Bungled Persecution

Aim: To remain faithful to Jesus as His church—especially when persecution calls.

Doctrine: Bungled persecution reminds the church that our God is sovereign. Even in one of the most immoral cities in the world, God's promise of protection was a good as gold.

Exegesis: The nature of bungled persecution: as usual, united Christ-haters lie about faithful gospel preachers (vv. 12-13); as is unusual, sometimes God's servants do not have to say a thing (vv. 14-15); as is to be expected, someone suffers at the mob's hands (vv. 16-17).

Further application: What the true church should glean from the doctrine of bungled persecution: that though we must suffer for Jesus in this world, the sources of our discomfort are always funneled through our loving heavenly Father's hands.

Key verses: vv. 14-15 ''But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, 'If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.' ''