5 But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. 6 When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, “ These men who have upset the world have come here also; 7 and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 8 They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things.9 And when they had received a pledge from Jason and the others, they released them. Acts 17:5–9
These Jesus conversions made the recalcitrant Jews insanely jealous, egged on by the joyous demeanor displayed in those who received salvation. As a result, they resorted to their trusty and all too familiar playbook to stamp out the movement, which indicated an angry mob composed of “wicked men” and feigned allegiance to Rome were in order.
Jason and his brethren who welcomed Paul and Silas in, were now in the crosshairs. It didn’t take long for the mob to arrive at their doorstep to accuse them of harboring these gospel fugitives, and they physically dragged them into the presence of the city authorities in protest.
Satan is most times subtle and patient in his dealings, but he pulls out the big guns when he is threatened or senses an advantage from fomented fear and apprehension. The intimidation route is often simply quicker and more effective. Chaos and irrationality is his objective, not understanding.
While we are all too familiar with mob mentality these days— it’s 24/7 —and we pray that we are not sucked into its vortex, it’s easy to see how evil works and the ineffectiveness of sound reasoning when it’s allowed to spiral out of control. Somehow sanity, goodness and peace needs to be reintroduced. Is this not who our God is? And what he can do?
In this case, the authorities appeared to have been appeased when Jason and his brethren acquiesced. But behind the scenes Paul an Silas were again on the move in the dead of night (Acts 17:10), to Berea, to turn that town upside down.
The spread of the Good News was not thwarted then and will not to thwarted in the future. Find solace in these words.
4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 1 John 4:4–6
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