The Word for Today with Ray

Saturday, April 29, 2023

Jews Stirring Up People Again - Acts 21:27

The beloved physician Luke wrote how the Jews in Jerusalem told Paul, “We have four men which have a vow on them. Them take, and purify yourself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning you, are nothing; but that you yourself also walk orderly, and keep the law. As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse twenty-seven of the book of Acts Luke shared what happened, “when the seven days were almost ended” where we read:

And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,

The verse begins, “And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when the seven days” which means “and at the time and moment the seven sunrises to sunsets” “were almost ended” or “were just about, intended and had in mind to be completed and finished”, “the Jews which were of Asia” which means “the people of the Jewish nation as respects to origin, birth or religion who were from Asia whose name means orient and was proconsular Asia embracing Mysia, Lydia, Phrygia, and Caria, corresponding closely to Turkey today”, “when they saw him in the temple” or “at the time and moment the Jewish people observed, noticed and discovered him, Paul, within the sacred worship place in Jerusalem” they did the following. Luke shared how the “seven days” of the “vow” were almost completed when the “Jewish people” noticed “Paul” inside the “temple” in Jerusalem.

The verse goes on to say, “... stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, ...” Luke continued with the words, “stirred up all the people” which means “disturbed, confounded and bewildered each, every, the whole and everyone of the human beings both male and female”, “and laid hands on him” or “and seized and grasped Paul”. Luke shared how the “Jewish people” “stirred up” the crowd who saw “Paul” in the “temple” and they “seized and accosted” him.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” attempted to comply with the instruction of “James and the elders in Jerusalem”, however, while he was fulfilling the “vow of purification”, the Jewish people observed him in the “temple”. This upset them, and they rushed upon him and put him under arrest. Sometimes no matter what a person does to appease others, they cannot be satisfied. God knew these things would happen to “Paul”, and He would use them to fulfill His purpose and plan for spreading the gospel throughout the world. Anyone who yields themselves to Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God, and regardless of how others view their dedication and commitment to Him, He will use them in His Kingdom to give others the opportunity to know His Son Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Luke shares how the Jews were, “Crying out, Men of Israel, help”, 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".

Paul Purifying Himself - Acts 21:26

Luke the beloved physician wrote how the Jews in Jerusalem told Paul, “We have four men which have a vow on them. Them take, and purify yourself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning you, are nothing; but that you yourself also walk orderly, and keep the law. As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse twenty-six of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple” where we read:

Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

The verse begins, “Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, ...” Luke began with the words, “then Paul” which means “at that time, therefore, wherefore, on this account and consequently Paul whose name means small or little” “took the men” or “acknowledged, accepted and received the male human beings”, “and the next day” which means “and the following sunrise to sunset” “purifying himself with them” or “ceremonially and morally cleansing his, Paul's, own self” “entered into the temple” which means “came into the sacred worship place in Jerusalem”. Luke shared how “Paul” received the “four men who had taken a vow”, and upon the day following the charge of James and the elders, they came into the sacred worship temple located in Jerusalem.

The verse continues, “... to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.” Luke added the words, “to signify the accomplishment” which means “to carry a message to, announce everywhere, publish abroad and declare the completing and fulfillment” “for the days of purification” or “apart and separated from the time of abstaining pertaining to ceremonial lustration and cleansing”, “until that an offering” which means “till the time that a sacrifice and oblation” “should be offered” or “be borne towards, lead to and tendered” “for every one of them” which means “on behalf of each, the whole, all and everyone of the men who had taken a vow”. Luke shared how “Paul” desired to publish abroad that he had taken the “vow” along with the other “four men”, and they continued in the temple until the time that a “sacrifice” was made for each of the men who vowed.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Paul” complied with “James and the elders in Jerusalem's” suggestion that he take a “vow” alongside “four men” among them. By doing so, he outwardly demonstrated that he was in alignment with the “Jewish law and customs”, and he remained in his vowed condition until a sacrifice was made upon all of the men who made the vow. God loves people, and when they have an opportunity not to offend others by keeping traditions or customs, as long as they do not go against the law of God, they should do so. Everyone who comes to Jesus will receive forgiveness for their sins and be granted everlasting life, and any time they have an opportunity to share Him with others, they should comply so as not to keep people from receiving the mercy and grace of God.

