Luke the beloved physician wrote how Paul continued to give defense for himself before a hostile Jewish crowd in Hebrew by saying, “when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance. And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get you quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive your testimony concerning me”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse nineteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul said, “I imprisoned and beat … them that believed on you” where we read:
And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on you:
The verse begins, “And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue ...” Luke began with the words, “and I said” which means “and I, Paul, uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “Lord” or “One to whom a person or thing belongs about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah”, “they know that I imprisoned” which means “the people in Jerusalem understand, are acquainted with and comprehend that I, Paul, truly and assuredly cast into prison and incarcerated” “and beat” or “and thrashed and smote” “in every synagogue” which means “within each, all, the whole and everyone of the sacred worship assembly of Jews who were formally gathered together to offer prayers and listen to the reading and expositions of the scriptures” the following people. Luke shared how “Paul” responded to the Lord Jesus by recounting his history of “imprisoning and beating” people who were according to the following.
The verse goes on to say, “them that believed on you:” Luke continued with the words, “them that believed” which means “the people both male and female who trusted in, relied upon, clung to and had confidence” “on you” or “in you, Lord Jesus”. Luke shared how “Paul” referred to the way he “beat and imprisoned” people who “believed and trusted” in Jesus.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul's” history remained with him even after he had received Jesus as his personal “Savior and Lord”. “Paul” answered the direction of the “trance” by remembering how he “smote and cast into prison” anyone who believed and trusted in Jesus. God saved “Paul” through His Son Jesus, however, “Paul” still was aware of his history. This indeed kept him humbled before the Lord who used him in spite of his past. God loves people, and He knows their need for salvation from the penalty of sins which is death, and He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of the world. Now anyone who “believes” on Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God, and those who are wise will yield themselves to Him regardless of what their past may be.
Next time Luke shares how Paul says, “when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death”, 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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