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Tag: Luke

  • Acts 14 Pursued through Lycaonia

    Acts 14 Pursued through Lycaonia

    Fleeing Persecution

    After having fled Pisidian Antioch, Roman capital of the Galatian district of Lycaonia, Barnabas and Paul must again go into hiding as they escape persecution in Iconium.

    Luke’s detailed account of Paul’s first missionary journey in Acts 14 shows us what will frequently take place in many cities throughout the world. His historic account of the Apostles provides background for understanding of the intense hatred of Jesus Christ by many unbelievers.

    Iconium – A Pattern of Persecution
    Iconium lies to east of Lake Egirdir on a plain bordered by the Taurus Mountains

    Acts 14: Fleeing Iconium

    5 And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers to mistreat and to stone them, they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region; and there they continued to proclaim the gospel.

    Lycaonia and the surrounding region

    route through Lycaonia
    A 21st c. satellite view of the plain east of the Taurus mountains.
    (A large man-made lake later provided irrigation to this arid region but would have been a river in earlier centuries.)

    Λυκαονία – Lycaonia

    Luke mentions that they fled to the cities of Lycaonia.. and the surrounding region. Although Lycaonia was also a city in the southern region of this district set on a plain near the Taurus Mountains, he names the next two cities where they will preach the gospel in addition to other more remote towns of Lycaonia.

    Lycaonia = "wolf land"

a region in Asia Minor, situated between Pisidia, Cilicia, Cappadocia, Galatia and Phrygia, whose chief towns were Derbe, Lystra and Iconium
metaph. of cruel, greedy, rapacious, destructive men 
- Source: BlueLetterBible.org.

    Barnabas and Paul will eventually enter Lystra where Luke records yet another miracle among the gentiles.

    περίχωρος – períchōros –

    • signifies “country round about,” Luk 8:37; “country about,” Luk 3:3, AV (RV, “region round about”)

    NOTE Luke’s Gospel mention of the Lord Jesus using this same reference also points to rejection of the Gospel.

    And all the people of the country G4066 of the Gerasenes 

    and G4066 the G4066 surrounding G4066 district G4066 asked Him [Jesus] to leave them, for they were gripped with great fear. And He got into a boat and returned.

    Gospel of Luke 8:37 LSB – Strong’s G4066 – perichōros

    Rejection of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

    “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,

    BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.

    HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,

    AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,

    TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,

    TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.”

    Gospel of Luke 4:18-19a - Jesus Christ quoting the prophet Isaiah 61
“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your [ears].” - The words of Jesus from Luke 4:21

    Acts of the Apostles

    And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

    But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

    – ACTS of the Apostles in Pisidian Antioch 13:49-50 KJV

    But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

    Acts of the Apostles 13:51 King James Version

    And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off G1621 the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. – Gospel of Mark 6:11 KJV

    And it came to pass in Iconium..

    ACTS 14:3-7 KJV

    Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

    But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,

    They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

    And there they preached the gospel.

    Acts 14:7 KJV

    “The one who listens to you listens to Me,

    and the one who rejects you rejects Me.

    And he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”

    Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ – Luke 10:16 LSB

    To be continued…

    NEXT: Lystra

  • Friends, Romans, Brothers: Lend me your ears

    Friends, Romans, Brothers: Lend me your ears

    Caesarea! a model of Roman incursion into all the world of the Mediterranean - a key port for Romans, a city where Cornelius, Philip, Peter, Paul and others brought the gospel

    An angel of the Lord summoned Jews from Joppa and Romans from Caesarea to hear Peter preach the Gospel for all.

    Acts 10: of Peter and the Romans in Caesarea 

    In case you missed it, Peter's Roman Centurion host has just bowed down to him when the Apostle approached the group of believers at his own home.
    Caesar’s Palace East welcomes PETRUS
    When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him.

    An angel brought Peter and a group of faithful Jews from Joppa at the invitation of their Roman occupiers. (What an odd scenario, it would seem.)

    The Roman Legion of the Italian Cohort, a highly regarded army of Caesar, has invited not only Peter to his home, but also many friends and family. This scene might look somewhat like a large home church and our host, Cornelius, recounts for all as witness what has recently taken place:

    So I ask, for what reason did you send for me?”

    Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining clothing, and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your charitable gifts have been remembered before God. Therefore send some men to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’ 

    How else would a Roman Legion know where to find a Jew from Galilee traveling in Judea?

    33 So I sent men to you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come.

    Now then, we are all here present before God to hear everything that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

    Let’s just set this amazing scene in context: A Roman leader of men who God has drawn to the salvation that comes from the Jews invited Simon Peter to preach! WE ARE ALL HERE PRESENT BEFORE GOD… It’s an expression of worship. Tell us what the Lord has commanded you.

    Peter’s previous witness of Roman faith

    Gospel of Luke 7:

    [Jesus in Capernaum] Now a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Him, asking Him to come and save the life of his slave..

