23 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air,
Every culture has its own ways of showing distress. We start riots burning cars, buildings, destroying property, shouting demonstrations, banners and police riot gear. All these are ways to publically display distress. This was a riot scene that was about to get out of hand. Paul is at the center of this disturbance. He said the dreaded word “Gentiles” and the crowd of Jews went crazy. They want to kill him. So they do what is culturally acceptable when there is great distress. They throw off their outer garments and throw dust in the air. It must have been quite a scene, this large group of men throwing dust in the air and shouting loudly. The Romans would have been watching from the walls to make sure things didn’t get out of hand. Riots can get out of hand very quickly. We have seen it on the news what can happen when the crowd mentality gets on a roll. First a trashcan lid gets thrown. Then the trash can. Then someone throws a brick through a window. Then someone smashed the window on a car. Before you know it everyone is smashing and throwing. Then the fires get started and millions of dollars of damage happen. We have seen it when a favorite soccer team wins and when they lose. Even radical reactions to cartoons can cause riots. People can use riots to push a political agenda as well. The riot becomes the vehicle to express an opinion that was previously ignored. Riots can turn up the volume when people don’t feel like they are being heard. The “Tea Parties” that happened several months ago show that public gatherings can unite voices and speak in a louder voice that tends to get heard. Every culture has ways to express frustration in public ways. These first century rioters are no exception. Many places around the world still throw dust and tear their clothes when they are publically showing distress. Here in the States we would have to import the dust!
The Arnold Journey 