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ACTS - In the Triumphal Procession of Christ
Studies in the Acts of the Apostles
PART 2 - Reports About Preaching Among the Gentiles and the Foundation of Churches From Antioch to Rome - Through the Ministry of Paul the Apostle, Commissioned by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13 - 28)
E - Paul's Imprisonment in Jerusalem and in Caesarea (Acts 21:15 - 26:32)

1. Paul arrives in Jerusalem and tells the brothers about his ministry (Acts 21:15-20)


ACTS 21:15-20
15 After these days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem. 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we would stay. 17 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. 18 The day following, Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present. 19 When he had greeted them, he reported one by one the things which God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 They, when they heard it, glorified God. They said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law.

The partners in travel rushed from the shore of the Mediterranean to the heights of the mountains of Jerusalem, and spent the night with a Cypriot named Mnason, who was probably a friend of Barnabas and an early member of the community of the saints, who expectantly awaited the coming of his Lord. From this man Luke, undoubtedly, heard many details about the miracles of the Holy Spirit since the founding of the church.

At last Christ’s triumphal procession arrived in the glorious city of Jerusalem, where they spent the night with brothers and friends, who delighted to hear of the works of the living Lord throughout the whole world. They magnified him for bringing many nations into membership in His church. The members that supported preaching to the Gentiles had not passed away from the Jerusalem church. But these men were few in comparison with those of the legalistic sector, which was filled with misguided enthusiasm for the law.

The next day Paul and his company went to see James, the brother of Jesus, and the Jerusalem church elders. We do not know if Peter and John were present at that time in Jerusalem. Luke accompanied Paul, together with the company that represented all the European and Asian churches. They delivered the generous contributions they had gathered from their churches as a gift to the troubled church of Jerusalem. Amazingly, Luke does not write a word about the delivery of this contribution. He considered money to be of secondary importance, which was not worth mentioning. People were more important than money. The Gentile believers, in whom the Holy Spirit dwelt, were the greatest wonder. The sacrifice flowing from their love appeared as a guarantee of Christ’s triumph in them.

In the presence of gentile witnesses Paul spoke of the works of Christ in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Corinth, Troas, Ephesus, etc. He magnified the power of Him who was raised from the dead, who made saints out of sinners, and who made those who were not His people to be His people. The legalists could only live in accord with rituals of law, which were intended to safeguard from this world. The gentile believers, however, were tangible proof of the working power of Christ, which was bringing eternal salvation even to the heathen nations.


2. Paul’s Acceptance of Circumcision According to the Law (Acts 21:20-26)


ACTS 21:20b-26
20b They said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law. 21 They have been informed about you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children neither to walk after the customs. 22 What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. 23 Therefore do what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow. 24 Take them, and purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses for them, that they may shave their heads. Then all will know that there is no truth in the things that they have been informed about you, but that you yourself also walk keeping the law. 25 But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written our decision that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from food offered to idols, from blood, from strangled things, and from sexual immorality.” 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purified himself and went with them into the temple, declaring the fulfillment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them.

The joy of hearts filled with pleasure was not obvious in the holy church. Worries about the law had brought many into bondage. Although they called Paul a brother in Christ and considered him to be a child of God the Father, they thought also of the thousands of Christians of Jewish origin, who were both Jewish and Christian at the same time. They did not come to freedom from the law, and remained bound by the legal demands of the Old Testament, not recognizing the great revelation of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. Jerusalem, at that time, was dominated by national revolutionary extremists, who caused a fiery revolution in A.D. 70, which resulted in the pulling down of the holy city and the great temple. Shortly after Paul met with James, zealous revolutionists stoned the Lord’s brother to death. He had already sensed the dangers and consequences of these legalistic developments. This explains why he asked Paul to observe the law, an endeavor to try and keep him away from suspicion and aggression.

Many years previously, when Paul was in Asia Minor and Greece, false reports spread that he had instigated Jews to fall away from the divine covenant and not to circumcise their sons. Such reports were lies and nonsense, for Paul had circumcised Timothy with his own hands to please the Jews. James and the elders in Jerusalem knew that these reports about Paul included exaggerated charges, and they did not believe them. They also knew, however, that many Christians of Jewish origin did not understand the meaning of what Paul touched on and wrote in his famous epistles. So the church in Jerusalem was troubled (Romans 5:20; 7:6; Galatians 5:4). Believers did not recognize the spiritual freedom from the law. They considered the works of the law greater than the righteousness of faith, and did not ascertain that the righteousness of Christ produces works of love.

In the meeting James did not discuss these legal matters, for they had been entirely solved by the apostles’ council, mentioned in chapter 15. So James, the brave leader of the church, reiterated before the representatives of the Gentile churches that they were free from the law, except in regard to certain provisions, which the Jerusalem decree had ruled on. These they had to submit to in order to preserve the continuance of community between Jews and Gentiles. Consequently, righteousness by grace remained an unmovable foundation of the church, and is still the heart and deep mystery of the Gospel. James, however, asked Paul to testify before the Jewish converts that, in spite of the many charges against him, he was still a true and perfect Jew. Because of his love for his countrymen and the covenant with God he walked orderly and kept the law. The apostle had overcome from within the customary understanding of the law. He had no need of it for his justification and sanctification, for all salvation is a gift from God. But he submitted to the law, in order to win Jews to Christ, stating that to the Jews he became as a Jew, and to the Gentiles as a Gentile, that he might win some of the Jews and the Gentiles to his great Lord (1 Cor. 9:20) In his epistle to the Romans, Paul wrote clearly that the law in itself is good and holy, but men are sinful and unable to keep it by their own strength (Romans 3:31; 7:12).

Paul agreed to James’ suggestion to have his hair cut, as a sign of repentance, and to be purified seven days and seven nights in order to worship his Lord. This preparation included sprinkling with the water of sanctification on the third and the seventh days.

PRAYER: O Lord Jesus Christ, You were a member of the Old Testament. You kept and finished the law, and gave us the New Testament, with its freedom, power, and love. We thank You for Your grace, and ask You, on behalf of all men, to deliver them from a legalistic spirit, and establish them in the power of Your firm righteousness.

QUESTION:

  1. Why did James ask Paul to be purified in order to worship in the temple?

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