“While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.” (Acts 21:31)
The mob that tried to kill Paul was a confused one. Acts records that they were all shouting different things, and the Roman commander who stepped in to grab Paul had no idea who Paul even was… his first guess was that Paul was an Egyptian! Way off.
The moral of the story? Mobs aren’t good sources of information. If you are getting your data from the crowds, you are getting bad intel. Gather the facts, ask questions, and don’t jump to conclusions about the Bible or about people. Mobs and gossips are bad guides.
Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites
Today’s Reading: Acts 21:31-40
Questions to ask:
- How does this show the continuation of Jesus’ work now going on in the church?
- How is the gospel, Paul’s preaching, and/or Paul’s defense received?
- What is the Holy Spirit doing in this text?
- What in our reading shows how Paul handled adversity and difficulty?
This year, #Biblebites are following the life and writings of Paul. If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2023-vision