The beloved physician Luke wrote how, “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. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus says the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, What mean you to weep and to break my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse fifteen of the book of Acts Luke shared, “after those days we took up our carriages” where we read:
And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.
The verse begins, “And after those days we took up our carriages, ...” Luke began with the words, “and after those days” which means “and following the sunrises to sunsets within the city of Caesarea” “we took up our carriages” or “we, Luke, Paul and the men traveling with them packed their goods and provisions” and did the following. Luke shared how he, “Paul” and the men traveling with them “packed their belongings” after completing their “days” in “Caesarea” and did the following.
The verse continues, “... and went up to Jerusalem.” Luke added words, “and went up” which means “and ascended” “to Jerusalem” or “toward the city of Jerusalem whose name means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine”. Luke shared how he, “Paul” and the men traveling with them ascended to the city of “Jerusalem”.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn about the departure of “Paul”, Luke and the men with them” from the city of “Caesarea”. They packed their belongings and ascended to the city of “Jerusalem” where “Paul” had been warned he should not go. We shall see what happens with them in our next few verses, but for now let us be mindful that God was continuing to expand His “good news” of salvation to mankind through belief and trust in His Son Jesus. God loves people, and His plans and purposes for people often exceed their own thoughts and ideas. God will forgive the sins of every person who yields to His Son Jesus, and He will grant them everlasting life when they surrender to Him. Let everyone who read these words understand all these things were performed so they may have eternal salvation of their souls.
Next time Luke shares, “there went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea”, 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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