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 in chapter twenty-two and verse fourteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul said Ananias told him, “the God of our fathers has chosen you” where we read:
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.
The verse begins, “And he said, The God of our fathers has chosen you, that you should know his will, ...” Luke began with the words, “and he said” which means “and he, Ananias, uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “The God of our fathers” or “the Heavenly Father God belonging to the Jewish people's forefathers, male ancestors and generators”, “has chosen you” which means “selected, elected and appointed you, Paul”, “that you should know his will” or “that you, Paul, are to understand, perceive and be acquainted with His, God's, desire, pleasure, choice and inclination”. Luke shared how “Paul” said “Ananias” told him that the “Heavenly Father God” who belonged to the ancestors of the Jewish people “selected and appointed” him to “understand and perceive” His “pleasure and inclination”.
The verse continues, “and see that Just One, and should hear the voice of his mouth.” Luke added the words, “and see that Just One” which means “and perceive, be acquainted with and experience that righteous, virtuous, innocent, faultless and guiltless One from God”, “and should hear” or “and be endowed with the faculty for hearing, perceiving, understanding and attending to” “the voice of his mouth” which means “the sound and tone of uttered words belonging to His, Jesus', orifice in His face used for eating and speaking”. Luke shared how “Paul” told the “Jewish multitude” that he was to be allowed to “experience and be acquainted with” the “righteous, innocent and faultless” One from God who is Jesus Christ, and in addition he would “understand and perceive” the utterances from Jesus' mouth.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn about the commission given to“Paul” by God. “Ananias” told “Paul” he would be given the ability to “see” and “hear” Jesus, and he would use these abilities to share the love of God with the world. God loves people, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with everyone regardless of their past or their opposition to Him. “Paul” thought and acted directly against the gospel of Jesus Christ, and yet, God saved him and began to use him in His Kingdom. Anyone who believes and trusts in Jesus as their “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. As they yield themselves to Him, He will use them to share His great message of salvation to others who are running away from and in opposition to Him.
Next time Luke shares how Paul says Ananias told him, “you shall be his witness unto all 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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