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 in chapter twenty-one and verse thirty-four of the book of Acts Luke shares how, “some cried one thing; some another, among the multitude” where we read:
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.
The verse begins, “And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude:” Luke began with the words, “and some cried one thing” which means “and a few of the Jewish people shouted aloud and vociferated one particular accusation”, “some another” or “a few of the other Jewish people proclaimed other accusations”, “among the multitude” which means “within the crowd of Jewish people who were gathered together and assembled”. Luke shared how there were various statements made about “Paul” from the Jewish crowd of people who were gathered around him.
The verse continues, “and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.” Luke added the words, “and when he could not know” which means “and at the time and moment the chief captain was unable and incapable of understanding, perceiving and discerning” “the certainty for the tumult” or “the true and firm reason or cause of the noise, uproar and clamorous and riotous persons”, “he commanded him to be carried” which means “the chief captain ordered Paul to be led and brought forth” “into the castle” or “into the barracks of the Roman soldiers which at Jerusalem was in the castle of Antonia”. Luke shared at the time the “Roman commander” was unable to ascertain why this “riotous” behavior was happening with the Jewish crowd, he ordered “Paul” to be taken to the “barracks of the Roman soldiers” which was located in the “castle of Antonia”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how there was great confusion over why this crowd of people were so riotous and clamorous”. There were so many different accusations coming against “Paul” that the “Roman commander” finally ordered “Paul” to be taken to the secure place known as the “castle of Antonia”. In other words, until he could sort these things out, “Paul” needed to be separated from the crowd to prevent further escalation. “Paul” was God's minister of the gospel of His Son Jesus Christ, and because “Paul” was teaching pagan people that Jesus died on the cross for their sins and they could inherit everlasting life through Him, this angered the Jewish community. Belief in God's Son Jesus is the only way for mankind to be forgiven of their sins, and as long as they remain in their sinful state, they are separated from a relationship with Him. This is not God's desire, and those who carefully study the rescue of “Paul” from this crowd will understand this to be another effort of God Almighty to reach people with His “salvation” plan through His Son Jesus.
Next time Luke shares how Paul was, “borne of the soldiers for the violence of 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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