Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. – Acts 14:19

Today’s Scripture Reading (November 10, 2014): Acts 14

On August 28, 1963, the March on Washington in support of Human Rights took place. The March is remembered as one of the largest Human Right marches in the history of the United States. By the time that the march had ended, somewhere around a quarter of a million people had been involved marched on Washington. The march, which was in support of African American rights, was predominately carried out by black protesters, but there was a significant number of protestors of other nationalities who wanted to support their Black brothers and sisters.

Part of the miracle of the march was that it was organized largely by word of mouth. Supporters all over the United States sold buttons that advertised the march. And as a result of these efforts, almost all modes of transportation coming into the Washington area were filled with protestors. Some protestors arrived riding on buses that drove all night from places in the area (for instance, Boston) to get the protestors to Washington before the march. Organizers hoped for 100,000 people to join in the march, but in the end more than two and a half times that number showed up – and the very political fabric of the United States was shaken as a result.

The truth is that it has become a political staple to seed protestors in one city with supporters from other places. Nothing draws attention like a large crowd, and organizers understand that. And so the buses bring the people in to swell the crowds and put pressure on politicians to make change – it is just the reality of modern day politics.

And apparently it was also a staple of ancient politics. Luke comments that Jews came to Lystra from as far away as Antioch and Iconium. Iconium may make some sense; the city was about fifteen miles to the Northeast of Lystra. But Antioch was probably about 100 miles away, which is quite a distance to travel in Ancient times.

Yet they overcame the distance and traveled to Lystra. And by the time that they arrived they were wanting blood. There is absolutely no mention of a trial, or even charges, against Paul. But apparently that didn’t matter. And while the stoning of Paul might have seemed to be a “spur of the moment’ decision, that might not have case. And the reason is that it was Paul that was stoned, and Barnabas apparently was overlooked – this in spite of the fact that the people in Lystra actually seemed to believe that Barnabas was the chief God – calling him Zeus – and that Paul was just his spokesperson. But the Jews knew better. Paul was the real danger to everything that they believed, and as they brought in their supporters, it was Paul that was the object of their hatred – and it was Paul’s life that was on the line.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: James 1