And some among the multitude cried one thing and some another. So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks. When he reached the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob. For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, "Away with him!" Acts 21:34-36

Beware of Mobs! They are almost always wrong. In fact, as in most cases, both then and now, the individuals in the mob attacking Paul didn’t really know what the uproar was all about. Small minded people follow a crowd. Why? They do not know why. They just get excited and want to join in—especially when the mob is rowdy. Why? Because there is a thirst for lawlessness in many people.

I vacillated between being amused and horrified when people in the BLM riots were interviewed and asked what the protests were about. “Some among the multitude cried one thing and some another.” Clearly there was no specific purpose. Indeed, there is nothing new under the sun.

Is there ever a time to take a stand for something? Yes. But if and when that is true, (a) know what the protest is about (and before joining in, be sure the matter is something the Lord would approve of), and (b) violence is never appropriate.

One of the first Bible verses I taught my daughter was Exodus 23:2. “You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice.”

Beware of Mobs! They are almost always wrong. And indeed, there is nothing new under the sun.