December 3

crying out, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches everywhere against our people and against our law and against this place. Furthermore, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.” — Acts 21:28 BSB

Paul was a victim of gross misrepresentation. He had never spoken against the Jewish people, their law, or the temple. His words had been twisted and distorted into meanings he never intended. Sadly, many people take others' words, misinterpret them, and then spread those false meanings.

Misrepresentation is a serious sin. Many false rumors that destroy reputations begin as simple misunderstandings or inaccurate statements. We must be careful to report the exact truth if we repeat what others have said. It’s common for people to mishear things according to their own biases, and when they repeat those words, they unintentionally distort them further.

When stories pass from person to person, they rarely remain the same. It’s no surprise that Paul didn’t recognize his own words after they had traveled from Ephesus to Jerusalem. Let us learn the importance of accuracy in our words. Inaccuracy, whether intentional or not, is a form of lying!