Based on Acts 21:26-36 (New King James Version)
Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them. Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, crying out, ‘Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.’ (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut. Now as they were seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. Then the commander came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done. And some among the multitude cried one thing and some another. So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks. When he reached the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob. For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, ‘Away with him!’”
What wrong had Paul done so that he could be treated this way? If we see what the Scriptures tell of him, we will read that he did nothing wrong, but actually quite the contrary. Paul looked for everybody’s eternal good. That turned into his life’s mission, because of his love for Christ, and when he came to know Christ. So then, why was there so much wrath, so much anger, and the desire for him to die? Why would people desire so much evil against him when he was only looking to do good to them?
This unfortunately is nothing new, and the Lord himself taught us that moments like these would happen. He himself taught this: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, tor theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12. So then, not everyone will react well to what is good, and ironically enough, even those that called themselves believers and religious. They will not react well unfortunately when it has to do with God and with the things that truly belong to Him. It sounds ironic, but it’s true. Not everyone in the world likes God. How can I affirm this? Well, what evil did the Lord do while He was here on earth so that He could sent to Calvary? For what sin did they kill him, for feeding the multitudes, for healing the sick, for freeing the possessed, for raising the dead, for teaching of the kingdom of God, for teaching us how to obtain eternal life? Despite all of that, they killed Him, and in the cruelest of ways. This is what the Scriptures tell us: “Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, ‘Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?’ For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, ‘Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.’” Matthew 27:15-18. Something so simple as envy was the precursor for the Lord’s death, something that He could do nothing about, a feeling that was plainly the responsibility of the person that felt it, because the Lord had done no wrong. Actually, quite the contrary, He did the Father’s will, and also, He behaved as the good God He is. Jesus was (and is) God. That was His sin, per se. Whether it is because of envy or because of any other evil feeling, something inside of some people that is completely out of our control, and even out of God’s control, will be what will provoke events like these that will even provoke the death of those that look to do God’s will.
Now then, this persecution that may occur is something we may have to endure, but it is part of the price for following the Lord. Paul knew of this price, and he was willing to pay it because he considered what the Lord Himself did for him, which He did for each of us also. God the father sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die for us, so that we by faith in Him, because of His sacrifice, could have the hope of eternal life. This is what Paul considered worthy enough to even die for. And this is what others encourage us through the Word to do: “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.” Hebrews 13:12-14. Quite simply, those of us that have decided to follow Christ do not belong in this place. This temporary world cannot be our goal, but rather, the world that is to come, the eternal one, the perfect place that God has prepared for those that love Him and that are willing to endure whatever it takes for His Person, that should be our focus. Just as the Lord said: “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33. We should always think about this: God is always watching, and that our intentions and actions will define our eternity when we stand before His Holy Throne, the One that no one can avoid.
So, what should we do meanwhile as followers of Christ? We should continue forward with whatever God puts before us, knowing that there are eternal rewards reserved for us. But also, we cannot allow ourselves to be influenced by the mob, and by the evil influences in this world. If we see this passage carefully, the unrest of the multitude occurred because some Jews from Asia created the issue. A person will support evil things if they allow themselves to be guided by the flesh, by not putting their eyes on the things of God. Today, there are many so-called believers that support many evil things because they simply allow themselves to be influenced by evil, and like that, they support Satan and the sin that dwells within them rather than supporting God. We see this example in Peter when he let himself be overtaken by the flesh: “But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 16:23-25. And so, we must pursue God’s truth, no matter what happens. And we must also be very careful with becoming part of the multitude that is in the wrong (because that happens quite easily), because this is what the Word says also:“who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:32. So then, are you willing to endure persecution and tribulation for the Onethat gave it all, without any kind of obligation, for you? Lord bless! John