諾拉參加了和平抗議活動，因為她深切覺得需要伸張正義。按照原定計劃，這是一場無聲的示威活動，抗議者在震懾人心的沉默中於市中心遊行。不久，來了兩輛巴士，從外地趕來的煽動者抵達現場，很快就爆發了騷亂。諾拉失望地離去，而原本立意良善的舉措看似徒勞無功。

當使徒保羅在耶路撒冷的聖殿時，反對保羅的人看見他在殿裡。那些人「從亞西亞來」（使徒行傳21章27節），認為保羅傳講的耶穌，對他們現有的生活方式構成威脅。於是，他們高喊中傷保羅的謊話和謠言，很快就引起了騷亂（28-29節）。一群暴徒將保羅拖出聖殿並毆打他，士兵們則連忙到場處理。

保羅在被捕時，要求對群眾說話（37-38節）。獲准之後，他便用希伯來話對群眾發言，這讓群眾感到意外，也因此安靜聆聽（40節）。就這樣，保羅將一場騷亂化為分享的機會，見證自己如何從死守規條的宗教中得到拯救（22章2-21節）。

縱然有些人崇尚暴力和分裂，但不要灰心，他們不會得勝。上帝正在尋找勇敢的信徒，向這絕望的世界分享祂的光明與和平。有些景況看似是個危機，亦可能成為你向某人彰顯上帝慈愛的機會。

Nora went to the peaceful protest because she felt strongly about the issue of justice. As planned, the demonstration was silent. The protestors walked in powerful quietness through the downtown area.

Then two buses pulled up. Agitators had arrived from out of town. A riot soon broke out. Heartbroken, Nora left. It seemed their good intentions were fruitless.

When the apostle Paul visited the temple at Jerusalem, people who opposed Paul saw him there. They were “from the province of Asia” (Acts 21:27) and viewed Jesus as a threat to their way of life. Shouting lies and rumors about Paul, they quickly stirred up trouble (vv. 28-29). A mob dragged Paul from the temple and beat him. Soldiers came running.

As he was being arrested, Paul asked the Roman commander if he could address the crowd (vv. 37-38). When permission was granted, he spoke to the crowd in their own language, surprising them and seizing their attention (v. 40). And just like that, Paul had turned a riot into an opportunity to share his story of rescue from dead religion (22:2-21).

Some people love violence and division. Don’t lose heart. They will not win. God is looking for courageous believers to share His light and peace with our desperate world. What seems like a crisis might be your opportunity to show someone God’s love.