The beloved physician Luke wrote, “when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, And desired favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him. But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly there. Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him”, and in chapter twenty-five and verse six of the book of Acts Luke shared when Festus, “tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea”, where we read:
And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea;
and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.
The verse begins, “And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea;” Luke began with the words, “and when he had tarried among them” which means “and at the time and moment he, Festus, spent and passed time or continued with the Jewish people in Jerusalem”, “more than ten days” or “for a greater number than ten sunrises to sunsets”, “he went down to Caesarea” which means “Festus descended to the city Caesarea whose name means severed and was of Palestine was built near the Mediterranean by Herod the Great on the site of Strabo's Tower, between Joppa and Dora”. Luke shared how “Festus” remained with the Jewish people in Jerusalem for a little more than “ten days” and then descended to “Caesarea” just as he previously said he would do.
The verse continues, “and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.” Luke added the words, “and the next day” which means “and the following sunrise to sunset after Festus arrived in Caesarea” “sitting on the judgment seat” or “being seated, fixed and established upon the official throne or tribunal of a judge” “commanded Paul to be brought” which means “ordered and bid Paul, whose name means small or little, to be led, accompanied and conducted to where he was seated”. Luke shared how “Festus” ordered “Paul” to be led to where he was seated upon the official throne of a judge.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Festus” delayed going to “Caesarea” for over “ten days”, and he remained with the Jewish people while he stayed in Jerusalem. When he arrived in “Caesarea”, the following day he sat upon the judgment throne and ordered “Paul” to be led to where he was. Let us be mindful that this appeared to be yet another delay in God's plan for “Paul”, yet everything was according to His timing for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. God loves people, and His desire, regardless of how often it is delayed, is to present the good news of “salvation” through His Son Jesus to everyone who will believe and trust in Him as their “Savior and Lord”. Let all who read these words understand now is the right time to come to Jesus and receive Him to be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with His Father God.
Next time Luke shares how the Jews, “laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.”, 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