March 7, 2023 -- Acts 21:27-36 -- The Acts of the Apostles: free or imprisoned we belong to Jesus

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When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31 And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 35 And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, 36 for the mob of the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!”
Acts 21:27-36 ESV

But this is so unjust! The crowds were enraged against Paul and beating him up and doing these things based on false information. Here is the first piece of misinformation, that Paul was teaching everyone everywhere against the people, that is the Jewish people, and against the Law and the temple. Those are huge accusations. The next piece of misinformation is that Paul brought Trophimus the Ephesian into the inner court of the Temple. A non-Jewish person would not be allowed past the wall which divided the Jewish court from the outer court, where non-Jewish people, those who’d been drawn to the God of Israel could stand and worship.

What is recorded here in Acts is turning point in Paul’s life, the moment when he passes from being a free man to one imprisoned. Ultimately he will be in a Roman prison. Yet, even in prison he will be free because of his faith in Jesus Christ. Even though he has been falsely accused and is incarceration is on baseless and unproven accusations, Paul had confidence in the Lord his God (see Acts 20:22-23).

How easily believers stumble into the wrong-headed conclusion that God is angry with them because this or that is happening in their lives. Troubles and sickness, hard financial times and false accusations which stick against you—none of these things surprise God. He is aware. The question is, are you prepared to walk through the valley of the shadow of death? A passage like this reminds the believer to be confident He is leading you, confident He can use even these darkest of times to bring out blessing and unforeseen beauty.

Our Father in heaven, blessed and beautiful is Your Name. Forgive us for only wanting certain mercies and blessings and forgetting we are wholly and completely Yours. In the joys and in the sorrows, the hard-pressed places and spacious places we are wholly Yours. Teach us confident obedience no matter where Your providence and the circumstances of our lives lead us. You are God, our Father. You are the source of every good. Amen.

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