BREAKING NEWS AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN REPORTED

The controversial Rabbi turned Christian is once again in the news after being at the center of a disruption in Philippi. He had apparently cast a spirit out of a prominent soothsayer that brought money into the hands of corrupt business leaders. This caused a public outcry among well-connected elites who brought Paul and his associates into a hasty mock trial where he was severely beaten.

This is characteristic of the nature of many of the persecutions the new movement faces as Christians are exposed, on the one hand, to the relentless enmity of the Jews who hate the movement on one hand and heathen rulers and mobs incited by Paul’s enemies the Jews, so that the objects of popular rage from both sides and are caused to suffer from flash mobs disturbed by the Christian movement’s success.

Magistrates were shocked to discover that Paul is, in fact, a Roman citizen. When the rulers realized their error, they sought to smooth the incident over lest Paul presses his claim that they should themselves be likewise punished.

Someone present at the jail overheard Paul tell the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now, do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”

Paul dropped the charges against them but seemingly made the point clear that the new believers in Philippi were to be treated carefully upon his departure.

The Rabbi they call Apostle Paul has a history of uprisings in nearly every city he shows up in. This led to the complaint, “those who turned the world upside down have come here also.” We will be watching this man’s movements closely in future updates.

Acts 16:37