Paul returned to Jerusalem, even though some people there were angry with him. They accused him of things he didn’t do, and a mob threw him out of the temple. When the Romans got involved, they pulled Paul away from the mob and brought him to the prison. But Paul asked to speak to the crowd. He began sharing the story of how Jesus called him to be a missionary. Paul had courage in the face of angry people, and we can too.
Then he said: “The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard.”
Paul was accused of several things. One was bringing Gentiles (or non-Jews) into the temple, which was supposed to be a place for Jews. Why do you think this upset the people?
Think about a time when you were treated unfairly or experienced a hardship because of your faith. What did you learn from that experience? How can God help you be courageous like Paul? Write down your answer as a reminder for yourself, and put it somewhere you will see it often.
God, please help me be courageous and respond in a loving way when people treat me unfairly. Amen.