Next time Luke shares what happened, “when the seven days were almost ended”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Rules for the Gentiles - Acts 21:25

As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

The verse begins, “As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, ...” Luke began with the words, “as touching the Gentiles” which means “and concerning the non-Jewish people who were pagans and heathens” “which believe” or “who trust in, rely upon, cling to and have confidence in Jesus”, “we have written” which means “we, James and the elders in Jerusalem, have delineated or formed in letters a message, command or instructions” “and concluded that they observe” or “and decided, resolved, decreed and deemed that the Gentiles attend to, guard and carefully take care of” “no such thing” which means “not anything such as this kind or sort”. Luke shared how “James and the elders in Jerusalem” told “Paul” they concluded in a “letter” that the “Gentiles” did not have to “keep or carefully take care of” the law of Moses.

The verse goes on to say, “save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.” Luke continued with the words, “save only that they keep themselves” which means “except solely that the Gentiles guard, protect and preserve their own selves” “from things offered to idols” or “apart and separated from the animals or objects sacrificed and presented to false images or gods”, “and from blood” which means “and apart and separate from bloodshed, violence and murder”, “and from strangled” or “and apart and separated from things that are suffocated, smothered and deprived of life without the shedding of blood”, “and from fornication” which means “and apart and separated from illicit sexual intercourse, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals, etc”. Luke shared how “James and the elders in Jerusalem” repeated their earlier judgment concerning the “Gentile believers” concerning the “four” laws to which they were to obey – keep from things offered to idols, from blood or bloodshed, from eating animals that were strangled or smothered and from sexual sins.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “James and the elders in Jerusalem” decided that the “Gentile believers” were not to keep the entire “law of Moses” with the exception to the “four laws” they pronounced upon them in Acts chapter fifteen. God wants people to have a personal relationship with him through His Son Jesus, and when they yield themselves to Him, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. The “law” is meant to draw people to Jesus Christ, and when they come to Him, they are to obey the laws given to the “Gentiles” and understand that only by the grace of God does anyone come to Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Luke shares how, “Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Purify Yourself with Them - Acts 21:24

Luke the beloved physician wrote how, “Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had worked among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law. And they are informed of you, that you teach all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that you are come. Do therefore this that we say to you: We have four men which have a vow on them”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse twenty-four of the book of Acts Luke shared how the Jews told Paul, “take them, and purify yourself with them” where we read:

Them take, and purify yourself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning you, are nothing; but that you yourself also walk orderly, and keep the law.

The verse begins, “Them take, and purify yourself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads:” Luke began with the words, “them take” which means “join your own self to the four men who had a vow upon themselves”, “and purify yourself with them” or “and ceremonially and morally cleanse and sanctify your own self alongside the four men”, “and be at charges with them” which means “and be consumed, spent and with inner cost alongside the four men”, “that they may shave their heads” or “that the four men who made the vow cut all their hair off their physical heads with a razor”. Luke shared how “James and the elders in Jerusalem” told “Paul” to “cleanse” his own self by joining the “four men who had a vow” by shaving their “heads”.

The verse continues, “and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning you, are nothing;” Luke added the words, “and all may know” which means “and each, every, the whole and everyone of the Jewish people will perceive, understand and discern” “that those things” or “that the words spoken by Paul toward the Jewish people”, “whereof they were informed” which means “about which the Jewish people were orally instructed, apprised, indoctrinated and taught” “concerning you” or “about you, Paul”, “are nothing” which means “do not exist as one thing of value”. Luke shared how “James and the elders in Jerusalem” told “Paul” the “Jewish people” who heard about him teaching the “Jews” who lived among the Gentiles against the “law of Moses” would not regard it as true if he joined himself with the “four men who were taking a vow”.

Finally the verse says, “but that you yourself also walk orderly, and keep the law.” Luke ended this verse with the words, “but that you yourself also” or “except, notwithstanding, nonetheless and moreover you, Paul, your own self even so and indeed” “walk orderly” which means “march, direct and proceed in order, rank and row”, “and keep the law” or “and guard, care for and do not violate the rule producing a state approved of God”. Luke shared how “James and the elders in Jerusalem” said the “Jewish people” would see that “Paul” proceeds in “order” and observes the “law of God”.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “James and the elders in Jerusalem” handled the situation with “Paul” and the “Jewish people” who thought he was instructing the “Jews” among the “Gentiles” against them. “Four men” were taking a “vow” among the “elders in Jerusalem”, and if “Paul” joined them by shaving his head, the “Jewish people” who were against him would understand that he was not against the “Jewish law” but actually conducted himself in an “orderly” way by “keeping Moses' law”. God knew all these things would happen to “Paul”, and because He desires to have a personal relationship with every person, He sent Jesus to die on the cross to pay the price of death for their sins. Anyone who surrenders their life to Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God, and those who are wise will consider the Lord's work in and through “Paul” and desire to have Him work in their life as well.

Next time Luke shares how the Jews tell Paul that the Gentiles should, “keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…