Acts
Bible Study
Lesson 33
Acts 21:15—17 Paul
arrives at Jerusalem
¥ Paul was
eager to get to Jerusalem for several reasons.
1.
To observe Pentecost.
Acts 20:16
For Paul
had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in
Asia; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of
Pentecost.
2. To
deliver the gift from the Gentile believers to the poor saints of Judea.
Romans
15:26—27 26For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a
contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27Yes, they
were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have
shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in
material things.
¥ PaulÕs plan was to go to
Jerusalem then travel to Spain, stopping in Rome to visit the saints.
Acts 19:21
Now
after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to
Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, "After
I have been there, I must also see Rome."
Romans 15:22—25 22For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to
you; 23but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and
since I have had for many years a longing to come to you 24whenever
I go to Spain--for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way
there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while-- 25but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints.
¥ Contrary to what some believe, Paul was in GodÕs will when he went to Jerusalem.
- There was no correction or condemnation for PaulÕs actions.
-
Paul had probably been collecting relief money for the Judean saints the past
10 years and probably delivered what he had collected after each missionary
journey. The last time he was in Jerusalem was five years previous, after his
second missionary journey. Was he out of the will of God for the past five
years since he intended to deliver the newly-collected money to Jerusalem after
his third missionary journey?
Acts
11:29—30 29And in the proportion that any of the disciples had
means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the
brethren living in Judea. 30And this they did, sending it in charge
of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.
Romans 15:26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.
-
Paul was warned by the Holy Spirit that he would be bound upon going to
Jerusalem. Some would interpret this as a warning not to go. I believer this
was a preparatory step in readying Paul for the challenges that lie ahead. When
arrested, he would know God is behind all the events.
Acts 20:22—23 22"And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way
to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,23except that the
Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and
afflictions await me.
Acts 21:11 And coming to us, he
took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, "This is what
the Holy Spirit says: 'In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who
owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'"
-
God was able to arrange for Paul to go before rulers and kings and by so doing
would fulfill his commission given to him on the road to Damascus. God also
arranged for Paul to travel with all his expenses paid.
Acts 9:15 But the
Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My
name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;
-
The Disciples in Caesarea didnÕt want Paul to go to Jerusalem because they
understood he would be arrested there but they also came to the understanding
that it was GodÕs will for him to go to there.
Acts 21:12—14 12When we had heard this, we as well as the local
residents began begging him not to go up to
Jerusalem.13Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping
and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be
bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord
Jesus."14And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent,
remarking, "The will of the Lord be done!"
Acts 21:18—26 Paul with the Law-abiding Jews
¥ Many have a real problem with this passage since the Jews are still following the Mosaic Law and Paul is playing right along with them. If Paul has been preaching a Gospel of Grace (not Law) for the past 10 years or so why is he now putting himself under Law? Why are the Jews not rebuked for continuing to follow the Law? Paul is being accused of turning the Jews away from circumcision and Moses. Why would he prove to them that this is completely false?
The report
¥ Paul reported the wonderful things God was doing through him among the Gentiles.
¥ Their reaction was to glorify God. They were glad to see how God had been using Paul to reach the Gentiles even though God was reaching them without going through the nation of Israel.
¥
It was prophesized that God would do this work through Paul.
Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen
instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons
of Israel;
The Believers
¥ Those in Jerusalem were true Jewish believers. They are called ÒbrethrenÓ in verse 17 indicating they were as saved as Paul and his party.
- Paul was a member of the Body of Christ while these Jewish believers were (I believe) members of the Kingdom. They would all be considered as believers in Jesus Christ but would have different hopes.
¥ There were thousands of these Jewish believers and all of them were zealous of the Mosaic Law.
- They were still practicing the Jewish customs but with their faith and trust on Jesus Christ instead of the Law. This would be true for true believers in the Old Testament. If they would put their trust in God, they were saved. If they were to put their trust in obedience to the Law, they were not saved.
-
Even though Paul was a member of the Body of Christ, he still kept the Mosaic
Law (See Acts 21:24). I believe he did this out of respect for his fellow Jews.
Even though he probably had an area of freedom to not follow the letter of the
Law, he did not want to cause his fellow Jews to do the same and thus sin (see
Romans 14). Romans and 1 & 2 Corinthians were written only one and two
years previous to this event in Jerusalem.
Romans 14:20 Do not
tear down the work of God for the sake of food All things indeed are clean, but
they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense.
1 Corinthians
9:20—23 20To the Jews I became
as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under
the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who
are under the Law; 21to those who are without law, as without law,
though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I
might win those who are without law. 22To the weak I became weak,
that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may
by all means save some. 23I do all things for the sake of the
gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
1
Corinthians 10:31—33 31Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever
you do, do all to the glory of God. 32Give no offense either to Jews
or to Greeks or to the church of God; 33just as I also please all
men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so
that they may be saved.
¥ These believers were never told to put the Mosaic Law aside. 10 years ago it was decided by the Jerusalem church that the Gentiles were not tied to the Mosaic Law but there is no mention of the Jews being allowed to do so even though most people would assume that they were no longer under Law.
- I believe Hebrews was written to inform the Jews that they are no longer tied to the Mosaic Law.
We believe we find the first instruction for the Jews to break away from the Mosaic system in the book of Hebrews. This book gives special instruction to Jewish believers in light of the approaching destruction of Jerusalem and its temple. The temple was still standing when this book was written, and the writer in conclusion states: "For the body of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the city gate. Let us ('believing Jews) go forth therefore unto Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach" (Heb. 13:11-13). This seems to us to be a definite command for believing Jews to now forsake Jerusalem and its temple worship and identify with Jesus outside the camp of Judaism. Charles F. Baker Understanding the Book of Acts p.133
The Accusation
¥ The Jews had heard that Paul was teaching the Jews to forsake Moses (the Law) and not to circumcise their children.
- This would have been wrong since God had not yet told the Jews to set these things aside.
The Solution
¥ To prove he was not
teaching the Jews to turn their backs on Law Paul was asked to take part in the
rite of purification and paying for the expenses of the four men who took a Nazarite vow (Num. 6:13-21).
¥ By performing this Jewish rite Paul was following the Law and demonstrating his innocence before God.
¥ This observance of the Law was for the benefit of the Jews. There were a number of things done for the Jews or because of the Jews:
- Paul circumcised Timothy because of the Jews. (Acts 16:1—3)
- The Gentiles were not to eat meat offered to idols, and
abstain from blood and things strangled -because of the Jews (Acts 15:29;
21:25).
- God gave Gentiles the sign gifts because of the Jews (1
Corinthians 1:22; 14:22).
Originally taught at Bethesda Sunday School June 21, 2009
For
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