Atos 16

Atos 16

Hughes - Whenever the preaching of the gospel touches the economic structure of the powers that be, opposition is bound to come. Richard Collier, the historian of the Salvation Army, says: "Persecution was great from the beginning.… Gangs frequently hurled mud and stones through the windows at the preaching and the crowd. The liquor dealers worked hard to have Booth kicked out of East London. The police were no help; in fact, they often broke up outdoor meetings and accused Booth’s followers of being the cause of all the trouble.… Beatings were not uncommon: in 1889, at least 669 Salvation Army members were assaulted—some were killed and many were maimed. Even children were not immune; ruffians threw lime in the eyes of a child of a Salvation Army member. The newspapers ridiculed Booth. PUNCH referred to him as “Field Marshal von Booth.”Paul had touched the profiteers’ hearts. The problem was, their hearts were in their wallets. In the ensuing melee, false charges and racial innuendo were arrayed against Paul and Silas, and their arrest followed....Note how quickly the devil changed tactics. When subterfuge did not work, he tried outward persecution. Both are effective, though the latter sometimes backfires. “The blood of martyrs is the seed of the church.” The forces of darkness were not at their smartest when they turned so quickly to persecution." (Preaching the Word - Acts - The Church Afire) Acts 16:22 The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. the crowd: Ac 17:5 Acts 18:12 Acts 19:28-41 Acts 21:30,31 Acts 22:22,23 the chief magistrates : Acts 16:37 Acts 5:40 Acts 22:24-26 Mt 10:17 27:26 2Co 6:5 11:23-25 1Th 2:2 Heb 11:36 1Pe 2:24 Acts 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries MOB ACTION AGAINST MISSIONARIES The crowd rose up together against them - Luke describes a mob scene. Rose up (4911)(sunephistemi from sun/syn = together which speaks of intimate association + ephistemi = stand upon, be at hand, stand before, by or over) literally is "to stand up together" and means to join in an uprising or an attack. Luke adds the preposition katá which means against so the idea is that the crowd made an assault together against them. This is a clear example of mob violence. A closely related verb sunistemi (sun + histemi) is used in the Septuagint to the assembly of Israel rising up against Moses the servant of the Lord… And they assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?" (Nu 16:3) A T