Acts 16:16-24
16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Reflection
Even though the words of this slave girl were true—perhaps giving the impression that she was in partnership with Paul —her insights were inspired by an evil spirit (Acts 16:16–17). In the authoritative name of Jesus Christ, Paul commands the spirit to leave her (v. 18), thus rescuing her from the destructive power that her owners were using to exploit her for financial gain. Rather than rejoicing at her deliverance, her money-loving owners were enraged and instigated a violent attack that resulted in the imprisonment of Paul and Silas (vv. 19–23).
The world does not share the values of God’s kingdom, and therefore often opposes or even persecutes God’s people. Christians who pursue what is in the best interest of others will have to lovingly confront the destructive and sinful deceptions that imprison the world in darkness. Those who don’t know Christ, however, may not appreciate the effort because they view God’s ways as a threat to the darkness they value so dearly (John 3:19–20). Nevertheless, Christ’s people must demonstrate his self-sacrificing love by willingly taking the risk of doing what is best for others, though it may be costly. There is no greater love than this (cf. John 15:13).
Revelation 6:1-17
6: Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.
3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.
5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”
7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.
12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. 14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
Reflection
What John shows here reaffirms the teaching of Jesus in Mark 13, and prepares his readers to faithfully endure the suffering that is to come (Rev. 6:9–11). John is preparing his audience not merely to reject the false gospels of false teachers but also to be faithful to the true gospel, even unto death (cf. 2:10).
The terrifying scene of the great day of the wrath of the Lamb in 6:12–17 also encourages believers to be steadfast, holding to the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. The wrath of the Lamb will be infinitely more terrible than the deaths of the martyrs. Though obedience to Jesus is sometimes painful or even deadly, we will never regret the decision to trust and obey him.
Psalm 141:5
5 Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
Loving others sometimes requires that we confront sin rather than remain silent. When you are faced with this situation, pray for boldness, humility, timing, and a heart of love for those who are speaking to.