Luke the beloved physician wrote when the Jews in Jerusalem knew Paul was in the temple, “all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul. Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done. And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people. For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him. And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto you? Who said, Can you speak Greek? Are not you that Egyptian, which before these days made an uproar, and led out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse thirty-nine of the book of Acts Luke shares how Paul says, “I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus” where we read:
But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city:
and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.
The verse begins, “But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city:” Luke began with the words, “but Paul said” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover Paul, whose name means small or little, uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “I am a man which am a Jew” or “I, Paul, exist as a male human being who belongs to the Jewish nation by origin, birth and religion” “of Tarsus” which means “belonging to the city of Tarsus whose name means a flat basket”, “a city in Cilicia” or “a dwelling place, habitation and abode within Cilicia which was a maritime province in the southeast of Asia Minor, boarding on Pamphylia in the west, Lycaonia and Cappadocia in the north and Syria in the east whose name means the land of Celix”, “a citizen of no mean city” which means “and inhabitant, associate and fellow countryman belonging to an important town”. Luke shared how “Paul” told the “Roman commander” that he existed as a “Jewish man” who was born and raised in “Tarsus” which was the capital of “Cilicia” which was an important city among them.
The verse goes on to say, “and, I beseech you, suffer me to speak unto the people.” Luke continued with the words, “and, I beseech you” which means “in addition, I, Paul, begged, desire, long for and make supplication to you, chief captain”, “suffer me to speak” or “allow and permit me, Paul, to articulate sounds, talk and preach” “unto the people” which means “to the people who consisted of males and females”. Luke shared how “Paul” begged the “chief captain” to allow him to talk to the people who had gathered in opposition to him.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” used his “heritage and upbringing” to influence the “chief captain” to allow him to speak to the crowd who were assembled against him. “Paul” was from “Tarsus” which was an important city for “Rome”, and because “Paul” was a “Roman citizen”, he believed he had more rights than the average person to speak to the people. God oversaw “Paul's” life from the time he was born, and each of the places of “favor” that were in his life were to be employed by “Paul” as he spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. “Paul” desired to speak to his own people, the Jews, concerning the “salvation” of God through His Son Jesus Christ. This was his opportunity, and he used every influential part of his life, his Greek language and heritage, to advance the “gospel” of God. Everyone who comes to Jesus whatever their heritage will be forgiven of their sins, granted everlasting life and used by God with their upbringing to share his “good news” with the world.
Next time Luke shares how, “Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people”, 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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