Who would want demons to be in charge of the world? Could it be the one that is in charge of demons? As we have studied demons, their origin, and their behaviors, we have recognized that there is a difference between people who are ill and have demons extracted, and people who are practicing satanists who want demons to remain. There are a group of people who have demons that live with them and do not want them extracted, but they are not necessarily satanists. Sometimes people have been so catered to by others that they do not want deliverance, as their behavior gets them what they want. There was a women who Paul and Silas encountered that used a spirit of divination for monetary gain. She wanted demons to help her with this practice, she did not want them extracted. Ahab and Jezebel are a great example of people who used techniques of manipulation, via demonic influence or witchcraft, to control a situation. Sometimes the people who are not satanists, but have demons, allow their demons to control people, situations, or churches. When their behavior is not corrected by leaders or others in the church, then they do what Ahab and Jezebel did and use manipulation (which is witchcraft), to get what they want. It seems that the first century Church had this problem as well. Demons will take over our society if we allow them to. The church must rise up to expose demonic control, not just in the church, but in society as well.
We always know when demons are controlling a situation because it becomes irrational, hyper-emotional, and chaotic. People who are hyper-sensitive are under the control of a demon. Years ago we would have told people to stop being emotional or to stop being offended. But today emotions are allowed to be validated as if they are some form of truth. Emotions are not a guarantee of truth and they can result from unsound thinking. We see this in many ways in our society. For example, someone passes away and a group of Hollywood celebrities feel the need to rush to social media and tell the world how “cancer killed cancer” or the deceased can“rest in piss”, as if their emotions and vulgarity are valued and appreciated by society. Hate is not a pretty emotion, it is as ugly as demons. This gives us a big clue as to the presence of demons. Hyper-emotional hate is expressed in words and deeds. We see this type of hyper-emotionalism everywhere, even in the Church.
We have all heard people demand that their emotions be catered to, such as a churchgoer saying to a pastor “if you teach that subject again I won’t be coming back”. Or, “the music is too loud, if you do not turn it down I won’t come back”. Simply put, this is manipulation, witchcraft. It is not that the person is a practicing “witch” in a coven, but this person could be controlled by demons and they act out to get their way. Demons are with us from birth. They know everything about us; they know about our families and our friends. Sometimes when trying to force their point, people will invoke the name of God in saying that they can’t participate in something because God won’t let them. Once again uncontrolled demons use manipulation. In these cases demons are in charge. Demons tell everyone what they think and how they feel through the person they are housed in, and if they are not catered to, they cry that they have been unjustly treated. Victimization.
Let’s take a look at Ahab and see what we can determine about his behavior. We should note that in the Septuagint this chapter is in 3 Kings 20, and in the KJV it is 1 Kings 21.
3 Kings 20:1 And Nabuthai the Jezraelite had a vineyard, near the threshingfloor of Achaab king of Samaria. 2 And Achaab spoke to Nabuthai, saying, Give me thy vineyard, and I will have it for a garden of herbs, for it is near my house: and I will give thee another vineyard better than it; or if it please thee, I will give thee money, the price of this thy vineyard, and I will have it for a garden of herbs. 3 And Nabuthai said to Achaab, My God forbid me that I should give thee the inheritance of my fathers.
Ahab’s mistake here is to think that a family owned vineyard is not important to Naboth and his family. Ahab is being reasonable with his offer if Naboth didn’t care about the vineyard, or care about the land. But he did care.
3 Kings 20:4 And the spirit of Achaab was troubled, and he lay down upon his bed, and covered his face, and ate no bread.
We see that Ahab has a bit of his own manipulation going on here. He is whiny and pouting, hiding in bed, behaving as if he is defeated. If a manipulative person wants someone else to do something for them they play the waif. “Oh poor me, I am sad, I can’t have what I want.” This is the first manipulation. If Ahab was an honest man he would have recognized that the vineyard was important to Naboth and he would have respected Naboth for his position. Then Ahab would have moved on to find a different plot of land for an herb garden.
3 Kings 20: 5 And Jezabel his wife went in to him, and spoke to him, saying, Why is thy spirit troubled, and why dost thou eat no bread?
It would not be manipulation if someone didn’t notice the waif in his sullen state. This causes Jezebel to question what the waif, Ahab, was upset about. Jezebel has no emotional connection to the people of Israel. She does not care about them or Yahweh.
3 Kings 20:6 And he said to her, Because I spoke to Nabuthai the Jezraelite, saying, Give me thy vineyard for money; or if thou wilt, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers.
