The beloved physician Luke wrote how Paul began to give defense for himself before a hostile Jewish crowd in Hebrew by saying, “I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as you all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. As also the high priest does bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come near unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecute you me? And I answered, Who are you, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you persecute. And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spoke to me. And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told you of all things which are appointed for you to do. And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus. And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, ...”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse thirteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul said Ananias, “Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive your sight” where we read:
Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive your sight.
And the same hour I looked up upon him.
The verse begins, “Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive your sight.” Luke began with the words, “came unto me” which means “arose, appeared and came forth to me, Paul”, “and stood” or “and was standing”, “and said unto me” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “Brother Saul” or “fellow believer who is united to others by the bond of affection Saul, whose name means desired and is the Jewish name of Paul”, “receive your sight” which means “recover your, Paul's, vision and ability to see”. Luke shared how “Paul” told the Jewish crowd that “Ananias” came to where he was, stood before him, addressed him as a fellow believer by name and told him to “see” again.
The verse goes on to say, “And the same hour I looked up upon him.” Luke continued with the words, “and the same hour” which means “and the selfsame definite time” “I looked up upon him” or “I, Paul, received sight was able to see Ananias”. Luke shared how “Paul” said his vision was immediately restored after “Ananias” spoke to him.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” relayed the story of the recovery of his “sight” by way of “Ananias” coming to him. This indeed was a physical miracle of sight within “Paul's” eyes, and it became the spiritual miracle of “vision” that occurred within “Paul's” heart. When “Paul” met Jesus, He changed his life, and although “Paul” was going without spiritual vision against Jesus Christ, He now was traveling with Him. God loves people, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus. When they surrender themselves to Him, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life regardless of how much they have previously been against Him. Those who are wise will study carefully “Paul's” recovery of “sight” and understand God is willing to give “spiritual vision” to all who come to Him through His Son Jesus.
Next time Luke shares how Paul said Ananias told him, “the God of our fathers has chosen 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".
No comments:
Post a Comment