The beloved physician Luke wrote how “certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy. And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. Now therefore you with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though you would inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him. And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he has a certain thing to tell him. So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto you, who has something to say unto you. Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that you have to tell me?”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse twenty of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “the Jews have agreed to desire you that you would bring down Paul to morrow” where we read:
And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire you that you would bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly.
The verse begins, “And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire you that you would bring down Paul to morrow into the council, ...” Luke began with the words, “and he said” which means “and Paul's nephew uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “the Jews have agreed” or “the men of the Jewish nation as respects to origin, birth or religion have assented, determined, resolved and arranged” “to desire you” which means “to request of, ask, beg and beseech you, chief captain” “that you would bring down Paul” or “that you, chief captain, would carry and lead Paul whose name means small or little” “to morrow into the council” which means “on the next day following toward the assembly of magistrates, judges and ambassadors known as the Sanhedrin”. Luke shared how Paul's nephew told the “chief captain” that the Jewish people wanted him to send “Paul” to the “Sanhedrin” on the next day.
The verse continues, “... as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly.” Luke added the words, “as though they would inquire somewhat of him” which means “like the Sanhedrin intended and minded to ask, question and investigate Paul for a certain time” “more perfectly” or “in a greater, diligent and accurate way”. Luke shared how Paul's nephew told the “chief captain” that the “Jews” were going to act like they wanted to investigate “Paul” further on some matter.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul's nephew” did exactly as “Paul” requested of him. He informed the “chief captain” of the Jewish plot against “Paul”, and this would bring about “Paul's” rescue from their desires. God used this “nephew” of “Paul” to bring about “Paul's” salvation from this evil plan, and He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of mankind which would cause death to all mankind if the evil one, Satan, had his way. God loves people, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with them through His Son Jesus, and when a person believes in Him, they will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Those who are wise yield to Jesus, and are rescued from the plot of the evil one to destroy them.
Next time Luke shares how Paul's nephew tells the chief captain, “there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men”, 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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