Ahab whines about the conversation that he had with Naboth. Now to think a little deeper about this, Ahab could not just take the land, that would have made him look bad in the eyes of the people. Ahab could not do this for himself. So in his best helpless voice, acting the part of a sad sap, he shows himself to be powerless and weak.
3 Kings 20:7 And Jezabel his wife said to him, Dost thou now thus act the king over Israel? arise, and eat bread, and be thine own master, and I will give thee the vineyard of Nabuthai the Jezraelite.
Jezebel says to “snap out of it, stop acting like a baby, I’ll get the land for you”. The master manipulator played his hand well. Jezebel is a doer. She doesn’t care about the people or what this looks like. She now uses her demons to orchestrate Naboth’s murder.
3 Kings 20:8 And she wrote a letter in the name of Achaab, and sealed it with his seal, and sent the letter to the elders, and to the freemen who dwelt with Nabuthai.
She used Ahab’s seal. This looks like it is coming from Ahab. The elders are people who are Israelites who manage public affairs. The freemen are people who are free from Mosaic law, meaning they are not Israelites. These people may have come to the northern kingdom with Jezebel. They dwelt with Naboth, or they worked for Naboth in his vineyard. It looks like Jezebel is stirring up the workers against their boss.
3 Kings 20:9 And it was written in the letters, saying, Keep a fast, and set Naboth in a chief place among the people.
Jezebel tells them to fast a fast and then set their boss Naboth at the head of the people. First of all, Jezebel is pretending to be Ahab in her letter and in her commands. If the people working for Naboth were honest people then they would have questioned all of this, however they did not. What they did instead was that they went along with it. Some of the head elders and freemen had been talking to Jezebel prior to this letter. She was using her influence ahead of the letter to get cooperation. The next sentence tells us how we know that she was working with these men ahead of time.
3 Kings 20:10 And set two men, sons of transgressors, before him, and let them testify against him, saying, He blessed God and the king: and let them lead him forth, and stone him, and let them die.
The phrase “sons of transgressors” is translated as “sons of Belial” in the Masoretic Text. These two men are sons of lawless men, which tells us that these were not devoutly religious people. The word blessed is the same in all texts, Hebrew and Greek, but English translators changed the word to curse. The word ηὐλόγησε in the Brenton Greek means “he confessed” and in the LXXWH ηυλογησεν means “he hated it”. The word translated “blessed” is ευλογηκας in all other Greek and Hebrew translations. By the time the Septuagint was being written this word might have been unusually translated as blessed. It is more likely that the two sons of Belial said “he hated God and king” rather than the two sons of Belial saying that Naboth cursed God and king. The sons of lawbreakers did not have to accurately repeat anything Naboth said, all they had to do was accuse him of saying or doing something wrong. Then they would take Naboth out and stone him. They were to accuse Naboth, then stone him; without a judge or any witnesses, the people would take the law into their own hands.
Does this sound similar to the Jews yelling “crucify him, crucify him” regarding Jesus, as well as the Jews yelling to “let his blood be on us and our children”? Something stirred these people into a frenzy, just as the people who stoned Naboth on the word of two second generation evil men. Someone could have asked for the credentials of the two sons of Belial.
Jezebel could not have done this alone. She would not have promised favors for the accusers of Naboth, but demons could cause people to believe that Naboth hated the Elohim and the king. Demons could have been sent ahead of time so that after the fast when they honored Naboth, the demons were ready and waiting. This is called witchcraft. Witchcraft is manipulation, intimidation, and domination. It is reflected in a person’s behavior toward others, and it is also reflected in activating demons into a situation that someone wants to control. In effect, in both cases, demons are in control.
3 Kings 20:11 And the men of his city, the elders, and the nobles who dwelt in his city, did as Jezabel sent to them, and as it had been written in the letters which she sent to them.
Jezebel didn’t need a large group of people to stir up the crowd, just enough to be used by demons and send them out to the others. Remember, the people think that Ahab is writing and requesting this.
3 Kings 20:12 And they proclaimed a fast, and set Nebuthai in a chief place among the people.
Imagine the people in Jezreel who did not know that there was a plan to kill Naboth. The people would have fasted and thought highly of Naboth. They would not know that they had been summoned for a stoning.
3 Kings 20:13 And two men, sons of transgressors, came in, and sat opposite him, and bore witness against him, saying, Thou hast blessed God and the king. And they led him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, and he died.
