Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Acts 19:21-41, Acts 20:1, 2 Corinthians 1-3
Acts 20:34-
But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about 2 hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
I read this verse & then I stopped & read it again & almost laughed. Really, this crowd could yell the same thing repeatedly for 2 hours until someone actually stopped them?! I thought this to be quite ridiculous. This was all because the crowd realized he was a Jew & wanted to make their point.
We might have people in our lives (or come across someone) who is so against Christianity that they too will seem to be completely unreasonable. We may need to give them their “2 hours” & wait for them to quiet down before they will be willing to listen.
As we continue reading these verses, after the crowd is quieted & someone is able to speak, it is made clear that nothing could be held against those they were rioting against.
It is important that, during the time that they spend “rioting,” we live by example so nothing can be held against us. This may be our loudest testimony.
I like how this story ends, with the realization that because their rioting was unfounded, not only were those they were against free to go, but they themselves could be held responsible & charged because of their riots.
Maybe in the end, the truth will be clear & those we are trying to reach will see clearly the destruction of their own ways.
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 2 Corinthians 4-7
2 comments:
A good reminder that God has patience with us, and we need to have patience with others then as well. If they don't see their need for Christ immediately, they might later on, and therefore we need to keep going as well in being open to talking to them about Christ.
2 hrs is ridiculous indeed! I wonder if every person in the crowd felt that way or if they got swept up in mob mentality. A good reminder to think carefully and make decisions wisely, not just be caught up in the moment or easily swayed by emotion.
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