The beloved physician Luke wrote, “And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from there unto Patara: And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse three of the book of Acts Luke shared when Paul and the men with him, “had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre” where we read:
Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria,
and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.
The verse begins, “Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre:” Luke began with the words, “Now when we had discovered” which means “moreover at the time and moment we, Luke, Paul and the men traveling with them, were brought into view, made apparent and pointed out” “Cyprus” whose name means love or a blossom and was a very fertile and delightful island of the Mediterranean, lying between Cilicia and Syria”, “we left it on the left hand” or “we, Luke, Paul and the men traveling with them, even so, also and indeed forsook and abandoned Cyprus on the left hand side”, “and sailed into Syria” which means “and navigated and traveled by ship towards Syria whose name means exalted and was a region of Asia bounded on the north by Taurus and Amanus ranges, on the east by the Euphrates and Arabia, on the south by Palestine, and the west by Phoenicia and the Mediterranean”, “and landed at Tyre” or “and brought the sailing vessel from deep water to the land in Tyre whose name means a rock and was a Phoenician city on the Mediterranean, very ancient, large, splendid, flourishing in commerce, and powerful by land and sea”. Luke shared how he, Paul and the other men traveling with them saw the island of “Cyprus” on their left hand side, passed by it and sailed toward “Syria” where they “landed” at the city of “Tyre”.
The verse continues, “... for there the ship was to unlade her burden.” Luke added the words, “for there the ship” which means “because, since and on account that the sailing vessel or boat” “was to unlade her burden” or “was to lighten or discharge it's load”. Luke shared how the “sailing vessel” in which he, Paul and the men sailing with them was to be “lightened” of the load that was upon it in Tyre.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn more about the travels of “Paul, Luke and the other men journeying with them”. They “sailed by” “Cyprus” and headed toward “Syria” where they landed in the city of “Tyre”. In “Tyre” the ship “Luke, Paul and the others” boarded was to be lightened of it's load, and we shall see how this serves them for having time with fellow believers. God loves people, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with them through His Son Jesus. When they submit to Him, He will forgive their sins, grant them everlasting life and lead them by His Holy Spirit step by step in their lives. Those who are wise yield to Him and allow Him to direct their paths wherever He desires.
Next time Luke shares when Paul and the men with him found, “disciples, we tarried there seven days”, 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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