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. 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”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse twenty-four of the book of Acts Luke shared how Festus said, “Paul, you are beside yourself” where we read:
And as he spoke for himself, Festus said with a loud voice,
Paul, you are beside yourself; much learning does make you mad.
The verse begins, “And as he spoke for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, ...” Luke began with the words, “and as he spoke for himself” which means “and during the time Paul made a defense on behalf of his own self”, “Festus” whose name means “festival” and was “the successor of Felix as procurator of Judea” “said with a loud voice” which means “uttered, declared and proclaimed using a grand and powerful sound of uttered words”. Luke shared during the time “Paul” was making his defense before “king Agrippa”, “Festus” uttered with a powerful sound of words.
The verse goes on to say, “... Paul, you are beside yourself; much learning does make you mad.” Luke continued with the word, “Paul” whose name means “small or little”, “you are beside yourself” or “you, Paul, exist as mad, raving and as one who seems not to be in his right mind”; “much learning” which means “a large and abundant amount of gaining the knowledge of writings, documents and records” “does make you mad” or “has turned you toward madness and frenzy”. Luke shared how “Festus” told “Paul” he was not in his right mind because he had studied the writings, documents and records of the scriptures.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Festus” burst out with a “loud voice” and told “Paul” that he was insane or crazy because he “learned” so much from studying the scriptures. Of course, this was not the truth as “Paul's” life was changed by Jesus Christ who gave him the gospel to share with anyone who would listen to him. Jesus came to the world to die for the sins of all mankind, and anyone who believes and trusts in Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Those who are wise study the word of God, (See 2 Timothy 2:15) and put their faith and trust in Jesus who alone can provide them with eternal life in Heaven.
Next time Luke shares how Paul says, “I am not mad … but speak forth the words of truth and soberness”, 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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