The beloved physician Luke shared how Paul, “reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. And he departed from there, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshiped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized”, and in chapter eighteen and verse nine of the book of Acts Luke shared how the Lord spoke, “to Paul in the night by a vision” where we read:
Then spoke the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not your peace:
The verse reads, “Then spoke the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, ...”. Luke began with the words, “then spoke the Lord” which means “at that time the One to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah called, brought word, uttered, declared and proclaimed” “to Paul” or “toward Paul whose name means small or little” “in the night” which means “within the nighttime” “by a vision” or “through the means of a supernatural spectacle or ecstasy while one is sleeping”. Luke shared how “the Lord” made a declaration to “Paul” during the nighttime by using a “supernatural spectacle”.
The verse goes on to say, “... Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not your peace:” Luke continued with the words, “be not afraid” or “do not exist as struck by fear, seized with alarm or put to flight”, “but speak” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover declare, proclaim and make utterance”, “and hold not your peace” or “and do not be silent, calm or as one who is dumb in speech”. Luke shared how “the Lord” told “Paul” not to be “afraid” or “silent” as he continued his mission of sharing the gospel.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “the Lord” encouraged “Paul” in his ministry among people. With all the opposition and resistance he encountered, “Paul” could have easily been discouraged and “afraid” to continue sharing the gospel with others. The message of the gospel does not go forward without those who are against it, and because the eternal lives of people are in the balance, God is determined to have people make a choice whether to receive His plan of salvation through His Son Jesus or not. Anyone who yields to Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God, and those who have believed should not be “afraid or silent” when they have an opportunity to share the good news of God's salvation with people in the world.
Next time Luke shares how the Lord tells Paul, “I am with you”, 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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