“THE JEWS!”

 Acts 17:1-9                                           (ESV)

“1 Now when they (Paul and Silas) had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of “THE JEWS”.

2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the SCRIPTURES,

3 explaining and proving that IT WAS NECESSARY for THE CHRIST to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This JESUS, WHOM I proclaim to you, is the CHRIST."

4 And SOME OF THEM were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.

5 But “THE JEWS” were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, THEY FORMED A MOB, SET THE CITY IN AN UPROAR, and ATTACKED THE HOUSE OF JASON, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.

6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,

7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, JESUS."

8 And THE PEOPLE AND THE CITY AUTHORITIES WERE DISTURBED when they heard these things.

9 And when THEY HAD TAKEN MONEY AS SECURITY from Jason and the rest, they let them go.”

As Believers, we can be deceived into hearing what we hear from people who are anything but OF FAITH, people who are instruments of “the enemy”!  In the passage of Scripture above, the term “THE JEWS” is NOT identifying people of FAITH IN GOD, it is specifically speaking to those who were “outside of the FAITH”! In John 8:39-47 JESUS explained to “THE JEWS” that they were of their father the devil!  Just because you IDENTIFY with a sect or group doesn’t indicate that you are a part of them.  As Believers, we are CHOSEN based on the mercy and grace of GOD (Romans 9:24-29), not because we are worthy!  We will be HATED (Matthew 10:22) for the sake of JESUS by “this world”, so we need to expect to not be treated very well!

Paul and Silas KNEW this, for they had just been imprisoned in Acts 16 for simply for removing an evil spirit from a young lady.  They were stripped and beaten and then thrown into the inner most walls of the prison, BUT GOD intervened!  

“THE JEWS” were considered the hierarchy of the church, but they had not exhibited humility or servanthood, traits that GOD has a way revealing in HIS CHOSEN. “THE JEWS” were jealous and sought rioters to try and get their way.  But even though “THE JEWS” dragged Jason and others in front of the authorities, they basically had to pay a fine and were released.  Scripture doesn’t indicate that “THE JEWS” suffered anything from this ordeal, only the Believers!  Jason and his house had to pay a price for being known as Believers in JESUS CHRIST.  Just because “THE JEWS” were known by most to be what “this world” was good didn’t change who they really were.  They were actually of their father the devil, and they spoke lies!  

Living in TRUTH will cost us!  “THE JEWS” were living in darkness, so they didn’t have to worry about paying the price for living for JESUS!  Are we willing to pay the price for living for HIM?  Paul and Silas had paid through beatings and imprisonments.  Jason and his house had to pay fines!  What will I be required to pay for HIS GLORY???  As long as I am not thought of as part of “THE JEWS” that were against JESUS, I understand that the persecution WILL COME!