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 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. And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people. For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him. And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto you? Who said, Can you speak Greek? Are not you that Egyptian, which before these days made an uproar, and led out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers? But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech you, suffer me to speak unto the people. And when he had given him license, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spoke unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying, ...”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse one of the book of Acts Luke shares how Paul says, “Men, brethren, and fathers, hear you my defense” where we read:
Men, brethren, and fathers, hear you my defense which I make now unto you.
The verse begins, “Men, brethren, and fathers, hear you my defense ...” Luke began with the words, “Men, brethren” which means “human beings both male and female, fellow people of the same nation or national ancestors”, “and fathers” or “and ancestors, forefathers and founders of the nation”, “hear you my defense” which means “be endowed with the faculty for hearing, perceiving and understanding my, Paul's, reasoned statements and arguments of answering and clearing himself”. Luke shared how “Paul” beckoned the Jewish crowd of people who were gathered against him to listen to what he had to say.
The verse goes on to say, “... which I make now unto you.” Luke continued with the words, “ which I make now” which means “that I, Paul, present and make known” “unto you” or “toward you, Jewish people in the crowd”. Luke shared how “Paul” wanted the people to listen to the “arguments or defense” he made for himself toward them.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” wanted the people in the Jewish crowd to listen to his arguments of “defense” for himself. He appealed to them as “human beings, brothers and forefathers” as he began his speech, and asked them to listen to what he had to say for himself. “Paul” made himself to be “one of them” as he spoke to this multitude which he believed would give him audience with them. We shall see what he says and how they respond in our next few verses, but for now let us see the wisdom in “Paul's” words. “Paul” identified with them and made himself to be as one of their own, and he asked them to “listen” to him rather than demand they do so. God's desire is to reach every person through His Son Jesus, and when they submit to Him, He will forgive their sins, grant them everlasting life and use their background and experience to share His “gospel” with others. Those who are wise will carefully study “Paul's” words and ask the Lord into their life so He may use them to tell others about His “good news”.
Next time Luke shares, “when they heard that he spoke in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence”, 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".
No comments:
Post a Comment