We've been reading a lot about why Jewish leaders opposed Paul's teaching: they thought it was heresy. Today we see some Roman citizens opposing Paul for a different reason. Luke tells us their opposition was financial, but when they make their case they say Paul is advocating Jewish customs that are "unlawful" for Romans to observe. Interesting indeed. Whatever opposition we may face, Jesus will be with us.
God bless,
Sam
Acts
16:16-24
16 One day, as we were going to
the place of prayer, we met a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination and
brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. 17While
she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, ‘These men are slaves of the Most
High God, who proclaim to you a
way of salvation.’ 18She kept doing this for many days. But Paul,
very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I order you in the name of
Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out that very hour.
19 But when her owners saw that
their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged
them into the market-place before the authorities. 20When they had
brought them before the magistrates, they said, ‘These men are disturbing our
city; they are Jews 21and are advocating customs that are not lawful
for us as Romans to adopt or observe.’ 22The crowd joined in
attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and
ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23After they had given them a
severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep
them securely. 24Following these instructions, he put them in the
innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
No comments:
Post a Comment