Acts 17:5-10a

Acts 17:5-10a

 

    But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar's decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus." When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go. As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea.

 

Some of the Jews had joined Paul and Silas. But many were jealous. They believed the people following Paul and Silas should have been following their way instead.

 

Not that their way looked very godly, at least when they were upset. They found wicked men and started a riot. They led a mob to Jason’s house, hoping to put Paul and Silas in the hands of a dangerous mob. They allowed their anger to spill out on Jason, since he was associated with the people who had made them angry. And they stirred up the crowd and officials, charging that Jason had welcomed troublemakers who defied Caesar’s decrees. The one accurate statement they made was that Paul and Silas proclaimed another king – Jesus.

 

I think this should be a lesson for today’s Christians. Do we ever proclaim so clearly that Jesus Christ is Lord and King, even over our own countries’ leaders, that people think we mean to cause trouble? We shouldn’t mean to cause trouble, but we should make it clear to everyone that it is far more important to obey Jesus than it is to obey any earthly ruler. We should make it clear that if we had to choose between obeying the President of the United States and obeying Jesus Christ, our ultimate allegiance is with Jesus.

 

The message came through so clearly in Thessalonica that even the city officials were in turmoil. The city was not safe for Paul and Silas. They could have stayed, I suppose, and tried to make it clear that the only way they would disobey would be if Caesar commanded them to say that Jesus was not King. They could have said that their only disobedience would be to continue proclaiming Jesus as King – rather than to start something violent, or something like that. But still, doing this would have continued to threaten those whose allegiance belonged to Caesar.

 

So rather than stay and anger people more, and rather than stay and risk dying, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away. Sometimes there is wisdom in leaving. The message was clear. What else could be said?

 

Father, help me to make the message that Jesus Christ is really, truly the King of the whole world CLEAR to people. May I do my best to show them what a good thing it is that He is King, too. But may I act wisely if and when I offend people. May I recognize that they have chosen not to submit to Jesus, but instead to rebel against Him. And may I leave them in their rebellion, knowing that they know their options. May I seek more people and tell them that they still have the chance to serve their rightful King.