Based on Acts 21:26 – 22:2 (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!’ Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, ‘May I speak to you?’ He replied, ‘Can you speak Greek? Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?’ But Paul said, ‘I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.’ So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying, ‘Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.’ And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent…”
We can see different things in this passage. One of the first things is that you have to be careful about getting carried away with the multitude. The vast majority of the time, they are being guided or even controlled by evil spiritual influences. We must always remember that, although God is God, and He is the One who rules all, He Himself has allowed for a limited time the prince of this world to have dominion over this temporal place. And unfortunately, the majority of this world is under his influence and dominion. We must also remember that not all people are children of God. The only way to become a child of God is when you receive Christ as Lord, as it is written: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” John 1:12. And the Word teaches this also: “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.” Ephesians 2:1-3. So, when a person has not yet submitted to the Lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ, they are unfortunately being guided and even dominated by the enemy. This is the truth, and that is why it is urgent to do God's will.
So, what is the will of God? We must be the difference in this world. We have the task of going against the world’s current, and never allowing ourselves to be influenced by the world and its beliefs. Because, even if we are believers in Christ, if we allow ourselves to be carried away by the world and its opinion, we are not doing the will of God, but on the contrary, we are following and doing the will of the enemy, and what do you think God says about that? Can a person find justification before God if they are choosing to let themselves be carried away by the world? Do you understand how serious it is to adopt popular ideas? This is what the Lord said: “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. ‘You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16. So, we who belong to the Lord are called to think, to meditate, and, above all, to act in accordance with what God says, for our own good, and for the good of those around us. Because if we are not salt and light in the world, if we are not the voices and actions of God's reasoning, how will those who are still lost be rescued, the same way that we were lost before coming to know Christ?
What else should we do? This is what God teaches: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.” Romans 13:1-7. “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1 Timoteo 2:1-6. I know that there are all kinds of rulers and authorities, but regardless of whether we agree with them or not, our duty before the Lord is to pray for everyone, and to do everything possible so that they also come to Christ, because each of us will give an account before God, and the only thing that should matter to us is His opinion of us individually, especially when that judgment comes. So, do you let yourself be led by the multitude, or by God? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!