Passage of the Day - January 17, 2011

Acts 19:31-41

 ³¹Also some of the Asiarchs who were friends of his sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to venture into the theater.
 ³²So then, some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together.
 ³³Some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly.
 ³⁴But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
 ³⁵After quieting the crowd, the town clerk said, "Men of Ephesus, what man is there after all who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of the image which fell down from heaven?
 ³⁶"So, since these are undeniable facts, you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash.
 ³⁷"For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.
 ³⁸"So then, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against any man, the courts are in session and proconsuls are available; let them bring charges against one another.
 ³⁹"But if you want anything beyond this, it shall be settled in the lawful assembly.
 ⁴⁰"For indeed we are in danger of being accused of a riot in connection with today's events, since there is no real cause for it, and in this connection we will be unable to account for this disorderly gathering."
 ⁴¹After saying this he dismissed the assembly.

Verse 37 is the key verse here.  We are to give glory to God, not attack other faiths.  Are they equal, not in the least, but when engaging other peoples, it is wise to not unnecessarily anger them by bad mouthing their religion.  We are to be despised and martyred for our faith, not sentenced to death for illegally blaspheming another faith.  We must choose our words and methods carefully.

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®,
© Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission." (http://www.lockman.org/)