Rejecting Jesus

Acts 22:17-22 “When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw the Lord speaking. ‘Quick!’ he said to me. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 ‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these men know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. 20 And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ 21 Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” 22 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!”
 
PAUL continued to defend his faith in Jesus to the silent, pensive mob. Would they accept him or destroy him? Would this be a moment of triumph? Or would Paul suffer as his Lord had suffered before the mob who had called, “Crucify him!”
   Paul continued to testify of the early days of his changed life as Jesus’ apostle. He told the Jews of Jesus’ word to him as he returned from Damascus to Jerusalem.
   Jesus told him to go. But Paul argued with Jesus. He was sure the Jews would accept him and respect him because he had helped kill Stephen. But Jesus had commanded Paul, “Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.”
   When Paul said, “go to the Gentiles” the restless crowd erupted. They did not condemn Paul for helping to kill Stephen. That was a noble act for a Jew! But they wanted to kill Paul because he had gone to the Gentiles.
   Why? Jews had long associated with Gentiles. And they accepted Gentiles who wanted to convert to Judaism. But when Paul said, “Go to the Gentiles.” the Jews knew Paul spoke of his teaching Gentiles were equal with Jews. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) The crowd had heard enough. They rejected Paul’s testimony of Jesus’ transforming work. They rejected Jesus.
   A few violent men can destroy the common good. There were thousands of new Christians in Jerusalem. The apostles and new believers showed God’s love, caring for people’s physical needs. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. (Acts 2:43)
   Just as had happened for centuries, the Jews’ hard hearts rejected the LORD God’s passion to bless his people. This set them on a pathway to utter destruction.
   Jesus had warned his followers to be prepared for Jerusalem’s destruction (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21). That warning became a terrible truth in 70 AD. Rome completely destroyed the city and the temple. God shut the door on the Jews’ disobedience. The temple will not reopen until the day Jesus returns to restore Jerusalem and Israel to the day when all whose names are written on the Book of Life will dwell with God. (from Revelation 21:27)