First Light Of Wisdom

And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak?

Three especially different lights or illuminations are singled out for us. Mind you, they are not being ejected out from the whole configuration. To attempt to do such an act, will be wrong and sure to make great mischief and incur the Lord’s wrath. These are being highlighted, pointed out and discussed, for our immediate enlightening and instant change of mind. As a brightly shining light, brought into a completely dark and dim room, totally, immediately and fully dispels all its darkness, so too is this Word, to our darkness, whatever and however that darkness may be.

The first especially different light of illumination.

 And they took him and brought him.

Two action words stand out before us. They are the words, took and brought. The philosophers took Paul. How can they take Paul? Did they catch him with a net-type contraption? Did they arrest him, placing him in shackles? Did they chloroform him, making him unconscious, to be able to take him? Did they bribe him to get him to follow them? Nothing of the sort! We are being shown this taking, in like manner and understanding as with a party. I took Jack to the party with me. They took Paul with them. There was mutuality, amicability and willingness on the part of Paul.

When the Word of God takes us, the same must be our response. We are not just taken, but we freely, willingly and happily give our hearts, minds and strength to Jesus.

Ply on further and note that the word took, does not stand alone. They took, and brought. Now is this not stunningly brilliant? Who, but Jesus, our Light for all darkness, has reeled out this revelation to us? Earlier, we were made aware of how perfectly accessible the synagogue and the market places were to Paul. No one had to bring him there. But here, most interestingly I say, we are being encouraged to notice that the scholarly thinkers of the day, took and brought Paul to their high place.

When the Word of God, brings us, the same must be our understanding. The illuminating Word never takes us without bringing us, presenting us as it were, to His higher ground, to His wise place. Our Lord does not leave us as we are, for we believe, by faith and know in our living that His expressed desire is for us to grow daily in wisdom and in truth, and in favour with God and others.

When this is our life’s testimony, then we become presenters of the Living, Active, Fruit-bearing Word – Jesus Christ - Crucified and Risen and Present.