Paul and the four men went to the temple for seven days to complete their vow and purification, and at the end of the seven days, the Jews recognized Paul, stirred up the whole crowd, and seized Paul in the temple. The Jews shouted that Paul was against the Jews and the temple. They claimed that Paul brought a Gentile into the temple, but it wasn't true at all. They saw him walking with Trophimus, a Gentile Ephesian, in the city and assumed he had brought him to the temple. The Jews dragged Paul out of the temple and tried to kill him, but the Roman commander intervened, arrested Paul, and bound him with two chains. The Roman commander tried to figure out why the Jews were trying to kill him, but the crowd didn't have an accurate accusation, so he led Paul to the garrison or the fortress. The commander thought that he was the Egyptian who started a revolt some time ago against the Romans, but Paul identified himself as a Jew born in Tarsus in Cilicia, a Roman citizen. Paul then asked permission from the commander to speak to the crowd. (Acts 21:27-40).
The prophecy that was given to Paul began to be fulfilled. According to the prophecy from the Spirit of God that Paul would be bound and delivered to the Romans (Acts 21:4, 10-11). However, Paul was compelled by the Spirit (Acts 20:22) that He was willing to go through suffering to fulfill God's calling in his life. All believers are called by God to follow Him even when it leads to suffering. There will come a point in our life when we must choose to follow the ways of this world, the desire of our hearts, or God's way. As true believers of our Lord Jesus, we must follow God's way because there is no other way that leads to life than the ways of our Lord.
Let us choose this day whom we are going to follow. Are we going to follow the thoughts and ways of this world? Or are we going to follow the Word of God? We cannot live between the world and God. We are either for God or not. On the topic of homosexuality, gender issues, and abortion, which position will we hold? Is it the thinking of this world? Or what the Bible says? Paul suffered for his faith because he chose to live for the Word of God. The time is coming that persecution will come to those who will stand for the Word of God, so let us stand firm for our faith.
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully and meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speaks to you). Have I made a decision to follow God no matter what the consequences? Am I willing to suffer for the sake of following God's way? Do I believe there will come a day when I will answer Him for everything I have done on this earth?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, there will come a day that you will judge this world with your righteousness and truth. And I will give an account before you of how I live my life on this earth. Please help me to stand for your truth and give me the courage to face any consequences. Do not let my heart and mind be influenced by the thinking of this world that I may live in your ways. Guard my heart and mind against Satan's lies and schemes today. In your name Jesus, I pray. Amen.