Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

Beating Up Believers

This entry was posted on 10-30-2006 and is filed under Devotional.

"Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You" (Acts 22:19 NKJV).

What a terrifying testimony! Paul knew that the believers in Jerusalem knew his record of violence against Christians. Not only was it his practice to arrest and imprison Christians, but he would also beat believers!

Think of this for a moment. Imagine Paul (Saul of Tarsus as he was then known) bursting into a synagogue, interrupting the worship of new believers, and then actually infliciting physical violence upon them. Did he beat them with his fists or with a club? Did he beat women too? How much blood was spilled upon the floors of the synagogues when the Terror of Tarsus was finally spent with such physical action? We would never beat up a believer. Or would we? Are some "discussions" in class a way to beat up a believer? Are some "classes" or "sermons" actual occasions of spiritual beatings of believers? May God have mercy on all, as He did with Saul, who "beat those who believe on You."

Song: "Not by might and not by power, but by My Holy Spirit," thus saith the Lord/We will fight and we will conquer, but we will win by loving and not with a sword. (Ralph Carmichael)