For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, “Away with him!” Acts 21:36

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In the previous verse, the violence of the mob necessitated that Paul be carried by the Roman cohort that had arrested him. To explain the matter further, Luke next says, “For the multitude of the people followed after.”

The angry mob, as so often happens, was unwilling to allow the soldiers to do their duties unhindered. Once Paul was arrested, one would think the people would be satisfied and leave him to the Romans to be dealt with. However, they were so worked up that they were determined to follow, attempting to get their hands on him. As they went, they were “crying out, ‘Away with him!’”

The word translated as “away” is airo. It means to lift up, take off, or remove. Our modern word aero, such as in an aerodrome, finds its root here. It is the same word, in the same angry voice, that was used in Luke 23:18 and John 19:15. For example, it says in Luke 23:18 –

“And they all cried out at once, saying, ‘Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas.’”

The same word will be used in Acts 22:22, where its full intent and sense will be clearly given –

“And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, ‘Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!’”

The intent for Jesus as He stood before Israel at Passover, and for Paul now in Acts, is that these crowds wanted them killed.

Life application: The same sentiment has been brought against faithful believers innumerable times over the past two thousand years. Today, it is a common event to see people demanding that Christians be executed for supposed crimes against Islam. Even when the person has done nothing wrong, false charges of blasphemy are conjured up by the rabid accusers.

This is becoming much more common in the West as well. Marxist groups are becoming more and more unfriendly to Christianity. Churches are targeted, politicians on the left cry out untrue accusations, and schools are filled with people who literally hate the idea of Christianity being proclaimed.

These things will never get better. The world is on a course against God, and it is the Bible that properly reveals who He is and how He has displayed Himself in human history. Because of this, the nations hate Israel as well. It isn’t that Israel is right with God, but that God has covenanted with them as a nation. If Israel could be destroyed, then it would prove that the Bible was not truly the word of God.

It is understood from the Bible that Israel will not be right with God until they come to Jesus. Therefore, even Jews hate the complete message of Scripture as revealed in the New Testament. It is why so many Jewish people actively work against Christianity.

Any attack against you simply because you are a faithful Christian, or against your faith because it is biblically based, is an attack against the God who has saved you and who has revealed Himself in Scripture as having done so. Expect this, and do not be surprised as these things occur.

Lord God Almighty, we know that it is in Your power to simply eradicate all the evil in the world today. We also know that You have not done so yet because You have a plan that is greater than our short existence. So, Lord, help us to be patient in our waiting upon You. Should trials come, give us the strength and wisdom to handle them appropriately. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.