Luke the beloved physician wrote as Paul was making his defense before King Agrippa, he asked, “Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them often in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse twelve of the book of Acts Luke shared Paul begins to tell King Agrippa what happened, “as I went to Damascus” where we read:
Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
The verse begins, “Whereupon as I went to Damascus ...” Luke began with the word, “whereupon” which means “after having the commission from the high priest even so and indeed” “as I went to Damascus” or “during the time I, Paul, left and departed to the city of Damascus whose name means silent is the sackcloth weaver and was one of the most ancient and most important cities of Syria lying in a most lovely and fertile plain at the eastern base of the Antilibanus ”. Luke shared how “Paul” told “king Agrippa” about beginning his travel toward the city of “Damascus” after he was commissioned by the high priest to go to “strange cities”.
The verse goes on to say, “... with authority and commission from the chief priests.” Luke continued with the words, “with authority” which means “having, holding and possessing permission, power, ability and strength” “and commission” or “liberty, choice and right” “from the chief priests” which means “by means of the high and principal priests”. Luke shared how “Paul” told “king Agrippa” that he possessed the full power, strength, ability and right to go after believers in Jesus who were located in other cities.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” told “king Agrippa” about his trip to the city of “Damascus” to capture the believers in Jesus who were there, and because he was fully “authorized and commissioned” by the “high priests” in Jerusalem, he was determined to find all the Christians located there. God knew “Paul's” plan, and He interrupted it. (See Acts 9) Anyone, regardless of how opposed to Jesus Christ they may be, have an opportunity to be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God when they submit themselves to His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”. “Paul” knew his past, and it was dire, however, it was not so far gone that Jesus could not reach him. He extends His invitation to everyone who reads these words to “come” to Him and believe.
Next time Luke shares how Paul tells King Agrippa, “at midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven”, 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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