Luke the beloved physician wrote when the chief captain and the men who examined Paul discovered he was a Roman, they “loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse one of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul says, “I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day” where we read:
And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said,
Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
The verse begins, “And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said,” Luke began with the words, “and Paul” whose name means “small or little”, “earnestly beholding the council” or “fixing his eyes and gazing upon Sanhedrin which consisted of the chief priests and their magistrates, judges and their ambassadors”, “said” which means “uttered, declared and proclaimed” the following words. Luke shared how “Paul” began to “fix his eyes” upon the Jewish “Sanhedrin” which included all the religious leaders including the “high priests”.
The verse goes on to say, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.” Luke continued with the words, “men and brethren” which means “male human beings and brothers who are united by the bond of affection”, “I have lived” or “I, Paul, have behaved, conducted and availed my own life” “in all good conscience before God” which means “in each, every, the whole and everyone of the useful, salutary, pleasant, agreeable, happy, excellent and distinguished conscience which distinguishes between what is morally good and bad” “until this day” or “unto this particular sunrise to sunset”. Luke shared how “Paul” addressed the “chief priests” and their “council” by telling them he “lived” in a “useful, excellent and distinguished” way unto the day in which they were trying him.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” was brought before the “high priests” and the “Sanhedrin” to answer their accusations against him. He began by telling them he had done nothing wrong unto that day, and we shall see how they respond to him in our next verse. God allowed “Paul” another opportunity to share His “gospel” with these people, and because He loves them so much, God invites them to relate to Him through His Son Jesus multiple times. Those who are wise receive Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” and allow Him to forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life regardless of the opposition they face for doing so.
Next time Luke shares how, “the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth”, 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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