Luke the beloved physician shared how Paul continued to give defense for himself before a hostile Jewish crowd in Hebrew, and after doing so, the multitude, “lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live. And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air, the chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him. And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse twenty-six of the book of Acts Luke shared how the centurion told the chief captain, “take heed what you do” where we read:
When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying,
Take heed what you do: for this man is a Roman.
The verse begins, “When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, ...” Luke began with the words, “when the centurion heard that” which means “at the time and moment the Roman commander over one hundred men was endowed with the faculty for hearing, perceiving and understanding Paul's words about scourging a Roman man who had no trial”, “he went and told the chief captain” or “the Roman centurion left and departed from Paul and brought tidings, word and open declaration to the chiliarch or commander of a Roman cohort”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming” the following words. Luke shared how the “Roman centurion” told the “Roman commander” what “Paul” said about being a “Roman” who was about to be beaten without having a trial in violation to the “law”.
The verse continues, “... Take heed what you do: for this man is a Roman.” Luke added the words, “take heed what you do” which means “beware, take care and perceive that which you, chief captain, make ready, perform and produce”: “for this man is a Roman” or “because, since and on account that this man, Paul, exist as an inhabitant or citizen of Rome”. Luke shared how the “Roman centurion” told the “chief captain” to be “careful” as to what he did with “Paul” because he was a citizen of “Rome”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul's” message about being an untried “Roman citizen” had it's influence with the “Roman centurion”. As soon as he knew it, the “Roman centurion” went to warn the “chief captain”. There would be a great price to pay for anyone who violated the “Roman law”, so this information was crucial to every “Roman” involved. God's desire is to have a loving personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when they submit to Him, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. The “Roman law” would preserve “Paul” at this point in his life, but let us remember, God was preserving His apostle because the world needed to know His “salvation” plan.
Next time Luke shares how the chief captain asks Paul, “tell me, are you a Roman?”, 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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