Acts
21:27 (MSG)
When the seven days of
their purification were nearly up, some Jews from around Ephesus spotted him in
the Temple. At once they turned the place upside-down. They grabbed Paul...
The violence depicted in
verse 27 brings to mind our culture now. Some of the Jewish people Paul
preached to, turned on him once again. This time it seemed as though he might
not survive the attack. This dangerous and frightening turn of events did not
stop Paul.
It is interesting that
the commander of the Roman army first arrested Paul and bound him with two
chains before asking him who he was. It would appear the crowd was so fierce
that even the Roman soldiers were cautious when dealing with this volatile
situation.
Acts 21:35 (MSG)
But when they got to the Temple steps, the mob became so
violent that the soldiers had to carry Paul.
Indeed, Satan was
prowling, for the last thing he wanted was for Paul to touch the hearts of the
Jewish people. We can expect no less when we step out and into the
mission field. We may not fear for our lives, but we can count on distractions
from our task.
Paul, prepared to make
the ultimate sacrifice, did not give up. Paul had already given up the life he
knew before and his career, now he would willingly give up his freedom - all
for the Gospel - the Good News of Jesus. Oh, for a heart like Paul's.
But when they got to the Temple steps, the mob became so violent that the soldiers had to carry Paul.
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