27 When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31 And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He enquired who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 35 And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, 36 for the mob of the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!”
POINTS OF INTEREST
- v28-29 There was no truth in the testimony of the Jews. They stated that Paul had bought Greeks into the temple, based on an assumption. How often do we trust our own understanding in situations instead of seeking God?
- It is interesting to see how the devil uses lies to try to hinder God’s work.
- v32 The plural used suggests that the commander would have taken at least two centurions and 200 soldiers with him.
- v35 Yet despite the large number of soldiers, they still had to carry Paul because the violence of the crowd was so severe.
- v36 I wonder how many of the crowd actually knew the original reason that Paul was being persecuted? Did they follow, or did all of them truly believe what the Jews from Asia said in v27-28?
submitted by Samantha Gregory
PRAYING IN FAITH
For Yourself
Pray for yourself that when there is confusion all around and the crowd is surging one way, that we might know God’s calm in the storm and have His wisdom to know whether to follow, or to choose not to.
For Your Five
Pray for your five that they might not believe lies told to them by others about God, His church and His people. Rather they might see His truth.
For Our Church
Pray for our church that we would spur each other on to God, love and good works. That as a church our hearts would be angered and broken for what angers and breaks God’s heart.