2 Corinthians 6:5; In Stripes, In Imprisonments (2)

2 Corinthians 6:5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

The Christian is called to be a good soldier of the cross to bring honour and glory to Christ’s name by our walk with Him especially in times of persecutions. It was William Gurnall, a pastor, who gave this encouragement why the believer is to  remain steadfast in times of persecution:

• In light of all that God has done for you.
• In light of the glorious standing you have as a child of God.
• In light of His great plan of the ages that God has made you part of.
• In light of the plan for Christian maturity and growth He gives to you.
• In light of the conduct God calls every believer to live.
• In light of the filling of the Spirit and our walk in the Spirit.
• In light of all this, there is a battle to fight in the Christian life.

[William Gurnall, a pastor, published his book The Christian in Complete Armour, an exposition of Ephesians 6:10-20]

The Apostle Paul and other missionaries made it to Jerusalem in time for the Pentecost celebration of A.D. 57. But the celebration of this festival is far less significant to Luke than the warm and supportive reception he receives by the Jerusalem church and the deliberations about how to handle the problem of negative perceptions about him and his ministry by many Jewish believers in Jerusalem. He was to face beating and imprisonment soon after.

Acts 21:27-29 ²⁷ And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, ²⁸ Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. ²⁹ (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) 

Acts 21:30-33 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul. Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.

This was a trying time of His servant, the Apostle Paul, who had to endure the beating from his own countrymen, who he sought to serve. The Lord sent the Roman garrison of soldiers to rescue him and escort him to safety in the Roman garrison headquarters. Thank God for His protection upon His servant. An encouragement to know that God never forsakes His people especially when they are serving Him. Amen.