Hellenists plotted to kill Saul/Paul after he spoke boldly in the name of Jesus.

Acts 9:29-31

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

“And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus. Then the Church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.” Acts 9:29-31

Hellenists were Jewish people who adopted the Greek customs, culture, and language. Also, the entire New Testament was written in Greek, for the non-Jewish Gentiles. At the time, the Hellenists opposed the preaching of Saul, in conjunction with many traditions of the the laws of Judaism that hey clung to.

Saul went from being a Jewish leader who favored the killing of Christians to being a Christian leader who helped the way of Christ to grow. Paul’s service to God came by faith in Jesus Christ not by the laws of Judaism. Many of the disciples of Jesus Christ, who once feared Saul, are now helping him to escape death. What a remarkable born-again experience of Saul/Paul who went from being the terror of the way of Christ to being trusted and helped by them to escape his own death. When Saul was escorted out of the city, without arresting or consenting to the death of Christians, the surrounding regions rejoiced to hear of his support for the way of Jesus Christ. They feared God, walked in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, and the number of Believers multiplied. I’m sure many of those who were skeptical of Paul’s sincerity to Christ were very relived that he had left their area.

One sure sign of a true born-again believer is that they are not in agreement with those who live for the beast that governs by giving them what to speak, do against Christians and what to think, and feel against the testimony of Jesus. They despise the way of Jesus Christ, “For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God.” 2 Corinthians 6:15-16

When a person’s faith in Jesus Christ is targeted, then we know that the person is a true Believer. They reject the beast that gives them what to speak, do, say, and think in order to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. True Believers are those who cause others to rejoice in knowing that they will not be afflicted and abused verbally nor physically. True Believers are those who give people confidence to walk in reverence to God and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

 Our Lord Jesus says, “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” John 15:20

---

“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11