Today’s passage gives us a glimpse into the politics and the complexities involved in Paul’s ministry. Paul was doing his best to get along with the Jews in difficult circumstances.
Paul has completed another successful missionary journey preaching to Jews and Gentiles about Jesus Christ. He has been warned against going back to Jerusalem and told if he does he will be arrested and bound in chains (Acts 21.1-16). He goes anyway.
17 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified God. (Acts 21.17-20)
‘The brothers received us gladly’. Some think there might have been tense relations between Paul and the Jerusalem apostles. Luke’s account shows they get along quite well and show brotherly love.
‘Related one by one the things God had done’, ‘They glorified God’. It may be easy to associate all the work and success to Paul and his group. But here we see God given the credit.
Paul planted, others watered, but God gave the growth.
God is rightly given the glory, for by grace he worked through their ministry to save the Gentiles.
And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, 21 and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. 22 What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. (Acts 21.20-22)
‘Jews who have believed’, ‘Zealous for the law’. God has been working in Jerusalem as well. Many Jews have come to faith and are zealous for the law of Moses. The tone of his message however suggests something bad is about to happen.
‘They have been told about you’. Word of Paul’s ministry and his supposed methods have reached back to Jerusalem. Paul has become famous.
‘You teach the Jews among the Gentiles to forsake Moses’. Apparently they have heard when Paul speaks to a mixed audience of Jews and Gentiles he instructs all of them to forsake the law of Moses. To refuse to observe it.
This will not go down well with the Jews who are zealous for the law. (See Acts 15.1; Rom 14.1-23; Gal 2.12f; Phil 3.2-3; Col 2.16; Tit 1.10 for related issues). Telling people to treat their own children a certain way can be a very sensitive issue for some. It looks like this is the case here. They are offended.
We don’t know at this point if the report is true. Do you think Paul did these things?
We know from Galatians, Paul strongly opposed Gentile believers observing the law of Moses. But Jews were another story. It seems he did allow Jewish believers to continue observing the law of Moses (e.g. Rom 3.31) even while arguing they were no longer under it (Rom 6.15; 7.6).
The apostles in Jerusalem are still on his side though.
23 Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24 take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. (Acts 21.23-24)
‘Thus all will know there is nothing in what they have been told’. The apostles suggest he perform a purification ritual to set peoples minds at ease that he still observes the law of Moses and he does not instruct the Jews to forsake it.
25 But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.” (Acts 21.25)
‘For the Gentiles who have believed’. The apostles relate the specific instructions for the Gentiles agreed upon in the Jerusalem council (Acts 15). This is a Jew – Gentile issue. At the council Jews were not instructed to cease observing the law of Moses.
Hubbard, S. et al. with Logos Bible Software and KarBel Media, 2012. Faithlife Study Bible Infographics, Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them. (Acts 21.26)
‘He purified himself along with them’. Paul goes along with the apostles’ instruction. Paul’s actions strongly suggest there is nothing in the report. That is he only instructed Gentiles to forsake Moses. But allowed Jewish believers to continue observing the law. (This position is confirmed in the early church writings).
If that was not the case he would be giving them the wrong impression and intentionally deceiving them.
27 When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” (Acts 21.27-28)
‘Teaching everyone everywhere against the law’. Despite his attempt to put the Jews at ease. Paul is still seized by them and accused of teaching the Jews to forsake Moses.
‘Brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place’. Paul was in a no win situation here. He made the right choice in bringing Greek believers into the temple. Greek believers (Gentiles) are holy and clean in God’s sight. The problem is, many Jews did not recognise this and see God had made them clean (Acts 10.15f).
About Mission
Today’s passage gives us a glimpse into the politics and the complexities involved in Paul’s ministry. Paul was doing his best to get along with the Jews in difficult circumstances.
Previously, the leaders of the church agreed Peter would share the gospel with the Jews and Paul would share the gospel with Gentiles (Gal 2.7-8). But this did not prevent Paul from being sensitive to the moors of Jewish Christians.
Paul took a broader perspective on his ministry and how it fit within all of God’s work. God has lots of people serving him with different roles.
We all work for the same King.
What this means for us on the ground is that we should try to help each other even if sometimes it involves personal cost to ourselves. We should avoid things that will hurt the other.
Today’s passage gives us a glimpse into the politics and the complexities involved in Paul’s ministry. Paul was doing his best to get along with the Jews in difficult circumstances.
Paul has completed another successful missionary journey preaching to Jews and Gentiles about Jesus Christ. He has been warned against going back to Jerusalem and told if he does he will be arrested and bound in chains (Acts 21.1-16). He goes anyway.
