Misleading Accusation

Acts 21:27-32 

27 When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.” 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)

30 The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. 31 While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

Rejected Offering

In Genesis 4:3-8, In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

Why did Cain kill Abel? Was Cain furious because God preferred Abel’s offering? Cain was the first one who brought an offering to God. Abel offered his offerings, too. God rejected Cain’s offering and favored Abel’s offering. Did Cain think that if Abel did not offer something better, would God have accepted his offering? Did Cain accused Abel’s was the reason God rejected his offering?

Have you been accused of something and you know nothing about it? Have you been blamed or charged wrongfully? Paul was wrongfully accused for no valid reason. Why do faithful servants of God, like Paul, experience persecution?

In Acts 9:15-16, 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

When the Lord declared it, it will surely happen because He is the truth. Whatever Christ says, it will come to pass. When the Lord said remember, our limited human mind will fail to remember. In John 15:20, 20 Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

The Lord commanded that we should remember His word. He told the disciples that disciples will be persecuted, too. As Christ disciples, we cannot escape persecution. Christ declared it and it will certainly happen. Seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit. He will produce joy and peace even in the midst of persecution.

1.  Persecute

27 When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.” 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.) 30 The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. 

When Paul was persecuted, he felt the pain but did not complain. He did not question God’s plan like: “Lord, I have served you faithfully. Is this the reward of faithful service?” Paul never said that because he experienced the sufficiency of God’s grace for him. Paul wrote about his sufferings in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27, 23 … I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

Paul bore the marks of persecutions. The mark of persecution is the mark of a genuine disciple. Did Paul enjoy persecution that he boasted about it? Did Paul ask God to spare him from further persecution? In 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, 7Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 

Chapter 12 is not separate but related to chapter 11. What was the thorn in flesh that Paul pleaded to be taken it away? Bible students think that it’s something about his physical struggle or struggle about sin. It could not be sin because Paul said in the same letter in 2 Corinthians 5:21, 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

If Paul believed that he is righteous before God, could the persecution that the Lord has declared that Paul would suffer was the thorn he was pleading to be taken. In 2 Corinthians 12:10, 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Some scholars consider that the weakness of Paul was his boring-kind-of-preacher in which he might have been insulted when compared to other eloquent preachers like Apollos. Moreover, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties could point to the Lord’s declaration that Paul would suffer for Him.

Only by God’s grace that we delight in persecution. If you rearrange the word “persecute,” it can be “Cute per se” or persecute is cute in itself. With persecution, a disciple grows. With persecution, disciples expect His protection.

2. Protect

31 While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

Here is one example that God has good reasons of establishing authorities who are not necessarily believers. The Bible teaches us that all authorities are established by God. We don not necessarily agree with it because we cannot understand His plan. Authorities approved by God are His agents to pursue justice or protection of believers, too. In Romans 13:4-5, For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

Oppositions think that elected leaders are not qualified. When people don’t trust elected officials, it doesn’t mean that they are not established by God. God has good purposes for elected officials. Christians should to pray for them instead. We benefit when rulers and authorities do things according to the plan of God.

In 1 Timothy 2:1-4, I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

…Let’s keep praying for authorities, especially for this coming election.

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