The beloved physician Luke 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 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”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse fifteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul said Ananias told him, “you shall be his witness unto all men” where we read:
For you shall be his witness unto all men of what you have seen and heard.
The verse begins, “For you shall be his witness unto all men ...” Luke began with the words, “for you shall be his witness” which means “because, since and on account that you, Paul, will exist as Jesus' example of the strength and genuineness” “unto all men” or “toward each, every, the whole and everyone of the people both male and female”. Luke shared how “Paul” said “Ananias” told him that his life would serve as a “testimony” to every person of the “strength and genuineness” of Jesus.
The verse goes on to say, “... of what you have seen and heard.” Luke continued with the words, “of what you have seen” which means “pertaining to that which you, Paul, have observed, beheld, noticed and perceived” “and heard” or “and have been given the faculty for hearing, perceiving and understanding”. Luke shared how “Paul” said “Ananias” told him that his life would be a “witness” to everything that he “observed and heard” from Jesus.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul”, who was also known as “Saul”, was told by “Ananias” that his life would become a “testimony” of Jesus Christ to every person. Today, we have “Paul's” words in the Bible, and he has indeed become a “witness” of Jesus to the whole world. Jesus changed “Paul”, and “Paul” was employed by Him to become a testimony to the “strength and genuineness” of Jesus to alter the life of anyone who surrenders to Him. Jesus will forgive the sins and grant everlasting life to anyone who yields to Him, and regardless of their background, opposition against Him or defiance to Almighty God, He is willing to receive and use them when they submit to Him. Come to Jesus today.
Next time Luke shares how Ananias tells Paul, “arise, and be baptized”, 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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