Luke the beloved physician wrote as Paul was making his defense before King Agrippa, he told him, “I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse twenty of the book of Acts Luke shared Paul told King Agrippa how he, “showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem” where we read:
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.
The verse begins, “But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, ...” Luke began with the words, “but showed first unto them” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover brought tidings, proclaimed, made known openly and declared to the Jewish people” “of Damascus” or “in the city of Damascus whose name means silent is the sackcloth weaver and was one of the most ancient and most important cities of Syria lying in a most lovely and fertile plain at the eastern base of the Antilibanus”, “and at Jerusalem” which means “and within the city of Jerusalem whose name means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine”, “and throughout all the coasts” or “and unto each, every, the whole and everyone of the locations along the region with towns and villages which surround a metropolis” “of Judaea” which means “belonging to Judaea whose name means he shall be praised and was the southern portion of Palestine lying on this side of the Jordan and the Dead Sea, to distinguish it from Samaria, Galilee, Peraea, and Idumaea”. Luke shared how “Paul” told “king Agrippa” that he declared the good news of Jesus Christ first in the city of Damascus and then in Jerusalem and every coastal part of the region of “Judaea”.
The verse goes on to say, “... and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.” Luke continued with the words, “and then to the Gentiles” which means “and following the coastal regions toward the heathen, pagan and non-Jewish multitude of individuals of the same nature or genus”, “that they should repent” or “that the Gentiles were to change their minds for the better and heartily amend with abhorrence their past sins” “and turn to God” which means “and revert or convert toward the Heavenly Father God”, “and do works meet for repentance” or “and perform, make ready and produce acts and deeds having weight, befitting, congruous and corresponding to a change of mind, purpose and deeds”. Luke shared how “Paul” told “king Agrippa” that he went to the “heathen and pagan” “Gentile” people after sharing the gospel with the Jewish regions, and he told them they needed to “turn from their wicked ways toward God in Heaven” and to perform deeds that were befitting to their change of mind.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” told “king Agrippa” that he began to spread the message of Jesus to the Jewish people first and then toward the “Gentiles”. In other words, all people need to turn from their wicked ways and toward God through His Son Jesus Christ. “Paul” was mightily used by God to be His “witness”, and as he invited people to believe and trust in Jesus, he knew not only would their way of thinking change, but their actions would prove their belief and trust in Him. God loves everyone, and when they yield themselves to His Son Jesus, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. Those who are wise hear God's message and surrender themselves to Him and His ways.
Next time Luke shares how Paul tells King Agrippa, “For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple”, 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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