Today we are reading Acts 23. In this chapter we read about the plot against Paul in Jerusalem. ”When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”“ Acts 23:12-15 ESV This story stands out to me. The extreme hatred that the Jews had toward Paul inspires them to commit murder. 40 of them promise they would not eat or drink anything until they did just that. How long do you think they lasted? They never did kill Paul. Hate is ridiculously foolish. God calls us to love our neighbor and pray for those who persecute us. Who are you tempted to hate? May God give you a merciful heart. Pastor Tim