The beloved physician Luke wrote how he, Paul, and others with him were shipwrecked and swam to “the island” that “was called Melita. And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god. In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously”, and in chapter twenty-eight and verse eight of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux” where we read:
And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux:
to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
The verse begins, “And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux:” Luke began with the words, “And it came to pass” which means “and it happened and occurred”, “that the father of Publius” or “that the immediate male progenitor and ancestor belonging to Publius whose name means popular and was the chief magistrate of the island of Melita” “lay sick of a fever” which means “was lying down and prostrate besieged, pressed and constrained with an inflamed and fiery heat” “and of a bloody flux” or “and dysentery or a bowel ailment”. Luke shared how “Publius'” “father” was lying down sick with an elevated body temperature and dysentery.
The verse continues, “to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.” Luke added the words, “to whom Paul entered in” which means “Paul, whose name means small or little, went into the place where Publius' father was lying down”, “and prayed” or “and made orations, supplications and worship toward God”, “and laid his hands on him” which means “and placed or set his physical hands upon Publius' father”, “and healed him” or “and cured and made whole Publius' father”. Luke shared how “Paul” went into the place where “Publius' father” was lying down, “prayed”, put his hands upon him and cured him.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how he, as a physician, noted the sickness of “Publius' father”. However, he also mentioned that “Paul” did something about the “fever and dysentery” that was within “Publius' father's” body. “Paul” went to where he was lying down, made supplication to God, laid his physical hands upon him, and the father of “Publius” was restored to health. God would use this incident as a catalyst for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with the people on the island of Melita. God loves people, and His desire is to save them from the penalty of sins which is death by believing and trusting in His Son Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”. He will do physical miracles if necessary to demonstrate His power in the spiritual world, and anyone who yields to Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life in Heaven. Let all who consider this miracle surrender to Jesus who will make all who come to Him spiritually whole.
Next time Luke shares how, “others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed”, 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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