The beloved physician Luke 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 Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite you, you whited wall: for sit you to judge me after the law, and command me to be smitten contrary to the law? And they that stood by said, revile you God's high priest?”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse five of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul says, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest:” where we read:
Then said Paul, I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest:
for it is written, you shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.
The verse begins, “Then said Paul, I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest:” Luke began with the words, “then said Paul” which means “at that time Paul, whose name means small or little, uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “I did not know” or “I, Paul, was unaware, without knowledge and understanding”, “brethren” which refers to “fellow countrymen”, “that he was the high priest” which means “that the man to whom Paul spoke was the chief and principal priest”. Luke shared how “Paul” told the other members of the “Sanhedrin” that he was unaware that the man to whom he called a “whited wall” was the “chief priest” among them.
The verse goes on to say, “for it is written, you shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.” Luke continued with the words, “for it is written” which means “because, since and on account that the words are delineated and formed in letters on a tablet, parchment, paper or other material”, “you shall not speak evil” or “you, anyone, is not to utter or say wrong, improper or miserable things” “of the ruler” which means “about the commander, leader or chief” “of your people” or “belonging to your, Israel's, people both male and female”. Luke shared how “Paul” referred to the “written” word or law that commanded people not to say “wicked and improper things” against their spiritual leader.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” was aware of the “law” he violated by saying the “high priest” was a “whited wall” and that God would “smite” him. Even though “Paul” was being viciously tried for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, he knew the “law of God” and did not want to violate it. “Paul's” mission was to share the good news of God's salvation through His Son Jesus with anyone, and those who yield to Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. Those who attend to the law and mission of God should be inspired by the words and actions of “Paul”, and when they begin to understand God's purposes in these things, they will become more and more effective in their testimony of the gospel to others in the world.
Next time Luke shares how, “Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees”, 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