We've all seen the pictures. I don't have to go into detail about what happened that night, Many people are still disgusted of what happened...How was this possible? Really? In my humble opinion there is nothing new under the sun. The world has seen many riots no matter what the circumstances were. In this blog I want to show, from scripture, how quickly crowds can change from cheering to rioting. I will mention a few instances but I want to encourage you to read for yourself the context. It really is worthwhile reading!
Let me begin with Jesus being rejected in his home town at Nazareth. ( Luke 4 : 14 : 30 ) First. " All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. " But when Jesus says to them, " No prophet is accepted in his home town " and you can read the rest for your self the result is, " All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this " - they were going to throw him down the cliff. I.e.; They wanted to kill him!
The triumphal entry in Luke 19. " The whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices " - " Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord " In Chapter 23 we read that Jesus stands on trial before Pilate and Herod and we read that with one voice they ( the crowd ) cried out, " Crucify him! Crucify him! How quickly a crowd can change in such a short time!
As a church we celebrated a few weeks ago Pentecost, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Good News of Jesus Christ now spreading from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria to the ends of the earth. What can we expect when the Gospel is preached.....................riots!
Acts 16 : 16 - 40. " Paul and Silas in Prison were dragged into the market place to face the authorities. "
" The crowed joined in the attack against Paul and Silas."
Acts 17 : 5. In Thessalonica we read that the Jews were jealeous, so they rounded up some bad characters from the market place, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. In Berea ( vs 13 ) " they went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up."
Acts 19. The riot in Ephesus which totally gets out of control. " About that time there arose a great disturbance about The Way! "........" Soon the whole city was in an uproar."
Acts 21 : 27 - 36. Paul is back in Jerusalem and people saw Paul at the temple. " They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him." ( vs ) 30 - 33 ) " The whole city was aroused, they dragged him from the temple. While they were trying to kill him.........."
Acts 22 : 22. Paul the roman citizen. " The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, " Rid the earth of him! He's not fit to live! "
When I read all these verses about crowds and riots I am reminded again of Paul's conversion on the road to
Damascus when the Lord speaks to Ananius and says; " Go!. This man ( Paul ) is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." Later Paul speaks to the church in Corinth and he talks about his hardships; " As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots!
