TUESDAY November 14, 2023
A Crowd in Confusion
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.)
Acts 21:27-29
Paul and those with him were in the Temple to give the usual offering at the end of their Nazarite vow. Jews who came from Asia recognized Paul. These Jews had previously followed him from city to city to try to kill him.
All of a sudden, in the midst of all these peaceful proceedings in the Temple, the Jews from Asia went crazy and stirred up trouble. The word stirred in the Vine’s Expository Dictionary means “to pour together, comingle,” hence (said of persons), means “to trouble or confuse, to stir up.” They began to shout for immediate help in expelling Paul from their place of worship. These Jews had jumped to conclusions. They presumed Paul had brought a Gentile into the Temple. Their false accusations caused a riot in the Temple. Any time there is a riot, there is a lot of confusion.
The accusations were serious. Understand, for a Gentile to come into the holy Temple meant death! Yet Paul had not brought this Greek man Trophimus into the Temple. It was a lie! This entire situation had only one true motive––the Jews hated Paul, and they wanted him dead. The people seized Paul and cast him out of the Temple. Even then, people in the crowd continued to beat him.
Satan is the author of confusion. He is also a liar. John 10:10 describes him as a thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy. In society, when you see confusion, lawlessness and murder, know that Satan is at work.
Religion will cost us the tears of repentance and the blood of persecution.
~Thomas Watson~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
