The beloved physician Luke 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”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse thirty-three of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains” where we read:
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.
The verse begins, “Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains;” Luke began with the words, “then the chief captain came near” which means “at that time the chiliarch or military commander of the Roman cohort arose and approached where the Jewish people were beating Paul”, “and took him” or “and seized Paul”, “and commanded him” which means “and ordered Paul” “to be bound with two chains” or “to be tied and fastened by using two fetters or manacles”. Luke shared how the “commander of the Roman cohort” approached where Paul was and ordered him to be restrained by using two “chain fetters”.
The verse goes on to say, “and demanded who he was, and what he had done.” Luke continued with the words, “and demanded who he was” which means “and inquired or asked who Paul was”, “and what he had done” or “and what act or deed Paul made ready, produced or performed”. Luke shared how the “chief captain” questioned the Jewish people as to who Paul was and what act or deed he performed.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “chief captain” went into action after arriving where the Jewish people were beating “Paul”. He ordered “Paul” to be seized with “two chains” and then began asking who he was and what deed or act Paul did that caused them react to him in this manner. The hostility of these Jewish people was intense, and it took someone with greater authority to stop their actions. This “commander of the Roman cohort” became “God's agent” for keeping “Paul” alive at this point in his life, and because God had a plan to continue sharing His gospel of salvation through “Paul”, God intervened. God loves people, and He has their “eternal destiny” in mind as He desires to have a personal relationship with them through His Son Jesus. Anyone who yields themselves to Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life in Heaven, and those who carefully study this story about “Paul” will see the hand of God inviting all people to be saved from their sins even when they encounter opposition and adversity.
Next time Luke shares how, “some cried one thing; some another, among the multitude”, 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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