The beloved physician Luke wrote how Demetrius, a silversmith, caused “no small stir” saying that “Paul has persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:” This caused a great commotion in the city of Ephesus among the people, “And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defense unto the people. But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And when the town clerk had appeased the people, he said, You men of Ephesus, what man is there that knows not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshiper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter. Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, you ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. For you have brought here these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another. But if you inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse. And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly”, and in chapter twenty and verse one of the book of Acts Luke shared, “after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples” where we read:
And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples,
and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.
The verse begins, “And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, ...” Luke began with the words, “and after the uproar was ceased” which means “and following the time when the noise, tumult and clamorous and excited multitude was desisted, restrained and refrained”, “Paul called unto him” or “Paul, whose name means small or little, summoned, beckoned and invited to his own self” “the disciples” which means “the students, pupils and attendants of Jesus in Ephesus”. Luke shared when the “uproar” in the city of Ephesus was ended, “Paul” summoned the “disciples” of Jesus who were in Ephesus.
The verse goes on to say, “... and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.” Luke continued with the words, “and embraced them” which means “received joyfully, welcomed and greeted well the disciples in Ephesus”, “and departed for to go” or “and left, emitted and went forth to travel and journey” “into Macedonia” whose name means “extended land” and was “a country bounded on the south by Thessaly and Epirus, on the east by Thrace and the Aegean Sea, on the west by Illyria, and on the North by Dardania and Moesia”. Luke shared how “Paul” welcomed and greeted the “disciples of Jesus” who were in Ephesus and left them to go to the region of “Macedonia”.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” wanted the “disciples of Jesus” who were in “Ephesus” to come to him so he could say goodbye before leaving to “Macedonia”. “Paul” was very fond of these believers who obviously were facing great opposition in their city, so he desired to see them before he left. God loves people, and He is willing to forgive the sins of every person who surrenders to His Son Jesus. He also will grant them eternal life with Him where they shall forever live in Heaven. Those who yield to Jesus become part of God's dearly loved family, and when they depart from one another to go on to other venues, “embracing” and “greeting” one another should be natural to them.
Next time Luke shares how Paul, “came into Greece”, 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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