Daily Bread 2010 - Acts 21
Daily Bread 2010 – Acts 21
Paul's Arrival at Jerusalem
17When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers received us warmly. 18The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. 19Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
20When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. 21They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. 22What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, 23so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. 24Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everybody will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. 25As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality."
26The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.
As Paul heads toward Jerusalem, he knows that there will be suffering, much like Jesus’ final entry in Jerusalem brought the same consequences. As Paul arrives he is greeted by the brothers (the members/elders) of the mother church in Jerusalem. As Paul brought them up to date on the success with the Gentiles coming to faith in Jesus, the brothers informed him that not all would be happy to see him.
As much success as Paul had in converting the Gentiles and as many Jews had come to faith, there were still those who stirred up dissension by saying that Paul was contradicting the teachings of Moses and telling people to turn away from the rites like circumcision. So they advise him that it would be a good idea to join in the four men who have taken the “Nazerite Vow”, which was a special Jewish vow (with OT precedence) that set apart men for the work of the Lord. This involved shaving one’s head and other temple rituals, which also cost money.
Instead of challenging the brothers on why he would have to do such a thing, Paul agrees to comply for the sake of unity and not to put a stumbling block to the Jews. Of course this did not stop the Jews from eventually arresting him and stoning him, but it shows Paul’s willingness to sacrifice things not essential to the Gospel for the sake of it. As the chapter ends Paul is taken away and makes it known that he is a Jew from Tarsus (modern day Turkey). Since it was an important city under Roman jurisdiction, this would buy Paul some time to be tried as a Roman citizen.
Paul’s story reminds us that there is always some hostility to the Christian faith, whether it is open and blatant, or more subtle. As we seek to be as faithful, as Paul was, and honor Jesus above else it, will not always be socially or culturally acceptable. Whether our suffering because of this is emotional or physical, we can know we are in good company with our Lord and Savior, Jesus, and his greatest disciple, the apostle Paul from Tarsus.
Jesus, help us to live out our faith in bold ways. Give us wisdom to discern when we need to honor religious customs for the sake of unity, and when we need for the sake of the Gospel to not be chained by earthly things that have no spiritual value. Most of all may we honor you above all else. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Paul's Arrival at Jerusalem
17When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers received us warmly. 18The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. 19Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
20When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. 21They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. 22What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, 23so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. 24Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everybody will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. 25As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality."
26The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.
As Paul heads toward Jerusalem, he knows that there will be suffering, much like Jesus’ final entry in Jerusalem brought the same consequences. As Paul arrives he is greeted by the brothers (the members/elders) of the mother church in Jerusalem. As Paul brought them up to date on the success with the Gentiles coming to faith in Jesus, the brothers informed him that not all would be happy to see him.
As much success as Paul had in converting the Gentiles and as many Jews had come to faith, there were still those who stirred up dissension by saying that Paul was contradicting the teachings of Moses and telling people to turn away from the rites like circumcision. So they advise him that it would be a good idea to join in the four men who have taken the “Nazerite Vow”, which was a special Jewish vow (with OT precedence) that set apart men for the work of the Lord. This involved shaving one’s head and other temple rituals, which also cost money.
Instead of challenging the brothers on why he would have to do such a thing, Paul agrees to comply for the sake of unity and not to put a stumbling block to the Jews. Of course this did not stop the Jews from eventually arresting him and stoning him, but it shows Paul’s willingness to sacrifice things not essential to the Gospel for the sake of it. As the chapter ends Paul is taken away and makes it known that he is a Jew from Tarsus (modern day Turkey). Since it was an important city under Roman jurisdiction, this would buy Paul some time to be tried as a Roman citizen.
Paul’s story reminds us that there is always some hostility to the Christian faith, whether it is open and blatant, or more subtle. As we seek to be as faithful, as Paul was, and honor Jesus above else it, will not always be socially or culturally acceptable. Whether our suffering because of this is emotional or physical, we can know we are in good company with our Lord and Savior, Jesus, and his greatest disciple, the apostle Paul from Tarsus.
Jesus, help us to live out our faith in bold ways. Give us wisdom to discern when we need to honor religious customs for the sake of unity, and when we need for the sake of the Gospel to not be chained by earthly things that have no spiritual value. Most of all may we honor you above all else. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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