The beloved physician Luke wrote how Paul told Felix the governor, “Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day. And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse twenty-three of the book of Acts Luke shared how Felix, “commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty”, where we read:
And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty,
and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.
The verse begins, “And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, ...” Luke began with the words, “and he commanded a centurion” which means “and he, Felix, ordered a captain of one hundred men” “to keep Paul” or “to attend to, take care of, watch and guard over Paul, whose name means small or little”, “and to let him have liberty” which means “and to allow and permit Paul to possess a more tolerable or less vigorous condition in captivity”. Luke shared how “Felix” ordered a “centurion” of the Roman army to watch over “Paul” and allow him to be in a more tolerable condition while he remained in captivity.
The verse continues, “... and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.” Luke added the words, “and that he should forbid” which means “and that the centurion was to hinder, prevent or deny” “none of his acquaintance to minister” or “not any of Paul's friends or known ones to serve and render services” “or come unto him” which means “or arise and appear before Paul”. Luke shared how “Felix” told the centurion who was to watch over “Paul” not to resist any of the people “Paul” knew to serve or visit him while he was in custody.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Felix” set a watch over “Paul” while he was awaiting his trial. “Paul” was merely accused of a crime at this point, and although he was not totally free to travel, his friends and others he knew were able to visit and serve him. God was observing “Paul”, and his time in custody would serve to allow him to share the gospel of Jesus Christ over and over again. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life” (See John 3:16), and for this reason, though he was locked up, “Paul” would share the good news of Jesus Christ regardless of where he was or who was watching over him.
Next time Luke shares what happened, “after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla”, 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