Acts 16.35-40 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, cuncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and cthey were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and dasked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and visited eLydia. And when they had seen fthe brothers, they encouraged them and departed.
Here in the West we believe that religion and the public square do not mix. So churches are like reservations existing with parallel sets of norms and structures and the rest of society is public.
It is impossible to read this section of the history of God’s kingdom that way. Paul and his team were living and preaching in the public square. They were impacting culture and getting into trouble along the way. Their ministry touched the lives of suffering people like the fortune-teller slave-girl who was possessed by an evil spirit.
They risked their own freedom to liberate her.
They were beaten publically.
Then they were to be released in secret.
This was an affront to justice and Paul called the magistrates on it. Paul uses his Roman influence and citizenship to shame the powers. The rulers who presided over their imprisonment apologized and sent them off.
Do you love Jesus, but only in church? Live outloud for Him. He died in public for us.
1 comment:
This was very encouraging to me, Mike. I get so busy in my own "Christian world", that I don't have time for anything else.
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