SATURDAY November 18, 2023
A Wrong Assumption
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?”
Acts 21:37-38
The Roman soldiers continued to protect Paul. They were just about to go into the barracks, when he asked the commander, “Excuse me, can you stop for one second? I would like to speak to you.” The commander was surprised because he heard Paul speak Greek. He was still trying to figure out who he was and what he had done.
The commander voiced his wrong assumption––a mistaken identity. Was Paul the Egyptian who had previously stirred up a rebellion? Was he the notorious leader of four thousand assassins? Josephus, a well-known historian, recorded the account of this uprising in his writings. Paul answered the commander, “No, that was not me.” He was not a leader of a rebellion; he was a leading theologian of the newly founded Christian Church.
The Apostles, disciples and Christ Himself were often portrayed as people they were not. Jesus was called a deceiver and a blasphemer (Matthew 26:65; Matthew 27:63). The disciples were accused of turning the world upside down and acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, as they pledged allegiance to another king––Jesus (Acts 17:6-7).
The Apostle Paul was called a plague, a creator of dissension, and a ringleader: For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes (Acts 24:5).
As Christians, know that some people will have in their minds a wrong assumption about who you really are. In these last days, you may be falsely accused of causing unrest in society, especially if you do not agree with certain rulings set by government officials, Presidents, or heads of state––kings. We cannot agree with anything contrary to the Word of God.
You will never go wrong obeying God.
~Charles Stanley~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
