Luke the beloved physician wrote, “when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. But when the Jews spoke against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain”, and in chapter twenty-eight and verse twenty-one of the book of Acts Luke shared how the Jews said to Paul, “We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning you” where we read:
And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning you,
neither any of the brethren that came showed or spoke any harm of you.
The verse begins, “And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning you,” Luke began with the words, “and they said unto him” which means “and the chief of the Jews who gathered to Paul uttered, declared and proclaimed to Paul”, “we neither received letters” or “we, Jewish chiefs did not at any time lay hold of, get or learn from writings or documents” “out of Judaea” which means “from the region of 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” “concerning you” or “about you, Paul”. Luke shared how the Jewish people who assembled with “Paul” in “Rome” told him they never “received” any “documents or writings “ about him from the region of “Judaea”.
The verse goes on to say, “neither any of the brethren that came showed or spoke any harm of you.” Luke continued with the words, “neither any of the brethren that came” which means “no and not one of the fellow Jews who arose and appeared” “showed or spoke” or “brought tidings, words or announcement or uttered, declared or proclaimed words concerning” “any harm of you” which means “some certain annoyance, hardship, peril, wickedness or bad pertaining to you, Paul”. Luke shared how the Jewish people said none of the fellow Jews who came to them uttered any peril, wickedness or bad against Paul.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the Jewish people who were gathered to Paul at his request were unaware of the charges brought against him. No one from the region of Judaea wrote to them or said anything about “Paul” being wicked or bad, and they were unaware of why he was a captive there in “Rome”. This was a situation where “Paul” thought they knew about him, but they were oblivious to his reason for being arrested. This would give “Paul” an opportunity to share with them his reason for being bound, and he would offer them an chance to believe and trust in Jesus in the manner he did. God's desire is for everyone to know about His salvation plan through His Son Jesus, and He sent Jesus to die for the sins of the world so anyone who believes and trusts in Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with Him. Let all who consider these words surrender themselves to Jesus who knew everything about “Paul” even when his fellow Jews did not.
Next time Luke shares how the Jews say to Paul, “we desire to hear of you what you think”, 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