    ..when He was not yet far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to enter under my roof; for that reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You; but just say the word, and my servant shall be healed.

    Simon Peter, a fisherman of Capernaum, certainly would have been with the Lord Jesus. And the humility of this centurion mirrors the faithful believer, Cornelius, who now bows down to Peter and then invites him to preach.

    Do YOU, my fellow 21st century believer, have trouble with Authority such as this? Listen to this and the Lord's response.

    “For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under myself; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

    Gospel of Luke 7:8 NASB20

    Now when Jesus heard this, He was amazed at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him,

    “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”

    Gospel of Luke 7:9 – the Messiah Jesus to Jews on the faith of these romans

    THE GOD of Every Nation

    Acts 10: of Peter preaching to the Romans at Caesarea

    34 Opening his mouth, Peter said:

    “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him.

    Acts 10:34-35 – Proclamation of Peter of the Gospel for Gentiles

    Two Acceptable Conditions to God

    Peter now speaks to ‘every nation’ – ethnos – not just Romans (who now rule the land). AND now certainly (according to Peter), not exclusively Jews.

    Jesus also uses this word frequently, sometimes translated, ‘gentiles,’ a very hebrew concept of unclean men separated from those circumcised by blood as holy to the Lord God.

    • the man who FEARS HIM [God]
      • φοβέω – phobeō
        • Do YOU FEAR GOD, my fellow follower of Christ Jesus?

    [Cornelius, a centurion was] a devout man and one who feared G5399 God with all his household, and made many charitable contributions to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually.

    Acts of the Apostles 10:2 NASB20
    • and does what is right..
      • ἐργάζομαι – ergazomai
      • δικαιοσύνη – dikaiosynē
        • “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness G1343, for they will be satisfied.
          • δικαιοσύνη dikaiosýnē, dik-ah-yos-oo’-nay; from G1342; equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification:—righteousness.

    θεός

    Peter uses a universal word from the greek for God: θεός – theos

    • God: θεός – theos is written over 1300 times in the NEW Testament
    • All of the Gospel writers use ‘God’ to describe the Lord God to gentiles
      • The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God G2316 – Mark 1:1
    • JESUS uses God: θεός – theos many many times.
      • “The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God G2316 remains on him.” – John 3:36
    • ACTS of the Apostles speaks of God: θεός more than any book of the Bible θεός – theh’-os 168x
      • “It is this Jesus whom God raised up, a fact to which we are all witnesses. – Acts 2:32 – Peter
    • The Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) use several words for ‘God,’ this similar to ēl – אֵל

    A Gospel History for Roman Brothers and Sisters

    36 The word [logos] which He sent [apostellō] to the sons of Israel [Ἰσραήλ “he shall be a prince of God”], preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord [κύριος – From kuros (supremacy)]of all)— 

    Peter points out first to these Jewish proselytes that GOD anointed Jesus as Lord of all.

    you yourselves know the thing that happened throughout Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

    The Apostle Simon Peter then confirms what many have already seen and heard in Jerusalem over these past months.

    “We are witnesses of all the things that He did both in the countryside of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross.

    Acts of the Apostles 10:39 NASB20

    “God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He [become visible] be revealed, not to all the people, but to witnesses who had been chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

    “And He ordered us to [proclaim] preach to the people, and to testify solemnly that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.

    Acts 10:42 NASB20 of the Apostle Peter
    Again, Peter preaches to these Romans who are jewish proselytes with some understanding of Scripture.

    “All the prophets testify of Him, that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

    Acts 10:43 NASB20

    Romans – (gentiles) BAPTIZED! (another sign)

    Atti 10:44-48 Il battesimo dei primi pagani (The baptism of the first pagans)

    While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. All the Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had also been poured out on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God.

    Sound familiar?
    Pentecost – a narrative of the fifty days fulfilled
    —we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty deeds of God.” – Acts 2:11b

    Leadership: Responding to the Spirit of God

    Then Peter responded,

    47 “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?”

    48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

    Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

    What a few days it must have been in Caesarea.. as Peter led these first Romans from baptism to go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ the risen Lord!

  • No Longer Paralyzed: Walking in Lydda

    No Longer Paralyzed: Walking in Lydda

    Lydda or Lod about halfway to the coast from Jerusalem is a place where Peter healed a paralyzed man
    Aeneas of Lydda: “I can walk!

    Paralyzed until Peter’s missionary journey

    What must it be like to be paralyzed, either from birth or as the result of a traumatic impact of this fragile flesh and bones at any time?

    We have seen paralyzed men many times in Scripture. And Simon Peter had met paralyzed or lame men at various times in his lifetime. For this Apostle, who by faith had walked on water when Jesus had called out to him from their boat, Peter certainly would have had great empathy for any person who could not walk on the many roads of Galilee, Samaria and Judea or the streets of Jerusalem.

