Acts 21:27-22:1
27 When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31 And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 35 And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, 36 for the mob of the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!”
37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38 Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” 39 Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” 40 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:
22: “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”
Reflection
Because of the gospel he proclaimed, Paul had faced the sometimes-violent opposition of pagan worshipers in his journeys through the largely nonJewish regions of the Roman Empire (Acts 16:16–24; 19:21–41). Now back in Jerusalem, he faces similar persecution —this time from Jews who drag him from the temple and try to kill him (22:30–31). Ironically, it is the Roman guards who save Paul’s life and carry him to safety (vv. 32–36).
True to gospel form, Paul is not dissuaded by the violence of his enemies. Once free from the mob, he requests the opportunity to speak with those who have just attempted to murder him. As we will see, he speaks not from hate but in the hope of persuading them that Jesus is the King and Savior of Israel (vv. 2–21).
Revelation 14:1-5
14: Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.
Reflection
Revelation 14:1 develops 7:1–4 by showing the 144,000 (see note on 7:1–8) with the name of the Lamb and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. As in chapters 5 and 7, those who experience the gracious salvation of the Lamb respond to it by praising God for it (14:2–3).
The statements in verses 4–5 that these are virgins and that in their mouth no lie was found do not mean these people never engaged in sexual relations or that they were perfectly sinless in what their lips uttered. Rather, these gospelbelieving people avoided spiritual adultery with the world (cf. James 4:4), and they told the truth about God. They did not engage in idolatry and the sexual immorality that accompanies it. The redeemed follow the Lamb and do not lie. They worship God and they tell the truth about how to be made right with him by grace through faith in Jesus. Salvation results in purity of action and speech.
Psalm 40:3
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.
Revelation 14:2–3 demonstrates once again that the appropriate response to salvation is worship. Share your heart with God, confessing any lack of desire to praise and glorify him. Ask him to stir praise from within you in the coming days and weeks because of what he has done.