Luke the beloved physician wrote while Paul was making a defense himself before king Agrippa, “Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, you are beside yourself; much learning does make you mad. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knows of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse twenty-seven of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul asked, “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets?” where we read:
King Agrippa, believe you the prophets? I know that you believe.
The verse begins, “King Agrippa, believe you the prophets?” Luke began with the words, “King Agrippa” which refers to “leader, prince, commander and lord of the land Agrippa whose name means hero-like”, “believe you” or “do you not trust, have confidence in and rely upon” “the prophets” which means “the ones who were moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organs or spokesmen who solemnly declared to men what they received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation”? Luke shared how “Paul” questioned “king Agrippa” as to whether he trusted in and relied upon the “prophets”.
The verse continues, “I know that you believe.” Luke added the words, “I know” which means “I, Paul, perceive, notice, discover and discern” “that you believe” or “that you, king Agrippa, trust in, rely upon and cling to Jesus”. Luke shared how “Paul” told “king Agrippa” that he perceived that he trusted in and relied upon his words concerning Jesus Christ.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” went for his closing commitment from “king Agrippa”. There must have been something in the way “king Agrippa” was responding to “Paul's” words that made him confident that the “king” was a believer in Jesus. God wants all people to believe in His Son Jesus because Jesus died on the cross for the sins that separated people from a relationship with God. When a person submits to Jesus, they will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Those who are wise will put themselves in “king Agrippa's” place and ask the question, do I really believe?
Next time Luke shares how king Agrippa tells Paul, “almost you persuade me to be a Christian”, 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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