Day 179, Acts 21
Today Paul completes his journey to Jerusalem. On the way, they hug the coast of the Mediterranean (as was customary with the trading ships of the time) and passed south of Cyprus, reaching Tyre in Phoenicia (or Syria).
In every city where Paul meets with the believers, they prophesy that opposition and harm await him in Jerusalem. Everyone (the local believers and Paul’s companions) are begging him not to go, such is the love and esteem for this former persecutor who has literally birthed much of the church across the Roman world.
But Paul is determined, the offering to help the brothers and sisters must be delivered, and so they travel from Caesarea to Jerusalem, and meet with Jacob (James) and the elders of the Jerusalem church.
Paul gives them much detail of the wonderful ways God has used him and his team across Turkey, Macedonia and Greece. They, in turn, praise God for this, but also express concern about the rumors that Paul is not true to his Jewish faith whilst reaching Gentiles for Christ. They want Paul to fulfill a Jewish purification ritual as a demonstration of his orthodoxy, and mention the letter they wrote to the non-Jews about what is right and wrong (Acts 15). Interestingly, there is no mention of the current focus - the offering for the local believers, which suggests a degree of hesitation or lack of appreciation for Paul’s ministry. Perhaps the Jerusalem church was more reserved and structured given its proximity to thousands of years of tradition and faith. It is speculation to question what may have been different had Paul brought a copy of his letter to the Romans, which would have now been delivered by Phoebe.
Paul willingly follows the instructions of the Jerusalem elders, and pays the expenses of the four men to purify themselves (either after foreign travel or the completion of a Nazirite vow - see footnote). This commits them to a seven day period, after which their ceremonial duty would be complete. But before this can be fulfilled, a mob of Jews from Western Turkey make false accusations against Paul, and stir up the crowd to drag Paul out of the Temple and kill him. We see the full force of religious fervor, determined to silence the truth of godly liberty and obedience.
This uproar reaches the notice of the Roman commander, a man who needed his army of soldiers to keep the peace in this fractious corner of Rome’s Empire. They come and arrest Paul, and take him back to their headquarters for questioning. The mob almost overwhelms them at the entrance to the compound, shrieking for Paul’s death. But Paul is calm, and speaks to the commander in Greek (to communicate privately in the common language of the Roman Empire when surrounded by a mob of Aramaic speakers). Thinking Paul is another troublemaker leading Jewish terrorists, the commander listens to Paul.
Paul asks, not for his own safety, or for justice and defense, but for an opportunity to speak to the crowd. We’ll read what he says in our next reading, but notice his priorities, and be challenged.
When I encounter opposition to the gospel, even threats to my own life, how do I respond? May God give us grace to speak up for Jesus.
Have a great day!
Mark.