “and Paul resolved, conversed and held discourses” “in the synagogue” or “within the sacred assembly of Jews formally gathered together to offer prayers and listen to the reading and expositions of the scriptures” “every sabbath” which means “each, the whole, all and everyone of the seventh day of each week which was a sacred festival on which the Israelites were required to abstain from all work”. Luke shared how “Paul” held discourses within the sacred worship places for the Jewish people on every “Sabbath” day.
The verse continues, “... and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.” Luke added the words, “and persuaded the Jews” or “and moved and induced the people from the Jewish nation by origin, birth or religion to believe, obey, comply and have confidence in the gospel” “and the Greeks” which means “as well as the people who were non-Jews or from other nations that were not Jewish and whose language”. Luke shared how “Paul” was busy convincing both the “Jewish and non-Jewish” people about the “good news” of Jesus Christ as presented in the Bible.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn what “Paul” did while he was in “Corinth”. Not only did he work as a tentmaker, but he went to the “synagogue” in Corinth to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with all who were in attendance. This was “Paul's” mission. Although he worked as a laborer making tents, his real function was to tell people about God's salvation through His Son Jesus. God loves people, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with everyone through Jesus. Those who are wise will see the importance of “Paul's” commission to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, and they too shall tell others about Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection from the dead so believers in Him may be forgiven of their sins and live eternally with God.
Next time Luke shares what happened, “when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia”, 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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