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in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n We need to submissively serve God wherever He leads us.<\/p>\n The word translated \u201csigns<\/span>\u201d is the Greek word semeion<\/em><\/span>, which means \u201ca wondrous public sign or token with a spiritual meaning and purpose.\u201d It implies that the miracle has God\u2019s finger prints all over it; that is, it is an amazing miracle which draws people\u2019s attention to God.<\/p>\n \u201cWonders<\/span>\u201d is from the Greek noun teras<\/em><\/span>. This is a derivative of the verb tere\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto watch, implying that, due to its extraordinary character, the thing observed causes amazement and wonder and is long remembered as a result.\u201d<\/p>\n The Greek word translated \u201cround about<\/span>\u201d is kukl<\/em><\/span><\/em>\u014d<\/em>, which refers to \u201ca ring or a circle.\u201d Metaphorically, it refers to an entire region.<\/p>\n In the previous two verses Paul confessed that he has reason to boast about what had been done in Christ Jesus through his own submission to God\u2019s will and his own commitment to do whatever God directed him to do. His boasting, you will remember, was not in himself but in what God had done through him. He further clarified this idea by stating that he was not taking any credit for what others had done, only what had been done through him.<\/p>\n In the current verse Paul carries this even further by pointing out that what was done through him was not from his own efforts or his own brilliance. Rather, Paul cites the fact that it was through powerful miracles and wonders done in the power of the Spirit of God that his work was accomplished. The two words here translated as \u201cmiracles and wonders\u201d are often associated together in the New Testament. They do not refer to two different kinds of miracles but to two different aspects of these miracles.<\/p>\n In the second half of this verse, Paul proclaims that he has preached the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ from Jerusalem to Illyricum. What he means is that he has preached the gospel in all regions, from Jerusalem, the center and origin of the Christian faith, all the way to Illyricum. Illyricum is the area west of the Black Sea and north of Greece. If you follow Paul\u2019s three missionary journeys you will see that he had, indeed, preached all around from Jerusalem to Illyricum.<\/p>\n I think Paul\u2019s point is, as I said earlier, that he has been submissive and obedient to God\u2019s call and has been faithful in preaching the gospel wherever God has called him, which included much of the known world of his time.<\/p>\n Are you willing to go wherever God calls you, and are you prepared to witness the grace of God to those around you wherever that may be? Are you willing to leave your comfort zone, your family and friends and go somewhere unknown to serve Him? Are you willing to give your all to serve Him where you are? Or, are you too comfortable with what you\u2019re doing right where you are? God doesn\u2019t reward comfort, He rewards submissive sacrificial service that glorifies Him!<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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