Acts 17:5-9
English
Standard Version (ESV)
5 But the Jews[a] were jealous, and taking some wicked men of
the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the
house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And
when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers
before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world
upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them,
and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is
another king, Jesus.” 8 And the people and the city authorities
were disturbed when they heard these things. 9 And when they
had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
In the passage
prior to this we saw that many received the Lord through the preaching of God’s
word, Good News, right? With that good
news we find that others became jealous.
Have you ever been jealous of someone else? Have you ever wanted what they had? Have you felt threatened by them? When we feel threatened our defenses go up
and we begin to defend our cause. It
happens with our enemies and it happens with our beloved ones. Part of our sinful nature causes us to act
irrationally when we feel that someone is attacking our beliefs, trying to
exert power over us, or simply gaining more attention. We seem to think they are a threat to us and
we begin to react. I believe this is why
these men of God were being attacked.
Everything these people had known was being called into question. Even though it the news was good, it caused a
threat.
I found it
interesting that Jason and his friends were released via a bribe. This tells me that Jason must have been a man
of wealth or someone in the group was.
At any rate, money was used to release these men. Paul and Silas were smuggled out of the city
at night and went on to their next place of calling.
Because these
men were strong and courageous, because they took a stance with Jesus Christ,
they faced consequences. They faced
persecution because they associated with men who proclaimed the Gospel of
Christ. Today in America we don’t
necessarily face arrest because of our belief.
We are not persecuted by the Government official and thrown in
jail. Yet, we face trails and tribulations
when things are going well. Why is
this? Why can’t we just enjoy
success? Why can’t we just enjoy being
Christians? Every other religion seems
to get protection form persecution, they call it being politically
correct. Why isn’t being a Christian
politically correct anymore? I believe
God is moving us as He moved Paul, Silas, Jason, and others to be bold in our
faith not complacent and comfortable, in
order that others may know. Through
persecution we become stronger in Christ.
As you seek Him
may you find that His strength is sufficient, abide in Him and He in you.
Seeking Him with
all my heart,
Sheila
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