The beloved physician Luke wrote as Paul was making his defense before King Agrippa, he told him, “I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecute you me? it is hard for you to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom you persecute”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse sixteen of the book of Acts Luke shared Paul told King Agrippa the voice said, “I have appeared unto you for this purpose, to make you a minister” where we read:
But rise, and stand upon your feet: for I have appeared unto you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of these things which you have seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto you;
The verse begins, “But rise, and stand upon your feet: for I have appeared unto you for this purpose, ...” Luke began with the words, “but rise” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover get up and arise”, “and stand upon your feet” or “and be put in place, set and erect upon your physical feet”: “for I have appeared unto you” which means “because, since and on account that I, Jesus, have allowed myself to be seen by you Paul-Saul” “for this purpose” or “toward the following intention and reason”. Luke shared how “Paul” told “king Agrippa” that “Jesus” told him that he showed himself to him for the following reason.
The verse goes on to say, “... to make you a minister and a witness both of these things which you have seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto you;” Luke continued with the words, “to make you a minister” which means “to determine, appoint and choose that you, Paul, be a servant, subordinate and attendant” “and a witness” or “and one who bares record and testifies” “both of these things” which means “concerning the following acts and deeds” “which you have seen” or “that you, Paul, have observed, noticed and discerned”, “and of those things” which means “and pertaining to the acts and deeds” “in the which I will appear unto you” or “that I, Jesus, will allow you, Paul, to see and observe”. Luke shared how “Paul” told “king Agrippa” that “Jesus” told him he would be his “servant and attendant” who would bare witness about what he experienced and that which would be shown to him in the future.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” told “king Agrippa” that Jesus not only spoke to him, but He commissioned him as his “servant” and “witness” to the world. “Paul” was to tell everyone who would listen about his experience on the road to Damascus, and he would have more things revealed to him by Jesus to share as well. “Paul” was fulfilling his service to “Jesus” by telling “king Agrippa” about Him, and because God desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, He wants everyone to know about His gospel of salvation through His Son Jesus. “Paul” was changed and commissioned by Jesus into His service, and He is willing to do the same for every person who surrenders themselves to Him.
Next time Luke shares how Paul tells King Agrippa the voice said, “delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send you”, 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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