ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when
they saw him in the temple, stirred up all
the people, and laid hands on him,
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.
(For they had seen before with him in the
city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they
supposed that Paul had brought into the
temple.)
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." Acts 21:27-30
When Paul came into Jerusalem, some re-
ceived him "gladly" [vs 17], they were
joyful to hear what God had done "among
the Gentiles through his ministry" [vs 19].
But Paul was warned that "many thousands"
of Jewish believers had heard that he'd been
teaching Jews "to forsake Moses" and the
"customs" of their ancestors[vs 21].
James urged Paul to show that he still was
following the precepts of the Law and had
not left the teachings of their forefathers.
Paul was to go to the Temple and purify
himself along with four men who were "under
a vow" [vs 23]. James hoped this would sat-
isfy the critics, but instead, it lead to violence.
Some had seen Paul with a Gentile, and
they assumed Paul had brought him into the
Temple. Word had spread that Paul had
"defiled this holy place" [vs 28]. The crowd
become enraged and a riot took the city.
Paul was dragged out of the Temple. He
was falsely accused and a victim of rumors.
This shows how quickly rumors can spread.
And it shows why believers must be prepared
for conflict. They can be attacked for their
faith. They can be wrongly accused. Or they
can be made a victim of rumors.
Believers must be sure of their faith by having
a strong foundation and an intimate personal
relationship with God. They must read, study,
and live by the Word and be filled with the
Holy Spirit!