The second generation lawless men sat opposite Naboth. Again, the idea of blessed is more likely that the evil men said Naboth confessed that he hated God and the king. It is one thing to lie about someone, but the two men must have used some demonic power to get the people to believe them. People who were Naboth’s employees were ready to have him murdered.
3 Kings 20:14 And they sent to Jezabel, saying, Nabuthai is stoned, and is dead. 15 And it came to pass, when Jezabel heard it, that she said to Achaab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Nabuthai the Jezraelite, who would not sell it to thee: for Nebuthai is not alive, for he is dead.
We know that they also stoned Naboth’s family, which had to be done otherwise Naboth’s sons would have inherited the vineyard.
2Ki 9:25 Then said Jehu to Bidkar his captain, Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite: for remember how that, when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, the LORD laid this burden upon him;
2Ki 9:26 Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith the LORD; and I will requite thee in this plat, saith the LORD. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground, according to the word of the LORD.
Ahab tears his clothes and puts on sackcloth, mourning Naboth. This seems odd. Ahab is playing a part, he is an actor.
3 Kings 20:16 And it came to pass, when Achaab heard that Nabuthai the Jezraelite was dead, that he rent his garments, and put on sackcloth. And it came to pass afterward, that Achaab arose and went down to the vineyard of Nabuthai the Jezraelite, to take possession of it.
In this instance the Masorteic text and consequently the modern translations all leave out this phrase “he rent his garments and put on sackcloth”, but all the Greek translations have it stated. The modern translators put this phrase after Elijah rebukes him. Ahab was supposed to be a Hebrew, following Mosaic law, he himself could not bring a false witness. However, he wanted people to think that he was sad that Naboth blasphemed the Elohim. He mourned Naboth, but remember, the people thought that the letter came from him, even though Jezebel orchestrated the entire thing. Ahab is met by Elijah on his way to the vineyard.
3 Kings 20:17 And the Lord spoke to Eliu the Thesbite, saying, 18 Arise, and go down to meet Achaab king of Israel, who is in Samaria, for he is in the vineyard of Nabuthai, for he has gone down thither to take possession of it. 19 And thou shalt speak to him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as thou hast slain and taken possession, therefore thus saith the Lord, In every place where the swine and the dogs have licked the blood of Nabuthai, there shall the dogs lick thy blood; and the harlots shall wash themselves in thy blood. 20 And Achaab said to Eliu, Hast thou found me, mine enemy? and he said, I have found thee: because thou hast wickedly sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger; 21 behold, I bring evil upon thee: and I will kindle a fire after thee, and I will utterly destroy every male of Achaab, and him that is shut up and him that is left in Israel. 22 And I will make thy house as the house of Jeroboam the son of Nabat, and as the house of Baasa son of Achia, because of the provocations wherewith thou hast provoked me, and caused Israel to sin. 23 And the Lord spoke of Jezabel, saying, The dogs shall devour her within the fortification of Jezrael. 24 Him that is dead of Achaab in the city shall the dogs eat, and him that is dead of him in the field shall the birds of the sky eat.
http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Kings%20III/index.htm
Elijah tells Ahab that he trafficked (pipraskō praō, sold) himself in manipulation (matēn, folly) and manufactured wickedness before the face of Yahweh. Ahab manipulated Jezebel and Jezebel manufactured Naboth’s death. Ahab then manipulated the people into thinking that he was mourning Naboth’s death. What we see from this story is that demons were in charge of everything from Ahab’s desire for the vineyard, to Jezebel’s solution, to Ahab’s pretend mourning. Demons controlled the entire situation. How is it that the people were so convinced of Naboth’s sin that they stoned him and his family? How could they be so blind? How could they believe the lie?
What would we do if we heard about a plot to kill someone? As spiritual warriors we would dive into warfare, we would fight to bind up the demons and loose angels to stop the event. Here is something to keep in mind; whether casting out demons or stopping a spiritual war, we need to be prayed up and we need to fast. Remember what Jesus told the disciples when he came down from the mountain of transfiguration?
Mat 17:16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
Mat 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
Mat 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Mat 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Mat 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
The word “kind” here is genos. This genetically modified spirit only goes out in prayer proseuchē, and fasting. This genos will only come out in prayer and fasting. This genos is harder to extract, but our faith will do many miracles and nothing is impossible for us. However we need to pray and fast regularly. This is how we stay battle-ready against witchcraft. Notice that Jesus says the entire generation is perverted and faithless. The entire generation at the time of Jesus had been twisted and distorted. It has only gotten worse. Paul and Silas were on their way to pray when they had an encounter with a demon that they cast out.
