Acts 21:17-26: "Paul's Final Stop"
After a long and arduous road, Paul had finally made it to the destination he so eagerly had awaited. With his substantial love offering from the Gentile congregations in hand, Paul could not wait to see his brethren in Jerusalem.
V. 17 shows the excitement with which Paul was greeted. It is interesting to me to see how those who meet and depart from Paul. Paul was always greeted with love, joy, and excitement. On the other hand, weeping and sorrow usually filled those who would see him depart. What an amazing testimony to Paul's impact on those he met. How often can I say that those who meet me and leave me, would act in such a manner?
V.18 I am sure includes Paul showing the leaders of the church at Jerusalem the generous gift of the Gentiles. This would be a precursor to the events he would speak of in V.19. It is important to note that Paul gives all credit to God as he tells the elders, "he began to relate one by one the things God had done among the Gentiles". In an act of selfishness or egotism, Paul could have easily spoke of all he had done in furthering the kingdom. However, he rightly gives God all the credit to God, knowing that none of his work would have been fruitful w/o the work of God. I also find it amazing how Paul uses his time. Paul is always so eager to tell everyone of the things God is doing in his and other's life. He is constantly focusing on the things that Christ is doing in the Church - his life truly revolved around the kingdom.
Although Paul had been away on missionary journey's away from Jerusalem, many stories and falsehoods had been spread about this popular and charismatic leader. In a mixed reaction of joy and concern, the Jerusalem elders spoil the joyous reports that Paul had brung by bringing up concern with many of the new Jewish Christians. I wonder if Paul's mood was spoiled at all? I know when I have great news and I can't wait to tell other about it (especially when I have had to wait for awhile), that my mood is seriously dashed when the news is not taken w/ the same enthusiasm w/ which I gave it. I wonder what Paul was feeling as he poured out his heart about the amazing work of the Gentiles, and then he hears of the falsehoods that have been spread about him
V. 21 gives us some of the concerns that the Jerusalem elders had because of the, "thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law; and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. It has been speculated that these falsehoods had been spread by the Judaizers. MacArthur's commentary reads, "This large group of zealous Jewish believers provided fertile soil for false teachers - Paul's old nemeses the Judaizers. These bitter enemies of the gospel of grace had dogged Paul's footsteps throughout his missionary journeys. In fact, he wrote Galatians largely to counter their dangerous false teachings..." Paul had clearly never asked the Jewish people to give up their laws - he did, however, teach that Christ and not the Law saved. Paul had clearly never taught that circumcision was now forbidden, but he did preach that it was not necessary to burden the Gentiles with this practice. Paul's actions and words had clearly been taken out of context and twisted to make him look evil. Obviously to stir up dissension and cause problems. You will often find things like this to happen to those who speak truth and confront the norms of society. The world hates the things of the Lord, and wherever you find Christianity you will find opponents who will try to undermine it's success.
After voicing their concern to Paul, they want to try to figure out a way to appease the new zealous Jewish Christians. In order to avoid conflict the elders ask Paul to partake in a Nazirite vow. As MacArthur states, "The Nazirite vow, expounded at length in Numbers 6, symbolized total separation to God. It involved abstaining from alcoholic beverages and all other products derived from grapes, letting the hair fo the head grow long, and avoiding contact with dead bodies". I try to think if I would respond with the same humble, non-defensive character that Paul responds with (in v. 26)? After being faced with the concerns of false indictments towards him and what he has been faithful to preach all along, Paul humbly goes along w/ the request of the Jewish elders. Paul could have easily been upset and voiced his anger about the false charges against him, however, he lived out what he preached to the Corinthians. I Cor. 9:19-23 is a testimony to what Paul truly lived out, "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law, though not being myself under the Law, that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weka, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. And I do all thing for the sake of the gospel, that I may become a fellow partaker of it". What an amazing passage. Paul dismisses any rights he may feel he has, and does whatever is best for the furthering of the gospel.
In a quick sidenote in v. 25 the elders affirm the decree of the Jerusalem Council regarding the Gentiles and their only having to, "abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication".
