Luke the beloved physician shared how Paul continued to give defense for himself before a hostile Jewish crowd in Hebrew, and after doing so, the multitude, “lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live. And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air, ...”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse twenty-four of the book of Acts Luke shared how the chief captain commanded that Paul, “should be examined by scourging” where we read:
The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.
The verse begins, “The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging;” Luke began with the words, “the chief captain” which means “the chiliarch or commander of a Roman cohort” “commanded him to be brought” or “bid and ordered Paul to be carried and led” “into the castle” which means “into the barracks of the Roman solders which at Jerusalem was in the castle of Antonia”, “and bade that he should be examined” or “and commanded or spoke that Paul ought to be investigated judicially” “by scourging” which means “through the manner of whipping for discipline or punishment”. Luke shared how the “Roman commander” ordered that “Paul” be led into the “barracks of the Roman soldiers” so he could be “investigated” by the means of whipping.
The verse continues, “that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.” Luke added the words, “that he might know” which means “so the chief captain could become thoroughly acquainted with and know accurately” “wherefore they cried so” or “what the reason was that the Jewish crowd shouted aloud and made exclamation” “against him” which means “in opposition to Paul”. Luke shared how the “chief captain” thought “scourging” “Paul” would allow him to know why the Jewish multitude was so hostile toward him.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “chief captain” decided to solve the matter with “Paul”. Roman law allowed a person to receive up to thirty-nine stripes by whipping which were meant to invoke a confession from the one who was being beat. Each additional stripe was intensified if no confession was made, so we can imagine why this “Roman commander” thought this would work. “Paul” was sharing the gospel of salvation through God's Son Jesus Christ, and anyone who believes and trusts in Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with Him. Sometimes His “good news” is not received by those to whom it is offered, and sometimes, believers are beaten and even killed for sharing His word. These “martyrs” shall not be unnoticed by God, and He shall reward them eternally. Those who are wise will yield themselves to Jesus who is willing to save everyone who surrenders to Him.
Next time Luke shares how Paul says, “is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman”, 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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