The Book of Acts ~ Study Sixty-Seven

"An Angry Mob"


Acts 21:27-36 (NLT) The seven days were almost ended when some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul in the Temple and roused a mob against him. They grabbed him, yelling, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who preaches against our people everywhere and tells everybody to disobey the Jewish laws. He speaks against the Temple—and even defiles this holy place by bringing in Gentiles.” (For earlier that day they had seen him in the city with Trophimus, a Gentile from Ephesus, and they assumed Paul had taken him into the Temple.)

   The whole city was rocked by these accusations, and a great riot followed. Paul was grabbed and dragged out of the Temple, and immediately the gates were closed behind him. As they were trying to kill him, word reached the commander of the Roman regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. He immediately called out his soldiers and officers and ran down among the crowd. When the mob saw the commander and the troops coming, they stopped beating Paul.

   Then the commander arrested him and ordered him bound with two chains. He asked the crowd who he was and what he had done. Some shouted one thing and some another. Since he couldn’t find out the truth in all the uproar and confusion, he ordered that Paul be taken to the fortress. As Paul reached the stairs, the mob grew so violent the soldiers had to lift him to their shoulders to protect him. And the crowd followed behind, shouting, “Kill him, kill him!”

We see more evidence of how lies can stir up a crowd. Paul had finished his seven days of purification and presented his sacrifice at the Temple that morning. Earlier he had been seen talking with a Greek Gentile named Tromphimus and the Jews assumed that Paul had brought this Gentile on the Temple Mount and defiled it. He was forced out of the Temple and the gates were shut behind him. The crowd that had gathered began to beat him until a Roman commander broke up the riot and arrested Paul. I think he did this more for Paul's protection than anything else. The crowd was so riled up that the soldiers had to pick him up and carry him away to safety.

I believe that the Temple was supposed to be a place where people could go to present sacrifices for themselves. God welcomes those who honestly come to Him and bow to His authority. The Jews had forgotten who's Temple it really was. Sometimes I think that The Church forgets who's the One in authority. It should be Jesus.

Who do you see as the authority in the church you attend? Is Jesus? Or are the board members, teachers or the pastor/s?

In an earlier blog I wrote about the Visible versus the Invisible Church. (See Mark Driscoll at Mars Hill for more on this topic .) As the Body of Christ, those within the Invisible Church need to take a stand in the Visible Church and demand that Christ be the Head. If a pastor, teacher, etc., are acting on their own despite the guidance of the Elder/Board members then something is wrong and those who know better should confront that person.

James 3:13-16 (NLT) If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

What causes these types of things to happen within the Church? The scriptures tell us that its bitterness and jealousy; boasting and lying. This is what Paul faced from the Jews who opposed the Good News of Jesus. It's a shame but we see it in our churches now. Good men and women who love and serve Jesus with integrity and honesty should take a stand against people in the church who think they can lead others into their way of thinking. The Church should always follow what Christ teaches...period. 

Ephesians 4:25-27 (NLT) So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

The devil was having a heyday that day in Jerusalem. Lies about Paul were being spread. A crowd became deadly and Paul was placed in chains and carried away. The Lord had told Paul this would happen. Remember all the people who told Paul the same thing? Now it was happening. Paul knew it was coming and willingly went into danger for the sake of the Gospel message he preached.

Are you willing to go into danger for the truth of the Gospel Message? Do you see things within the Church that needs to be confronted so it can function as Christ intended? How are you to do it?

First, we are to pray that God will direct our steps and give us the words to say to the correct people in authority in the church. Next, we are not supposed to gossip but go to the ones that can do something about the situation. If it is God's will for you to speak up then do so. If not, then be on your knees praying for His will to be done in this situation. This is what the Jesus says about a brother or sister in Christ who is in blatant sin:

Matthew 18:15-17 (Message) "If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you've made a friend. If he won't listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won't listen, tell the church. If he won't listen to the church, you'll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God's forgiving love."

Do you see how discreet the Lord tells us to act? He does not tell us to stir up the crowd. There is a correct way to deal with things and a wrong way. The correct way is the peace-making way that confronts the offender directly in truth and love. The wrong way is to stir up others and cause division within the church.

Leviticus 19:15-19 (NLT)  “Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.

    Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people.
    Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is threatened. I am the Lord.
    Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin.
    Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
   You must obey all my decrees.


The Jews that day had broken their own laws. They should have confronted Paul alone and not stirred up the crowd. This is how we know that Satan is behind all of this. He always stirs up dissension. People can treat each other so badly and unfairly. God's way is the best way to peace within the church. It is to confront the offender face-to-face and not through the crowd. If you do stir up the crowd you will cause damage, especially to those who are new to Christianity or seeking to know more about Jesus. He tells us what pulling at weeds among the wheat can do.


Matthew 13:24-30 (NLT) Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.
   “The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’
    “‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed.
    “‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.
   “‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’”


Jesus knows what will happen when we yank at something without bearing in mind the tender hearts surrounding a person who is in authority that needs to be confronted and/or disciplined. He gives us the correct way of handling things and it's not in stirring up an angry mob. We don't want to be like that crazy mob on the Temple Mount who wanted Paul killed. 


The difference between Paul and those who are in sin that are in authority in our churches is this, Paul was living to preach the cause of Christ and spread the saving message found in Him. People in authority who place their own agenda above the Gospel should be gently and correctly approached. We must stand united in the Will of God. Prayer is always the first step. Confrontation, if God tells you to, is the next step. The confrontation must be a face-to-face meeting. If this doesn't work then take two or three witnesses with you and confront the person again, laying out the offense gently. If this doesn't work then a formal church meeting should happen. 


Again, the Gospel Message of Christ should be first and foremost. Angry crowds only cause dissension and wounds. Loving each other as Jesus loves us is the only way to confront an offender, especially in a leadership role. May God remove those who have their own agenda placed before the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Please pray for the reconciliation of the Church Body as a whole. Come soon Lord Jesus!