Acts 16:16 G1096 And it came to pass G1161 G4198 of our going G1473 G1519 unto G4335 prayer, G3814 a certain maidservant G5100 G2192 having G4151 a spirit G4436 of python G528 met G1473 us, G3748 which G2039 [3work G4183 2much G3930 1furnished] G3588 G2962 to her masters G1473 G3132 divining oracles.
This woman possessed a spirit of puthōn, python. The mythological python was a serpent slain by Apollo that had guarded the oracle at Delphi. It is a divining spirit, or a spirit of fortune telling, predicting the future. Generally speaking, any soothsayer claiming to see the future is simply in communication with the person’s own demons so that they plan some event in the future and lead the person into it. It is not truly seeing into the future it is creating the future events.
Act 16:17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
This woman was telling the truth. However, she may have been saying it in a way that was mocking or condescending. She was not calling people to salvation, she was mocking the Most High God. Just like Elymas, she thought her power was greater than Paul, Silas, Luke, and the rest. She was using manipulation and intimidation to keep people away from these men.
Acts 16:18 G3778 And this G1161 G4160 she did G1909 for G4183 many G2250 days. G1278 [3being worked up G1161 1And G3588 G* 2Paul], G2532 and G1994 having turned, G3588 [2to the G4151 3spirit G2036 1said], G3853 I summon G1473 to you G1722 in G3588 the G3686 name G* of Jesus G5547 Christ, G1831 to come forth G575 from G1473 her. G2532 And G1831 it came forth G1473 the same G3588 G5610 hour.
3853 LSJ Gloss:παραγγέλλω to transmit as a message
Dodson:παραγγέλλω I notify, command, charge I notify, command, charge, entreat solemnly.
TBESG:παραγγέλλω to order
G:V
Thayer:
1) to transmit a message along from one to another, to declare, announce
2) to command, order, charge
For Synonyms see entry G5844
παραγγέλλω
paraggellō par-ang-gel'-lo From G3844 and the base of G32; to transmit a message, that is, (by implication) to enjoin KJV Usage: (give in) charge, (give) command (-ment), declare.
Paul, Silas, and the others including Luke, were hearing her mock them and the Most High God every day, maybe several times per day, as they walked to the synagogue. Paul had been so annoyed, he had had enough. She must have yelled this out as Paul and the others had already passed her because Paul turned around and then spoke directly to the spirit. The word “summon” here is paraggellō it is a compound word from para, meaning “near” and aggelos meaning “messenger”. The translation is not just to command or transmit a message, it goes deeper. It is more like sending an angel near to extract the demon from her. It is more than an exhortation, it is a command or demand. Notice how Jeremiah uses this word.
Jeremiah 51:27 G142 Lift up G4592 a sign G1909 upon G3588 the G1093 earth! G4537 Trump G1722 among G1484 the nations G4536 with a trumpet! G37 Sanctify G1909 [2against G1473 3her G1484 1 the nations]! G3853 Exhort G1909 [2against G1473 3her G932 1kingdoms] -- G* Ararat G3844 by G1473 me, G2532 and G3588 to the G* Ashchenazi! G2186 Set G1909 against G1473 her G956.1 a range of weapons! G307 Haul G1909 against G1473 her G2462 the horses G5613 as G200 [2of locusts G4128 1a multitude]!
Jeremiah is calling down curses on Babylon, he later says that Babylon is appointed for extinction. In the same way, Paul is using this command, calling on angels to come into the situation just as Jeremiah did. Jesus summoned an unclean spirit as well.
Luke 8:29 G3853 For he summoned G1063 G3588 the G4151 [2spirit G3588 G169 1unclean] G1831 to come forth G575 from G3588 the G444 man. G4183 For many G1063 G5550 times G4884 it seized him with force, G1473 G2532 and G1196 he was bound G254 in chains, G2532 and G3976 [2in shackles G5442 1being kept]; G2532 and G1284 tearing up G3588 the G1199 bonds G1643 he was driven G5259 by G3588 the G1142 demon G1519 into G3588 the G2048 wildernesses.
While this can be a simple exhortation or order asking people to do something, it can also be a power filled command in which angels take up the charge. In several instances it is angels coming near to the situation. This caused a lot of drama in the city because the women could no longer make money for her masters. Paul and Silas went to prison, sang and praised the Elohim in prison, and an earthquake opened the prison doors and unfastened their shackles. Seems like angelic intervention.
