As the Holy Spirit had warned, once in Jerusalem, persecution came to Paul from the Jews. They seized him and shouted, “This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place” (28). This was spiritual ignorance on the part of the Jews. No one loved the law of God more than Paul. He wrote, “So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good” (Rom. 7:13). True, there were differences between Paul and the Jews. That difference was how they loved the law.

Paul was a free man, whose freedom was found in Christ (Gal. 5:1,13). But for the purpose of winning souls for Christ, he became like a Jew to the Jews, who were under the law, and a Gentile to the Gentiles (cf. 1Cor 9:20-21). For the sake of the Jews, Paul even had Timothy circumcised so that his work among them might be more effective. Paul did not have to offend the Jews unnecessarily as long as he did not violate Christian principles.

Despite all the efforts on Paul’s part, the Jews were not willing to listen to him or learn the truth about Christ, who was the fulfilment of the law of God. Paul, however, did not shy away from being misunderstood and persecuted for the name of the Lord Jesus.
Application: Father, give me willingness to be persecuted for the sake of the gospel. Amen.
One Word: Courage that comes through faith