The beloved physician Luke 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?”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse thirty-eight of the book of Acts Luke shares how the chief captain asked Paul, “are not you that Egyptian, which before these days made an uproar?” where we read:
Are not you that Egyptian, which before these days made an uproar,
and led out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?
The verse begins, “Are not you that Egyptian, which before these days made an uproar, ...” Luke began with the words, “are not you that Egyptian” which means “do you not exist as the man from Egypt”, “which before these days” or “who prior to the present time or some time ago” “made an uproar” which means “stirred up and excited a tumult, sedition or rebellion”. Luke shared how the “chief captain” questioned “Paul” as to whether he was the “Egyptian” man who stirred up a rebellion.
The verse continues, “... and led out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?” Luke added the words, “and led out into the wilderness” which means “and brought forth or fetched into the solitary, lonely, desolate and uninhabited place” “four thousand men” or “four thousand male human beings” “that were murderers” which means “who existed as assassins, cutthroats, freebooters or ones who carry daggers or short swords under their clothing that they may secretly and treacherously kill anyone they wish”? Luke shared how the “chief captain” wondered if “Paul” was the “Egyptian man” who brought “four thousand” “assassins” into the desert place.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “Roman commander” asked “Paul” if he was the “Egyptian” leader of “four thousand” assassins who appeared some time ago. We can imagine how tumultuous this riot was surrounding “Paul” because it caused this “captain” to ask such a question of “Paul”. There was no doubt that “Paul” was facing extreme opposition and danger, and the reason was because He was promoting the gospel of Jesus Christ among “Gentile” people. God loves everybody, and His desire is to have a loving personal relationship with everyone who believes and trusts in His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”. Anyone who comes to Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God, and even when people blame the uprisings of others upon them, they may continue to have their confidence and trust in the Lord Jesus who will keep them through the most difficult rebellions against Him.
Next time Luke shares how Paul says, “I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus”, 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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