Yelling "Fire"

Accuracy in quoted material is not nearly as fun as more readily accepted words someone is supposed to have said. I’ve heard that America’s freedom of speech does not cover someone yelling “Fire!” in a crowded theatre. The actual quote in the United States Supreme Court case Schenck v. United States is: “The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man falsely shouting fire in a theater and causing a panic.” And, Schenck v. United States was overthrown (as some Supreme Court cases have been, and others may be in the future!)

But my focus today is on the accuracy of our quotes when we use scripture in our witnessing. The most effective soul-winning witness is done with Bible in hand -- to point out not only where the verse is found, but the context. Surrounding verses are supportive.

If we say a person must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved, we must be able to point out Acts 16:35. The surrounding verses are extremely supportive:

And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. (Acts 16:27-34 KJV)

I love to quote the Ethiopian’s “What does hinder me to be baptized?” and Philips response regarding belief. But I need to be able to point to the full passage, a wonderful tale of God’s reaching out to one seeking Him.

And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Acts 8:26-37 KJV)

What hinders the unsaved? Their lack of belief. What will save them? For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8 KJV)

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Corinthians 9:15 KJ