Population riled up against the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Acts 17:4-5

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

“And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.” Acts 17:4-5

The Holy Spirit wants us to know that we will be opposed in hostile ways for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those of this unbelieving world detests people being drawn away from them to live for Jesus Christ.

The Jewish people gathered a mob of wicked men to start an uproar against those connected to the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In today’s atheistic culture, an uproar has been started against belief in God, they fight against the need for the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ, and they oppose the presence of the Holy Spirit. They are being led by the beast that gives them what to speak, do, feel, and think. That beast enlivens the image of the beast to speak and live through people and by what they say and do they make war against the Gospel of Christ. People are being groomed to the mark of the beast by what they are given to say and do.

Christians are attacked from all angles of their natural senses. We are given bad things to see, terrible things to smell, intolerable things to hear, things distasteful in our mouth, and given things to solicit hurtful feelings. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20 On top of that, they are physically aggressive in their quest to intimidate the followers of Christ. Persecution, affliction, and death is happening at the hand of the psychotic “lamb”.

When Paul spoke of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and how Jesus was the fulfillment of Prophecy, some believed and some didn’t. A great multitude of the devout Greeks believed. Devout Greeks were Gentiles known as “God-Fearers” who adopted the Jewish customs and laws of Judaism. They would have been very eager to hear how service to God came by faith in Jesus Christ not by obedience to the laws of Judaism. That is why the grace and mercy of God is so important, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God…” Ephesians 2:8 For this message of grace, mercy, and Salvation, the “Devout Greeks” joined Paul and Silas in the ministry of the testimony of Jesus.

There were also more than a few of the leading women among the “God-Fearers” who also joined Paul and Silas in the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Women played a huge role in the spreading of the Good News, leaders in grounding the Churches, even as Philip had four unmarried daughters who were prophetesses, “…Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven , and stayed with him. Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.” Acts 21:8-9 “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10

Philip was one of the seven waiters put in charge of a non-profit restaurant type of operation, Acts 6:1-7.

While the “God-Fearers” of the devout Greeks and leading women believed the testimony of Jesus, the Jewish people did not. That is what caused the Jewish people to gather wicked men to cause an uproar against the way of Jesus Christ. In today’s atheistic culture, whenever we attempt to share our born-again experience, there is going to be conflict, arguments, debate, etc. to oppose the seed of the Gospel from reaching good soil. “These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.” Jude 1:12-13

Jason’s house [his family, his servants, etc.] was attacked by a mob of wicked men, and their intent was to bring them out to the hostility of the Jewish people. Even then, Jason clung to his faith in Jesus Christ and was a huge help to Paul when Paul was imprisoned, as quoted, “Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you.” Romans 16:21 As followers of Jesus Christ, we have to remain strong within today’s atheistic culture. They do everything they can to make us feel insecure living for God through Jesus Christ. “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4

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“….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, 3:1