11
On another occasion, Philip was told that some Jews had gathered in a nearby cave to observe the Sabbath in secret. Philip attacked and burned them all alive. They had such respect for the Sabbath that they would not fight to defend themselves.
12
I beg you not to become discouraged as you read about the terrible things that happened. Consider that this was the Lord's way of punishing his people, not of destroying them.
13
In fact, it is a sign of kindness to punish a person immediately for his sins, rather than to wait a long time.
14
The Lord does not treat us as he does other nations: he waits patiently until they have become deeply involved in sin before he punishes them,
15
but he punishes us before we have sinned too much.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.