Luke the beloved physician wrote how he, Paul, and others with him were shipwrecked and swam to “the island” that “was called Melita”, “and after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux. And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days. And from there we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli. Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome. And from there, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage”, and in chapter twenty-eight and verse sixteen of the book of Acts Luke shared, “when we came to Rome … Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him” where we read:
And 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.
The verse begins, “And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard:” Luke began with the words, “and when we came to Rome” which means “and at the time and moment we, Luke, Paul and the others sailing with them arose and appeared in the city of Rome whose name means strength and was the famous capital of the ancient world”, “the centurion” or “the Roman officer named Julius who was over one hundred men” “delivered the prisoners” which means “gave up, committed and commended the other captives and ones bound in bonds” “to the captain of the guard” or “to the commander of a camp, army or military tribune who was known as the Praetorian prefect and commander of the praetorian cohorts”. Luke shared when he, Paul and the others arrived in “Rome”, Julius the “centurion” released them to the “commander of the captives” there.
The verse continues, “but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.” Luke added the words, “but Paul was suffered” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover Paul, whose name means small or little, was allowed and permitted” “to dwell by himself” or “to remain, abide, sojourn and tarry by his own self” “with a soldier that kept him” which means “alongside a common Roman soldier who guarded and watched over Paul”. Luke shared how “Paul” was allowed to abide on his own with a “Roman guard” who was specially assigned to him.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” finally made it to “Rome”, however, he was still to remain as a “prisoner or captive” under the watch of a “common Roman guard”. Even though “Paul” was God's choice to share the gospel with the people in “Rome”, it did not exempt him from being kept in a state of a prisoner. God desires to save people for all eternity, and when they surrender their lives to His Son Jesus, He will forgive their sins, grant them eternal life and use them in His Kingdom according to His purpose and plan. Those who are wise will see this “imprisonment” for “Paul” as God's advantage to spread His good news throughout the world.
Next time Luke shares, “after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together”, 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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