Demons were in charge of people’s lives in Delphi. They were not only giving false information to people, they were creating situations so that the people would believe this soothsayer. They manipulated people into paying for a soothsayer to tell them what would happen in their future.Then demons go out and make it happen. With the demons in charge of the city, the people of the city did not know or understand the demonic influence that they were under. The demons saw Paul, Silas, Luke, and the others in the town and it stirred up the people, making the people emotional. In fact, just the presence of the Christians in that place made the people tear off Paul and Silas’ clothes and beat them. What makes people so hyper-emotional that they can’t even listen to Paul and Silas speak? Notice what they say.
Act 16:19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
Act 16:20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
Act 16:21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
Paul, Silas, and the others were teaching the way of salvation, just as the woman said. They were teaching people that Jesus loved them so much that he died for them. They were teaching the way to eternal life. They probably said the name Jesus Christ or Jesus the Messiah many times.
Act 16:22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
Act 16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
Act 16:24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
Act 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Act 16:26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
Act 16:27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
The Lord knows how to deliver the righteous out of trials. In this case, Paul and Silas simply made the best of where they were, and that was enough to get the jailer saved and baptized along with his family. The power of the Most High God was made known in Philippi first when the demon was cast out of the soothsayer and second when the earthquake opened the prison and the shackles fell off Paul and Silas. Paul and Silas were not leaving Philippi quietly, they demanded the magistrates come and get them out of jail. Instead of leaving town, Paul and Silas went to Lydia’s house and stayed with the believers for a while.
When we ask about demons running this town, we see that there were people who could not hear the name of Jesus. Even with miracles done in their city, the politicians did not want to hear about salvation. Demons do not want people hearing about Jesus or salvation. In this city they had a stronghold over the people. Anything that went against their fortune tellers was something that they would attack. There is another city, Ephesus, that seemed to have a demonic stronghold where demons inspired the people to riot when they felt their idols were threatened.
Act 19:23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.
Act 19:24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
Act 19:25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
The idol makers of Ephesus were meeting because Paul had been in Ephesus teaching about Jesus. He led people into the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Paul established a house church and waited for Timotheus and Erastus, who were in Macedonia, before going to Jerusalem. But these idol makers had to get people of Ephesus stirred up to protect their own wealth. Demetrius continues.
Act 19:26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
Act 19:27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
It seems like an emotional manipulation. Instead of making idols they could make ashtrays, but they make a lot of money from their idols. All the idol-makers start chanting and that inspires the whole city to chant “Great is Diana of the Ephesians”.
Act 19:28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
The idol makers were covered over with wrath. Wrath is hot anger, or emotional fierceness. How do people become full of wrath? Demons inspire people to feel mistreated, victimized. Whether people are truly mistreated is not the point, the “record” of injustice plays over and over again until they are triggered emotionally, and wrath covers over them. They can’t stop being wrathful, they have to let it out. This is manipulation by either someone telling another that they are a victim or by demons telling the person housing them that they are a victim.
Act 19:29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
Confusion is always a trademark of demon interaction as the Elohim is not the author of confusion. This word confusion is sugchusis meaning “riotous disturbance”. The people of the city saw the wrathful covered men and they became riotous. Were the other people in the city losing money from low idol sales? No. People with demons get carried away with other people who are rioting. We see that today. Some people don’t know why they are rioting, or what started the riot, but they join in. Here the idol makers saw a couple of people that were with Paul and they rushed into the amphitheater.
Act 19:30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
Act 19:31 And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.
Good thing Paul did not go in, he had to go to Jerusalem. The crowd was so worked up that they would have killed Paul.
Act 19:32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
The crowd was thrown into disorder, sugcheō, and people were yelling different things. Most people didn’t know what was happening and why they were all there. The riot continued for two hours. The people were manipulated into an emotional frenzy by the idol maker who didn’t want to make anything different. Demetrius then manipulated the other idol makers into thinking that they could not make anything different. Then the people in the city were upset that something was happening and they were manipulated to yell for two hours.
When Paul finally gets to Jerusalem he is manipulated by James and the elders. The regular believers were glad to see Paul.
Act 21:17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
Act 21:18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
Act 21:19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
Paul had been seeing great things all over Asia. Now pay close attention as to how Luke wrote this.
Act 21:20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord,…
This part is good, but it is a very short statement. Paul wanted to be in Jerusalem for Pentecost, so many Jews were in town. James and the elders did not really care about Paul. They didn’t protect him or try to defend him. Remember, Paul always brought the tithes from the Asian house churches to Jerusalem. They should have been grateful, but instead they were more concerned about themselves.
