Paul faced two main difficulties according to the passages: 1) Being misunderstood by others who heard false rumors about what he preached. This led people like the elders in Jerusalem to question him. 2) Being directly attacked and persecuted for preaching about Christianity. In the temple, Paul was seized by a mob, dragged out, and they tried to kill him due to accusations that he taught against Jewish law. Both of these difficulties stemmed from spreading the message of Christianity.

2. Then all the city was s.rred up, and the people
ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him
out of the temple, and at once the gates were
shut. And as they were seeking to kill him, word
came to the tribune of the cohort that all
Jerusalem was in confusion. He at once took
soldiers and centurions and ran down to them.
And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers,
they stopped bea.ng Paul.
Acts 21:30-­‐32 (ESV)

3. Paul Had 2 Kinds of Trouble:
1. THE DIFFICULTY OF BEING MISUNDERSTOOD

4. When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers
received us gladly. On the following day Paul
went in with us to James, and all the elders were
present. ARer gree.ng them, he related one by
one the things that God had done among the
Gen.les through his ministry. And when they
heard it, they glorified God. And they said to
him, “You see, brother, how many thousands
there are among the Jews of those who have
believed.

5. They are all zealous for the law, and they have
been told about you that you teach all the Jews
who are among the Gen.les to forsake Moses,
telling them not to circumcise their children or
walk according to our customs. What then is to
be done? They will certainly hear that you have
come.
Acts 21:17-­‐22 (ESV)

6. Now before faith came, we were held cap.ve
under the law, imprisoned un.l the coming faith
would be revealed. So then, the law was our
guardian un.l Christ came, in order that we
might be jus.fied by faith. But now that faith
has come, we are no longer under a guardian,
Gala5ans 3:23-­‐25 (ESV)

7. Con.nue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in
it with thanksgiving. At the same .me, pray also
for us, that God may open to us a door for the
word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on
account of which I am in prison— that I may
make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
Colossians 4:2-­‐4 (ESV)

8. Paul Had 2 Kinds of Trouble:
1. THE DIFFICULTY OF BEING MISUNDERSTOOD
2. THE DIFFICULTY OF BEING ATTACKED

9. When the seven days were almost completed, the
Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, s.rred up
the whole crowd and laid hands on him, crying out,
“Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is
teaching everyone everywhere against the people
and the law and this place. Moreover, he even
brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this
holy place.” For they had previously seen Trophimus
the Ephesian with him in the city, and they
supposed that Paul had brought him into the
temple.

10. Then all the city was s.rred up, and the people
ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him
out of the temple, and at once the gates were
shut. And as they were seeking to kill him, word
came to the tribune of the cohort that all
Jerusalem was in confusion. He at once took
soldiers and centurions and ran down to them.
And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers,
they stopped bea.ng Paul.
Acts 21:27-­‐32 (ESV)

11. Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when
it comes upon you to test you, as though something
strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar
as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also
rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you
are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed,
because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon
you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a
thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone
suffers as a Chris.an, let him not be ashamed, but
let him glorify God in that name.
1 Peter 4:12-­‐16 (ESV)

12. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet
trials of various kinds, for you know that the
tes.ng of your faith produces steadfastness. And
let steadfastness have its full effect, that you
may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-­‐4 (ESV)