The beloved physician Luke wrote as Paul was making his defense before King Agrippa, he told him, “I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision. But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse twenty-three of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul told King Agrippa, “that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead” where we read:
That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead,
and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
The verse begins, “That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, ...” Luke began with the words, “that Christ should suffer” which means “that the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God needed, was destined and subject to enduring pain and death”, “and that he should be the first” or “and that Christ, Jesus, was destined and ordained to be principal in rank, honor and influence” “that should rise from the dead” which means “who was destined and determined to be resurrected and aroused from the destitute of life, power, activity and inanimate”. Luke shared how “Paul” referred to the prophets and Moses' words concerning the “suffering” of the “Christ”, Jesus, who was to “suffer” death and be the first person resurrected from the dead.
The verse continues, “... and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.” Luke added the words, “and should show light which means “and was destined and to announce, declare, promulgate and make known publicly the truth and knowledge together with the spiritual purity associated with it ” “unto the people” or “toward the Jewish people”, “and to the Gentiles” which means “and toward the heathen, pagan and non-Jewish people”. Luke shared how “Paul” told “king Agrippa” that the “Christ” was to manifest true knowledge and purity to both the Jewish people and the “Gentiles”.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” told “king Agrippa” that the “prophets” and “Moses” spoke of the Messiah's suffering and being resurrected from the dead, and that the word of God's salvation through Him would be extended to the “Gentiles”. God's plan of the redemption of mankind has been in place since the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve sinned against Him and were cast out of the garden. (See Genesis 3:15). Jesus came to die on the cross for the sins of mankind, and when a person yields themselves to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. Those who are wise will carefully study the scriptures to find that “Paul” was speaking the truth concerning the “Messiah and Christ”, and those who surrender to Jesus align with God's plan to save people to live with Him forever.
Next time Luke shares how Festus says, “Paul, you are beside yourself;”, 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