The Book of Acts: Discipleship In Action Pt. 100 Rioting Against The Gospel. God Intervenes

Jews riot against Paul by making false accusations. 

Acts 21:27-29  And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, 28)  Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. 29)  (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) 

Jews from Asia pursued Paul with the most deliberate and persevering malice in every place. They were the source of false reports about Paul's ministry that were circulated through Jerusalem.

As they recognized an Ephesian named Trophimus, this means that these Asian Jews were from Ephesus. Jews in that city were very resistant toward the gospel of Jesus Christ that Paul preached (See Acts 19).

The Asian Jews "saw" Paul in the temple because they were waiting and watching for an opportunity to do him harm. 

They stirred up all who were in the Temple by creating instant turmoil and confusion. They learned this tactic by observing how the silversmith Demetrius instigated a riot against Paul in Ephesus (Acts 19:31-32). 

They "laid hands" on Paul which is a nautical term referring to waves beating strongly against a ship. In this case, they rushed upon Paul with violence, as they would subdue a criminal. 

It was a premeditated rush to judgment designed to result in Paul being stoned to death. But God had other plans for Paul, as we shall see. 

They made four false accusations against Paul.  His teaching was against the Jews, against the law and against the Temple.  They asserted that he brought an uncircumcised Greek into the Temple, thereby defiling the holy place. 

The Jews intended to kill Paul but God intervened. 

Acts 21:30-32  And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. 31)  And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32)  Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.  

They tumultuously seized Paul and drew him out of the temple, out of the court of the Israelites, where he was worshipping. The doors of the court of the Gentiles were shut to prevent Paul from getting any help from his friends in the city. All these proceedings show that they intended to murder Paul. 

The riotous Jews brought him out of the court of the Israelites because that was considered holy, so that it might not be defiled by his blood. They shut the court of the Gentiles, that they would have the opportunity of killing him in that place.

God had a man in place to deal with Paul's perilous predicament. A garrison of 1,000 Roman soldiers was stationed in Jerusalem.  

The living quarters of the band of Roman soldiers was positioned to look down upon the Temple precinct it joined to the same wall. 

News rapidly reached a Roman chief captain and he quickly sprang into action. The word "immediately" means with the utmost speed, no hesitation. Two or more centurions commanding 100 soldiers each, raced down the steps and forced their way into the melee. 

The Jews stopped beating Paul as soon as they saw the Roman soldiers bearing down on them with great force. They were going to keep beating Paul until he was dead, but God intervened and protected His apostle. 

The chief captain could not determine the reason for the uproar.

Acts 21:33,34  Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done. 34)  And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. 

The chief captain ran right over to Paul and commanded him to be bound. He also demanded of the Jews what Paul had done. Just like the riot at Ephesus, no one could give a clear, logical accusation against Paul. 

The chief captain Lysias, was unable to determine what caused the riot so he directed his soldiers to take Paul into the fortress. 

The Jews demanded Paul to suffer the same fate as Christ. 

Acts 21:35,36  And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people. 36)  For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him. 

This is not the first time that a mob of violent Jewish religious leaders cried out "Away with him" for they did the same thing to the Lord Jesus Christ (See Luke 23:18; John 19:15). They demanded that the Roman's kill Paul. 

Paul's heart and trust in Christ on full display. 

2 Timothy 4:17  Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 

Later on in his life, Paul wrote to young pastor Timothy to give him final instructions and encouragement to remain faithful to the ministry and to uphold sound doctrine.

Paul had to appeal to Rome because the Jews were plotting to kill him. Isolated from his Christian friends and helpless, Paul reminded Timothy that the Lord stood by him. 

Certainly this was the case as Lysias came to rescue Paul from the Jews. When all human help failed, God interposed in a most remarkable manner.  The excellency plainly appeared to be of God, and not of man.

He put strength into Paul because, in our next post, we will hear Paul address the very ones who sought to kill him. He will share the gospel of Christ yet again, in an effort to lead his countrymen to repentant faith in Christ. 

Whenever Paul made his defense, he preached the Gospel. He demonstrated that the great God of heaven and earth, illuminated the Gentile world with the rays of his light and glory. 

Paul escaped imminent danger at that time in Jerusalem, and in later times. Here, he was seized in a tumultuous manner, and expected to be murdered. The idea of being rescued from the mouth or jaws of the lion, is an expression of  deliverance from the most imminent danger. 

Paul trusted Christ with his body, soul and spirit. 

2 Timothy 4:18  And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

Paul's final instruction to Timothy shows us the heart of grounded faith and utter dependency on his God. He knew that his life was in the hands of the Father. 

He expressed that the God of glory would deliver him from every evil work, from all those who hated Jesus Christ and who hated hearing the gospel preached. 

Paul said before that whether he lived or died, his sole focus was serving Jesus Christ. He knew that nothing could separate him from the love of God in Christ (Romans 8:31-39).

He knew that no man or devil could pluck him out of the Father's almighty hand (John 10:28-30).

He knew that Jesus would carry him safely home to heaven whenever that day came. Therefore, Paul ascribed all glory, laud and honor to the Godhead. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Paul was a scholar of the scriptures and we can be certain that when he was faced with a murderous mob, his mind remembered texts like this one from Psalm 18. 

Psalm 18:1-6  I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. 2)  The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. 3)  I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. 4)  The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. 5)  The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. 6)  In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. 

We learned that those who hate the gospel of Christ may seek to make false accusations against those of us who share His truth. People may not be able to physically attack us but they will often do all that they can to stop us from proclaiming Bible truth. 

We are called to be faithful even when we face strong opposition for doing it.

Enemies of the gospel are always on the prowl, looking for Christians that they can eliminate. Yet, believers are safe and secure in Christ. Greater is He that is in the believer, than he that is in the world (1 John 4:2-6). 

The Holy Spirit indwells us but the unholy devil inhabits this wicked world. Therefore, our trust is in our God. 

The Roman soldiers did not have any idea that God used them as His instrument to deliver Paul from the mob, but that is what He did. 

We should be confident that even when our service to Christ seems to be derailed, God is always at work. He will deliver us, although it will be the method of His choosing, not ours. 

Jehovah is our high tower and our safe place of refuge. We can run to Him whenever life threatens to overwhelm us. 

I pray that we can all read Romans eight again, and see the beauty of our salvation, the deliverance through faith in Christ, the goal of being spiritually minded and our ultimate security from God. 

I pray that we can have a heart of love for our enemies, even as Paul did for those who falsely accused him and sought to kill him.

I pray that we remember, Satan is the great enemy motivating and moving those who oppose the gospel. May we remain faithful to Christ in all that we think, say and do.

Bob