This passage is just another great look into the amazing life of Paul. Our prayer should be to not just admire his humility and ability to respond with such love and sincerity for others, but to emulate it ourselves!
V. 17 shows the excitement with which Paul was greeted. It is interesting to me to see how those who meet and depart from Paul. Paul was always greeted with love, joy, and excitement. On the other hand, weeping and sorrow usually filled those who would see him depart. What an amazing testimony to Paul's impact on those he met. How often can I say that those who meet me and leave me, would act in such a manner?
V.18 I am sure includes Paul showing the leaders of the church at Jerusalem the generous gift of the Gentiles. This would be a precursor to the events he would speak of in V.19. It is important to note that Paul gives all credit to God as he tells the elders, "he began to relate one by one the things God had done among the Gentiles". In an act of selfishness or egotism, Paul could have easily spoke of all he had done in furthering the kingdom. However, he rightly gives God all the credit to God, knowing that none of his work would have been fruitful w/o the work of God. I also find it amazing how Paul uses his time. Paul is always so eager to tell everyone of the things God is doing in his and other's life. He is constantly focusing on the things that Christ is doing in the Church - his life truly revolved around the kingdom.
Although Paul had been away on missionary journey's away from Jerusalem, many stories and falsehoods had been spread about this popular and charismatic leader. In a mixed reaction of joy and concern, the Jerusalem elders spoil the joyous reports that Paul had brung by bringing up concern with many of the new Jewish Christians. I wonder if Paul's mood was spoiled at all? I know when I have great news and I can't wait to tell other about it (especially when I have had to wait for awhile), that my mood is seriously dashed when the news is not taken w/ the same enthusiasm w/ which I gave it. I wonder what Paul was feeling as he poured out his heart about the amazing work of the Gentiles, and then he hears of the falsehoods that have been spread about him
V. 21 gives us some of the concerns that the Jerusalem elders had because of the, "thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law; and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. It has been speculated that these falsehoods had been spread by the Judaizers. MacArthur's commentary reads, "This large group of zealous Jewish believers provided fertile soil for false teachers - Paul's old nemeses the Judaizers. These bitter enemies of the gospel of grace had dogged Paul's footsteps throughout his missionary journeys. In fact, he wrote Galatians largely to counter their dangerous false teachings..." Paul had clearly never asked the Jewish people to give up their laws - he did, however, teach that Christ and not the Law saved. Paul had clearly never taught that circumcision was now forbidden, but he did preach that it was not necessary to burden the Gentiles with this practice. Paul's actions and words had clearly been taken out of context and twisted to make him look evil. Obviously to stir up dissension and cause problems. You will often find things like this to happen to those who speak truth and confront the norms of society. The world hates the things of the Lord, and wherever you find Christianity you will find opponents who will try to undermine it's success.
After voicing their concern to Paul, they want to try to figure out a way to appease the new zealous Jewish Christians. In order to avoid conflict the elders ask Paul to partake in a Nazirite vow. As MacArthur states, "The Nazirite vow, expounded at length in Numbers 6, symbolized total separation to God. It involved abstaining from alcoholic beverages and all other products derived from grapes, letting the hair fo the head grow long, and avoiding contact with dead bodies". I try to think if I would respond with the same humble, non-defensive character that Paul responds with (in v. 26)? After being faced with the concerns of false indictments towards him and what he has been faithful to preach all along, Paul humbly goes along w/ the request of the Jewish elders. Paul could have easily been upset and voiced his anger about the false charges against him, however, he lived out what he preached to the Corinthians. I Cor. 9:19-23 is a testimony to what Paul truly lived out, "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law, though not being myself under the Law, that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weka, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. And I do all thing for the sake of the gospel, that I may become a fellow partaker of it". What an amazing passage. Paul dismisses any rights he may feel he has, and does whatever is best for the furthering of the gospel.
In a quick sidenote in v. 25 the elders affirm the decree of the Jerusalem Council regarding the Gentiles and their only having to, "abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication".
This passage is just another great look into the amazing life of Paul. Our prayer should be to not just admire his humility and ability to respond with such love and sincerity for others, but to emulate it ourselves!
posted by amesfam | 5:08 PM
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