A False Report

In Jerusalem some men saw Paul with Trophimus in the city, and they “supposed that Paul had brought” him “into the temple” (Acts 21:29). They shouted it, and “all the city was disturbed” (21:30). A guess became a riot.

God’s command. Long before, God gave His people this law: “You shall not circulate a false report” (Exodus 23:1). To circulate means to pass something around from person to person.

What a false report is. A false report is a story about someone that is not true. It might be a lie. It might also be a guess that people repeat as if it were a fact.

Taking sides. The same verse says, “Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness” (23:1). An unrighteous witness tells untrue things about another person.

The listener matters. “An evildoer gives heed to false lips; a liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue” (Proverbs 17:4). To give heed means to pay close attention. God cares about what we listen to, not only about what we say.

Spiteful words. Spiteful means meant to hurt. Some stories get passed around because people enjoy hearing something bad about someone else.

Friends torn apart. “He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends” (Proverbs 17:9). A transgression is a wrong someone has done. Spreading it around can break up friendships.

Covering is not hiding harm. Covering a wrong in love means forgiving it and not spreading it. It never means keeping harm a secret. If someone is being hurt, tell a parent, a teacher or another grown-up you trust.

What happened to Paul. The men from Asia did not check what they thought they had seen. They cried it out, and the crowd acted on it. Paul was beaten before anyone asked him what he had done.

Jesus knows. People told untrue stories about Jesus too. At His trial “many bore false witness against Him” (Mark 14:56).

A good report. Words can also build people up. When you know something good and true about someone, tell that instead.

Before you pass it on. Ask yourself: Is it true? Do I know it is true? Will telling it help or hurt?

The truth about us. God knows the whole truth about each of us, and we have all sinned. Yet Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again. He forgives everyone who trusts Him.

What to do. This week, if you hear a story about someone, do not pass it on unless you know it is true and kind.

In Jerusalem, “some among the multitude cried one thing and some another,” and the commander “could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult” (Acts 21:34). To ascertain means to find out for sure.

Bound first. The commander had Paul bound with two chains before he knew who Paul was (21:33). Later he planned to have him whipped to find out why the crowd shouted (22:24).

Afraid afterward. When he learned that Paul was a Roman citizen, “the commander was also afraid” (22:29). He had acted before he knew the facts.

A crowd is not a judge. “You shall not follow a crowd to do evil” (Exodus 23:2). Many voices shouting together do not make something true.

Keep far away. “Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked” (Exodus 23:7). God always judges by the truth.

Nicodemus. Years earlier, the leaders in Jerusalem had made up their minds about Jesus without listening to Him. Nicodemus was one of those leaders, and he had once come to Jesus by night (John 7:50).

His question. Nicodemus asked, “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” (John 7:51). God’s law said to hear first and judge after.

The answer he got. The others said, “Are you also from Galilee?” (John 7:52). Instead of answering his question, they made fun of him.

Paul’s fair question. Paul did not shout back. He asked, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?” (Acts 22:25). Uncondemned means not found guilty. Paul asked to be treated fairly.

Ask, do not assume. The commander could have asked Paul first. A simple question can stop a wrong guess before it grows.

Hear both sides. When two friends argue, it is easy to believe the first one you hear. A fair person listens to both before deciding.

The Judge who sees. God sees everything, and He never judges by guessing. Jesus is the only One who never deserved to be judged at all.

The gospel. We have all sinned, and God knows it. But Jesus, who was innocent, died on the cross for our sins and rose again. Everyone who trusts Him is forgiven.

What to do. Be slow to judge and quick to listen. Pray for the people others are quick to blame.