The Foundation

Acts 21:30-37

“27 When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, who had seen him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd. They seized him, 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place; more than that, he has actually 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 aroused, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. 31 While they were trying to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 Immediately he took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. When they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the tribune came, 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 shouted 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 When Paul came to the steps, the violence of the mob was so great that he had to be carried by the soldiers. 36 The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Away with him!”

The Jews of Jerusalem rioted and tried to kill Paul.  They would have succeeded had a Roman tribune not intervened.  The Roman rulers could not abide unrest and chaos and often used brutal force in subduing it. Despite this threat of Roman violence the mob, driven by its frenzy, continued its efforts to kill Paul, shouting “Away with him.”

Paul, who was once the chief persecutor of Christians had become the primary target of the hate and persecution which he once instigated.  

Anyone who was in Jerusalem during the time of Christ’s crucifixion may have seen similarities in the way the crowd was responding to Paul.  Christ, the rejected stone, became the cornerstone of our faith.  In the same way, Paul was rejected, but his words, letters, and instructions became the foundation of the early church.

“The Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” (Psalm 118:23).

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)