    Luke has just shown us in Acts that now Peter and the Apostles are no longer confined to Jerusalem, but travel as missionaries for the Gospel of the risen Jesus throughout their beloved Israel.

    https://talkofjesus.com/acts-9-12-more-acts-of-peter/
    Acts 9:31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified.

    Acts on a Missionary Journey of Peter

    32 Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda.

    Acts of the Apostles 9:32 NKJV

    Please understand something of Simon’s mission from the Lord: Peter travels the same roads between the cities of his fellow Jews where the Apostle followed his Teacher and Lord, the Anointed One, Yeshua.

    Luke 22: Recalling the Lord’s Supper

    From the Hebrew Names Version of Luke's Gospel

    When the hour had come, he sat down with the twelve apostles..

    “I have earnestly desired to eat this Pesach with you before I suffer..

    .. “This is my body which is given for you.

    Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you..

    But you are those who have continued with me in my trials. I confer on you a kingdom, even as my Father conferred on me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom.

    You will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Yisra’el.”

    plain of Sharon Israel

    Πέτρος

    Petros in Lud

    Simon Peter’s journeys from the hills of Jerusalem bring him down to the plain of Sharon, which lead through Jewish towns approaching the Mediterranean ports controlled by Rome, like Joppa and Caesarea (from where they just sent Saul back to Tarsus).

    32 Now it came about that Kefa, passing through all the parts of Eretz Yisrael, came down also to Moshiach’s kadoshim dwelling in Lud. 

    Simon was given the name Peter by Jesus. The apostles name translates as "ROCK." (for more info about the Aramaic form, Kefa, click HERE)

Λύδδα - Lydda [lud'-dah] Lydda = "strife" - a town 9 miles (15 km) from Joppa, and is the first town on the northernmost of the two roads between that place and Jerusalem 

It's Hebrew name לֹד
lōḏ Lod = "travail" in the plain of Sharon in the territory of Benjamin was the head of a family of returning exiles from Babylon.
    Lydda or Lod about halfway to the coast from Jerusalem is a place where Peter healed a paralyzed man

    Aeneas of Lydda

    33 There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. And Peter said to him,

    “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.”

    Ἰησοῦς Χριστός ἰάομαι σύ

    JESUS CHRIST HEALS YOU

    Immediately he got up.

    Imagine that you are Aeneas, a paralyzed saint in Lydda who believes that Yeshua IS the Anointed One of Israel who IS risen from the grave after His horrific Blood Sacrifice on a Roman Cross in Jerusalem.

    And now, into your town of Lud on his way to Jaffa comes Simon Peter, who in Jerusalem had stood in the Temple with a man lame from birth clinging to his side as the Apostle preached to the crowds. Many witnesses have already passed through Lydda.

    Like the man who had clung to John and Peter, YOU are no longer paralyzed!

    So as the Apostle had done in the Temple, Peter continued to preach the gospel of Jesus the Christ to all in your town with you (Aeneas) as a sign of proof from God standing at his side.

    35 So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

    How about you? – Is YOUR faith paralyzed?

    Jesus and the Apostles had seen it many, many times. After some sign from God many came to follow the Lord, the Anointed One of the Father. They could not deny the powerful sign — the miracle of God; YET some remained paralyzed – confined to their failing flesh of this brief life even as they marvelled at men and women of faith in Jesus doing what only God could empower.

    We have all heard the amazing signs before, even as Peter or another Apostle or one of their many disciples came into our town.

    A Man Lowered Through a Roof

    Aeneas the paralyzed man may have heard of this man whose name we do not know and his faithful friends who we also do not know by name. YOU have heard the story of this great sign as Jesus taught to a houseful of those paralyzed in their faith.

From Luke's Gospel & also (Mat 9:2–8; Mar 2:1–12 )

Peter and the Apostles had been there..

    One day He was teaching, and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the Law sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea, and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing..

    .. because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus.

    “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.”

    .. Who can forgive sins, except God alone?” ..

    “Why are you thinking this way in your hearts? Which is easier, to say: ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”

    He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher, and go home.”

    Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your own bed.” Immediately he got up.

    ACTS 9:34 καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ ὁ Πέτρος Αἰνέα ἰᾶταί σε Ἰησοῦς Χριστός ἀνάστηθι καὶ στρῶσον σεαυτῷ καὶ εὐθέως ἀνέστη

    And immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.

    Gospel of Luke 5:25

    GET UP.

    Saul of Tarsus got up after he had seen the Lord Jesus. Apneas got up after the Apostle Peter commanded him in the Name of Jesus Christ.

    IMMEDIATELY he got up, Scripture records of those men like the paralytic on the mat before Jesus.

    So what keeps YOU from immediately wanting to TALK OF JESUS CHRIST to others?

    Please comment on this sign of healing in the name of Jesus Christ TODAY.

May grace, peace and the love of our Lord heal your frozen witness for the only Gospel which raises the paralyzed perishing soul.

Roger@TalkofJESUS.com

ACTS of the Apostle Peter: to be continued...