Luke the beloved physician 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 in chapter twenty-two and verse eleven of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul told what happened when he, “could not see for the glory of that light” where we read:
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.
The verse begins, “And when I could not see for the glory of that light, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when I could not see” which means “and at the time and moment I, Paul, was unable and incapable of observing fixedly, discerning clearly, beholding, gazing or looking” “for the glory” or “because and on account of the splendor and brightness” “of that light” which means “belonging to that brilliant illumination”. Luke shared how “Paul” referred to what he did after he was “blinded” by the brilliance and splendor of the “light”.
The verse goes on to say, “... being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.” Luke continued with the words, “being led by the hand” which means “being guided by way of the physical hands” “of them that were with me” or “of the men who were traveling with Paul”, “I came to Damascus” or “I, Paul, arose and appeared in the city of Damascus which means silent is the sackcloth weaver and was one of the most ancient and important cities of Syria lying in a lovely and fertile plain at the eastern base of the Antilibanus”. Luke shared how “Paul” was “guided” into the city of Damascus by the physical hands of the men who were traveling with him.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “brilliant light” blinded “Paul” so that he was unable to “see”. He had to be “guided” into the city of “Damascus” by the hands of the men who were journeying with him. What an amazing interruption and diversion to their original plan this was. God knew their intent, and He changed not only their direction, but also the “heart” of their leader, “Paul”, who was the driving force behind their efforts. When people have a personal encounter with “Jesus”, their lives change, and the purposes and plans they once followed are altered. God loves every person, and He knows the thoughts and intents of their hearts. When they align with Him through His Son Jesus, they follow in His plan for their lives. Until then they travel, think and go wherever their own hearts and minds decide.
Next time Luke shares how Paul tells about, “one Ananias … had a good report of all the Jews”, 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