Luke the beloved physician wrote how Paul began to give defense for himself before a hostile Jewish crowd in Hebrew by saying, “I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as you all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As also the high priest does bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come near unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecute you me? And I answered, Who are you, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute. And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spoke to me. And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told you of all things which are appointed for you to do. And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive your sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. And he said, The God of our fathers has chosen you, that you should know his will, and see that Just One, and should hear the voice of his mouth. For you shall be his witness unto all men of what you have seen and heard”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse sixteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul said Ananias told him, “arise, and be baptized” where we read:
And now why tarry you?
arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
The verse begins, “And now why tarry you?” Luke began with the words, “and now” which means “and at this present time” “why tarry you” or “for what reason or cause do you, Saul who is Paul, intend to delay”? Luke shared how “Paul” said “Ananias” questioned him as to why he would “delay” from that which God intended for him.
The verse continues, “arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Luke added the words, “arise, and be baptized” which means “get up, stand up and be immersed or submerged in water for the sign of outward cleansing of sins”, “and wash away your sins” or “and cleanse and have remitted your, Paul's, errors, mistakes, missing of the mark and violations of God's law”, “calling on the name of the Lord” which means “crying out, summoning and appealing to everything the name covers including the thoughts or feelings which are aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing and remembering belonging to 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”. Luke shared how “Paul” said “Ananias” instructed him to get up, be immersed in water and cleanse away his “violations against the law of God” by appealing to the “name” of the “Lord Jesus”.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Ananias” called “Saul who was Paul” to action after sharing God's message of salvation to him. In other words, it was necessary for “Paul” to respond to “Ananias'” words which were from the Lord Jesus. This is true for everyone who hears the invitation of God to receive His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”. Hearing alone will not save a person. They must “come” to Jesus and receive His gift of “salvation” by grace which was paid for by His death on the cross. Everyone who “hears” the “gospel” of Jesus Christ must act, and when they yield themselves to Him, He will forgive their sins, grant them everlasting life and use them as His witnesses in His Kingdom. Let all who read these words hear the question of “Ananias”, (“and now why tarry you?”), repent, be baptized and wash away your sins as you call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, and you shall be “saved” for all eternity.
Next time Luke shares how Paul tells what happened, “when I was come again to Jerusalem”, 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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