September 10, 2014
Paul’s Arrest
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 21, 27 – 40:
When the seven days were nearly completed, the Jews from the province of Asia noticed Paul in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd, and laid hands on him, shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us. This is the man who is teaching everyone against the people and the law and this place, and what is more, he has even brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this sacred place.” For they had previously seen Trophinus the Ephesian in the city with him and supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. The whole city was in turmoil with people rushing together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the gates were closed. While they were trying to kill him, a report reached the cohort commander that all Jerusalem was rioting. He immediately took soldiers and centurions and charged down on them. When the saw the commander and the soldiers they stopped beating Paul. The cohort commander came forward, arrested him, and ordered him to be secured with two chains; he tried to find out who he might be and what he bad done. Some in the mob shouted one thing, others something else, so , since he was unable to ascertain the truth because of the uproar, he ordered Paul to be brought into the compound. When he reached the steps, he was carried by the solders because of the violence of the mob, for a crowd of people followed and shouted, “Away with him.”
Just as Paul was about to be taken into the compound, he said to the cohort commander, “May I say something to you?” He replied, “Do you speak Greek? So then you are not the Egyptian who started a revolt some time ago and led the four thousand assassins into the desert?” Paul answered, “I am a Jew, of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city. I request you to permit me to speak to the people.” When he had given his permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned with his hand to the people; and when all was quiet he addressed them in Hebrew.
During my ordination in the Immaculate Conception Church in Palmer Road, while I was lying on the floor, a man came up behind me who had a terrible rash for many years. He suffered much from this rash. He knelt down behind me and touched his face with the blanket I was lying on and then return to his bench. The next day when he woke up he found that he was completely healed and that rash never came back again. Praise the Lord.
Below you will find the message of Our Lord and Savior given to Father Melvin. Jesus spoke to him these words,
“Come My brother Melvin and all My brothers and sisters who have dedicated yourselves completely to Me and see how the people have treated My friend, Saint Paul. He was at the temple in Jerusalem when the Jews turned against him and arrested him and beat him. They wanted to kill him. The commander and the soldiers came out running and stopped them. They took Saint Paul in their custody and brought him to their compound. These people had accused Saint Paul of telling all sorts of things against the Jews, the law and the temple. They also said that he had brought Greeks into the temple and this was forbidden. They had not seen the Greeks in the temple but they had seen him with them in the city. When the soldiers brought him to the compound, Saint Paul asked permission to talk to the people. The commander gave him permission. Tomorrow you will read his speech to the Jews.
Saint Paul is a great witness of Mine and he is not afraid to suffer for Me. He is a great believer in Me and he gave His life to follow Me. I love him and I love you all.”
Father Melvin
P.S. We had another beautiful sunny day but it was cooler in the morning. Thank you Lord for another beautiful day.