Acts 19:8-10 - Avoiding needless confrontation
Scripture:
Acts 19:8-10
8 And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.
9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
10 This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
NASU
Thoughts:
These verses are tracking the steps of the apostle Paul in Ephesus (verse 1). It's easy to picture Paul as a bold missionary that never avoided conflict, but here, he is doing that very thing! You can see his desire is to minister to those who will listen (verse 9b), not to debate the willful enemies of the gospel (verse 9a). Like Jesus taught (Matthew 7:6), he is refusing to cast his pearls before swine:
Matthew 7:66 "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.NASU
Each of us have limited resources of time and energy. How much better to use them productively for the Lord, rather than pouring them into the lives of others that don't want them. Paul gave these people a chance (verse 8), but after it was clear they were not interested in the gospel, he moved on.
Prayer:
Lord, rather than arguing with those uninterested in the Truth, let me follow Paul's example here: when someone I would like to help is not willing, let me have the wisdom as he did to focus my attention instead on others who I can help in their knowledge of You.
Amen
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