Luke the beloved physician wrote while Paul was making a defense himself, and he, “spoke for himself, 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. King Agrippa, believe you the prophets? I know that you believe. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost you persuade me to be a Christian”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse twenty-nine of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul told king Agrippa, “I would to God, that not only you, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am” where we read:
And Paul said, I would to God, that not only you, but also all that hear me this day,
were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
The verse begins, “And Paul said, I would to God, that not only you, but also all that hear me this day, ...” Luke began with the words, “and Paul said” which means “and Paul, whose name means small or little, uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “I would to God” or “I, Paul, wish and pray to the Heavenly Father God”, “that not only you” which means “that no and in no way solely you, king Agrippa, alone”, “but also all that hear me this day” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover even so and indeed each, every, the whole and everyone who is endowed with the faculty of hearing, perceiving and understanding me, Paul, upon this particular sunrise to sunset” were as follows. Luke shared how “Paul” told “king Agrippa” that he wished and prayed that not only he, but also every person who was able to perceive and understand what he was saying would exist as follows.
The verse continues, “... were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.” Luke added the words, “were both almost” which means “were even so and indeed along with”, “and altogether” or “and wholly and entirely” “such as I am” which means “like and of the sort in which I, Paul, exist”, “except these bonds” or “with the exception or besides the bands, shackles or chains”. Luke shared how “Paul” said he desired for everyone who listened to him that day to be fully like him in their commitment to Jesus, however, he did not wish upon them the bands and chains he was wearing.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how passionate “Paul” was for “every person” to be a believer in Jesus. He did not want people to be “bound” as he was, but he knew their eternal destinies depended upon their belief and trust in Jesus. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”, (See John 3:16), and when a person yields to Him, they will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. “Paul” wanted every person who heard his words to be a believer in Jesus, and so it is with God Almighty the Heavenly Father.
Next time Luke shares how, “the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them”, 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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