Mob
Summary
An unruly crowd acting with violent emotion rather than reason, appearing several times in the book of Acts opposing the Gospel.
☩At Thessalonica
When Paul and Silas preached in Thessalonica, 'the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar' (Acts 17:5). They attacked Jason's house seeking the apostles, and when they could not find them, dragged Jason before the rulers.
☩At Jerusalem
When Jews from Asia saw Paul in the Temple, 'all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple... and as they went about to kill him' (Acts 21:28, 30-31). Only the intervention of Roman soldiers saved Paul's life. The mob was so violent the soldiers had to carry Paul up the stairs (Acts 21:35).
☩At Ephesus
Demetrius the silversmith stirred up his fellow craftsmen against Paul: 'The whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre' (Acts 19:29). The mob 'cried out about the space of two hours, Great is Diana of the Ephesians' (Acts 19:34). Only the town clerk's appeal to reason and Roman law dispersed the crowd (Acts 19:35-40).