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In the ancient world, the captivity of the sanctuary furniture and vessels was a potent symbol: the Babylonian gods were being touted as far more powerful than the God of Abraham. How else could you explain that God's temple vessels were now subject to Babylonian deities? That was the ultimate humiliation: your God had, symbolically, become a servant of their gods.

Nearly 20 years ago, I donned a police officer's uniform for the very first time. I spent the first few months riding with other officers. Then one day, it was my turn to solo. I recall having a healthy balance of nervousness and excitement. I was excited to be on my own. I was a full-fledged officer and could now make decisions without having to ask my partner. On the other hand, I did not have a partner in the car with me. The years of wisdom—which I had learned to rely on—were gone. Now I was on my own. That was a bit frightening. 

Nevermind that he was a deposed conqueror, and nevermind the fact that any one of us would have found the home utterly massive and luxurious; Napoleon complained about it until the day he died. 

His cries were loud enough that the British government feared that word would spread to France that Napoleon was being mistreated. They started construction on New Longwood House, an even more luxurious property.  

In Jerusalem, Paul tried to blend in with the crowd. The ominous words of warning likely echoed in his head as he approached the temple. Inside, he got away with being there for a while. These were the days before a person of interest popped up on handheld devices and big screens on every corner. Paul almost got away with his visit, until some in the crowd recognized him from his travels in Asia. These men protested Paul's presence voraciously.