…and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
Act 21:21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
Act 21:22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
In other words, ‘Paul, forget everything you learned over fourteen years in the desert with the Essenes, and do what we say so the people won’t be upset at your arrival’. To appease the people they tell Paul to take a Nazarite vow for seven days to show the people that Paul keeps the law. They then tell Paul to pay for four others taking the Nazarite vow. But the Jews from Asia manipulated the Jews in Jerusalem with a lie.
Act 21:27 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,
Act 21:28 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.
Act 21:29 (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
They thought Paul brought Trophimus into the temple, they didn’t actually see it, but they thought it. Or did they imagine it? Or did their demons tells them this lie? Or did someone want Paul out of the way?
Acts 21:30 G2795 And [4was shaken up G5037 5indeed G3588 1the G4172 3city G3650 2entire], G2532 and G1096 there became G4890 a stampede G3588 G2992 of people. G2532 And G1949 having taken hold of G3588 G* Paul, G1670 they drew G1473 him G1854 outside G3588 the G2413 temple; G2532 and G2112 immediately G2808 they locked G3588 the G2374 doors.
31 G2212 And seeking G1161 G1473 to kill him, G615 G305 [2ascended G5334 1a report] G3588 to the G5506 commander G3588 of the G4686 cohort, G3754 that G3650 all G4797 Jerusalem was in tumult. G*
Paul had spent seven days in the temple in a Nazarite vow. He hadn’t left the temple. If Trophimus had been in the temple, then someone else would have let him in. Logic and rationale is never used when people are controlled by demons who are running things. Because of hyper-emotionalism, the people possessed by demons believed a lie and started a stampede. They grabbed Paul and pulled him outside the temple and then they closed the temple doors. They wanted to kill Paul. What kind of emotional frenzy is this? People don’t stop and think about all the facts? So far as we have seen they never do, because demons are in control. People controlled by demons run on emotion. Where were James and the elders? Where were the Christian leaders in Jerusalem? Why did James and the elders manipulate Paul into taking a Nazarite vow?
The entire ordeal that Paul went through exposed the evil that had entered the Church. Paul was a Pharisee who murdered Christians. When Jesus enters his life, he spends fourteen years studying, and then he goes out to evangelize all of Asia, sending money to Jerusalem. But by this time the church had become corrupt. James and the elders never came to Paul’s aid. Were James and the elders worshipping satan? No, but they were certainly influenced by demons to manipulate the situation. Is it possible that James and the elders started the rumor of Paul bringing a Greek man into the temple to get rid of Paul?
It seems as if James and the elders wanted Paul out of the way. They didn’t seem particularly excited about Paul preaching in Asia to the nations. It is interesting that there were so many Jews who said they were Christians but insisted on keeping the law that James and the elders seem to be concerned about them being upset that Paul was in town. Were James and the elders kowtowing to these people? Or were James and the elders on board with these people who claimed they were Christians, but really Jews keeping the law? Did James and the elders minister to Paul and the new Christian nations? No. Did James and the elders support Paul in Asia? No. Did James and the elders have this conversation previously with Paul? Yes, Acts 15. Did they think that Paul would fail and that this would be a non-issue? Maybe. Were the first century church leaders in Jerusalem satanists? No. Were they from the seed of the serpent like the Pharisees? No. Whatever happened during these in-between years it seems that by this time James and the elders were more concerned about appeasing these pretend Christians who were keeping the law and forcing others to do the same. Therefore they fell into manipulation.
The way Luke communicates this story is to simply omit James and the elders. From this point in time through to today, Paul is the one who taught and grew the church with his writings. If it had not been for Paul writing letters while in prison we would not be as educated as we are. Yet we are saddened to see demons taking over the first century church to the end that it was in agreement with the attempted murder of Paul. If it wasn’t for Luke, the Greek Physician recording these events, the first century church would have buried Paul’s stories.
Just as we see Masoretic alterations in the old covenant text and we recognize it is a manipulation of the words of the Holy Spirit to keep people from learning about Jesus, the first century church tried to manipulate Christians by telling them that they should be like the “believing” Jews who kept the law. In both circumstances, demons were in control. Jesus never manipulates us. He allows us to choose. He gives us freedom. Demons enslave people with emotion and victim mentality. Demons seem to be allowed to act out in our present culture. Yet it is the Churches’ responsibility to teach people how to extract demons, and to teach people to have self control to keep them out. If we stay silent and appease people who are acting out, then we are not helping anyone. More prayer and more fasting are in order; and maybe it is time for the church to have this conversation out in the open.
