On three sabbath days Paul reasoned with them from the Scriptures. Acts 17:2 (Acts 17:1-9)
In Thessalonica, fer three Shabbats in ah row, Saul Paul reasoned with ’em in tha synagogue ’bout Skip’s Code of Conduct and how tha Son be Skipper’s boy and tha one who saves.
- Some whar persuaded.
- Ah large number of god-fearing Greeks believed.
- Many prominent lasses also believed.
Only tha thing whar, ah few jealous Jews rounded up some bad characters who then formed ah mob and started ah riot in tha city. Tha outbreak of violence got so bad that tha crowd rushed ter tha home of Jason, hoping ter find Saul Paul and his mates inside. When tha mob come up empty, they dragged Jason and some other brothers from tha house and brought them in ter tha street, shouting, “These fellers welcomed trouble makers.”
Right off city officials in Thessalonica arrested Jason and his mates and forced ’em ter post bond. After extorting money from ’em, tha officials let ’em go.
That be tha way of mobs. They stir up folks. They break in ter homes and shops. They destroy stuff. They spout lies and make all sorts of false claims. And when tha trouble gets out of hand, it be them tha mob targets who pay tha price fer such wickedness.
In Sodom and Gomorrah, violent fellers tried ter drag ah pair of angels from Lot’s home so they could ‘ave sex with ’em.
Some time later in Gibeah some wicked fellers surrounded tha house whar an overnight guest sought shelter. Pounding on tha door, tha fellers shouted ter tha old man who owned the house, “Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have sex with him.” Tha owner went outside and tried ter reason with tha mob. “No, my friends, don’t be so vile. This man is my guest. Don’t do this outrageous thing.” But tha fellers refused ter listen ter tha owner. So tha man took his concubine and cast her out. Tha mob then raped her and abused her throughout the night. In tha morning tha owner found his concubine dead on his doorstep.
This be tha way of mobs riled up by tha Devil and ruled by jealousy, pride, and wickedness.
If ya open yer home ter them in tha service of tha Son, expect ter be attacked, ridiculed, mocked, fined, jailed, and maybe even killed. Only ne’er ferget this one promise:
- Some ‘ill be persuaded.
- Some ‘ill believe.
- Ah few prominent folks ‘ill put thar hope in tha Son.
Live or die, beat down and left fer dead, always make it yer task ter stand with tha Son agin wickedness. Tha way ya live and die ‘ill often say more than yer words ever will.