250212 Acts 21:15-23:35

Pastor Scott Craig calls this part of the Bible "An Anatomy of Courage as a Christian" because the Apostle Paul literally had to go through some wild challenges. In Acts 21:15 – 23:35, Paul faces mad adversity and keeps pushing forward like a true legend. It’s a real test of his faith and courage, showing what it means to stay committed even when everything seems to be falling apart.
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So, Paul rolls up to Jerusalem, and as usual, the local Jewish leaders start stirring the pot. They get super mad at him for telling the new converts to “The Way” (aka early Christianity) that they didn’t need to do all the old-school Jewish stuff, like circumcising their kids or following other traditions. Things escalate fast, and the crowd gets wild, so the Roman soldiers have to step in and rescue him.

Paul, still pretty beat up from the chaos, asks the guards if he can speak to the crowd. They let him, and he starts sharing his testimony—talking about his life-changing encounter with Jesus. He’s even speaking in Hebrew to connect with them. At first, the crowd is listening like they’re actually vibing with what he’s saying.

But then, he mentions the Gentiles (non-Jews), and that’s when everything flips. The crowd goes absolutely bananas, so the soldiers drag Paul away to question him more—this time under threat of being whipped.

Then, plot twist: The Roman guards find out Paul is actually a Roman citizen, so they back off a little. He gets another shot to talk to the Jewish leaders, but it doesn’t go well. In fact, things get so heated that a group of 40 people literally make a secret pact to kill him. But Paul doesn’t back down. He’s not scared of what’s coming, and he’s fully committed to his mission—spreading the message of Jesus, no matter the cost. Jesus is THE only way.