The beloved physician Luke wrote how King Agrippa told Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself. I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before you touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews. Especially because I know you to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech you to hear me patiently. My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews. Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straightest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse six of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul told King Agrippa, “I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers” where we read:
And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
The verse begins, “And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise ...” Luke began with the words, “and now I stand” which means “and at this present time I, Paul, am standing, fixed and established” “and am judged” or “and exist as determined, resolved, decreed and pronounced for an opinion concerning right and wrong” “for the hope of the promise” which means “because, since and on account of the joyful and confident expectation pertaining to the announcement of good and blessing” given to the following. Luke shared how “Paul” referred to his present condition which was to have an opinion decreed upon him according to right and wrong because of the “great expectation” given according to the following.
The verse goes on to say, “... made of God unto our fathers.” Luke continued with the words, “made of God” which means “arisen, appeared and come upon the stage by the Heavenly Father God”“unto our fathers” or “toward our, Paul and the Jewish people's, forefathers, ancestors and progenitors”. Luke shared how “Paul” referred to the “hopeful promise” Heavenly Father God declared to the forefathers of both he and the Jewish people.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” referred to his present condition of standing in “judgment” before “king Agrippa” because he was in “expectation” of the “promise” of “hope” given to the Jewish people by God Himself. “Paul” believed in the “hope” of a resurrection through belief and trust in Jesus Christ, and anyone who yields themselves to Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted eternal life with God in Heaven. Those who are wise will see the progression of this testimony of “Paul” and understand God was at work to share His gospel of salvation with every person who will open their hearts and minds to receive it.
Next time Luke shares how Paul tells King Agrippa, “which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come”, 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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