Luke the beloved physician wrote how Paul's nephew told the chief captain, “The Jews have agreed to desire you that you would bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly. But do not you yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from you. So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See you tell no man that you have showed these things to me. And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse twenty-four of the book of Acts Luke shared how the chief captain said, “provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on” where we read:
And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.
The verse begins, “And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, ...” Luke began with the words, “and provide them beasts” which means “and stand ready and present four legged animals”, “that they may set Paul on” or “so the Roman soldiers or warriors may put, place and establish Paul, whose name means small or little, upon them”. Luke shared how the “chief captain” also ordered “four legged animals” for “Paul” to ride upon.
The verse continues, “... and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.” Luke added the words, “and bring him safe” which means “and carry, lead or bring forth Paul in a free from danger state” “unto Felix the governor” or “to Felix the prefect, president, chief, commander or sovereign whose name means happy and was a Roman procurator of Judea appointed by the emperor Claudius in A.D. 53. He ruled the province in a mean, cruel, and profligate manner. His period of office was full of troubles and seditions”. Luke shared how the “chief captain” ordered “Paul” to be led safely to “Felix” who was the Roman prefect and procurator of Judea.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “chief captain” desired to fully preserve “Paul” from any attack while he was taken to “Felix the governor”. The more than forty men who took on a “curse” to not eat or drink until they killed “Paul” were going to have a very difficult time gaining access to him as he sat upon a horse or donkey and rode in the midst of this vast group of military personnel who were present to protect him. God told “Paul” he would testify in Rome in the same manner as he did in Jerusalem, and this military escort would be a part of his assurance to make his appointment. God loves people, and His message of salvation was to be spread throughout the world. God sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of the world, and everyone who believes and trusts in Him as their “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with Him. Those who are wise will carefully study this protective force over “Paul” and understand God was at work preserving His message of salvation to the world.
Next time Luke shares how the chief captain, “wrote a letter after this manner”, 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