*Acts 21:18-36
Arriving in Jerusalem, Paul meets with James and the elders but is accused by Jewish Christians of teaching against the Law.
- Meeting with James and the Elders in Jerusalem:
- Paul meets with James and all the elders of the Jerusalem church the day after his arrival.
- He warmly greets them and gives a detailed account of his ministry among the Gentiles and the conversions that have taken place.
- Concerns About Jewish Believers:
- James and the elders express joy over Paul’s successes but also share their concern about thousands of Jewish believers who are zealous for the law.
- They inform Paul that these Jewish believers have been told that he teaches all the Jews living among the Gentiles to forsake the law of Moses, not to circumcise their children, or follow customary practices.
- Proposed Solution for Jewish Concerns:
- To show his respect for the law and pacify the Jewish believers, James and the elders suggest that Paul take part in a purification rite with four other men who have taken a vow.
- They advise Paul to pay for their expenses so that they can shave their heads, and everyone will know that the rumors about him are false and that he himself lives in obedience to the law.
- Paul’s Compliance:
- Paul agrees to the suggestion and joins the men in purifying himself, then enters the temple to give notice of the completion of the purification days and the offering for each of them.
- Paul’s Arrest in the Temple:
- As the seven days of purification are nearing completion, some Jews from Asia, seeing Paul in the temple, stir up the whole crowd and seize him.
- They accuse him of teaching against the people, the law, and the temple. Moreover, they falsely claim he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled the holy place.
- Riot and Intervention by Roman Troops:
- The accusation leads to a riot, and the crowd drags Paul out of the temple, which is then immediately shut.
- As they are trying to kill him, word reaches the commander of the Roman garrison that all of Jerusalem is in an uproar.
- The commander takes soldiers and centurions to the scene, and upon their arrival, the crowd stops beating Paul.
- The commander arrests Paul, binds him with two chains, and asks who he is and what he has done. Amid conflicting accusations by the crowd, the commander cannot ascertain the truth.
- Paul’s Request to the Commander:
- As Paul is being led into the barracks, he asks the commander for permission to speak to the people, which the commander grants after Paul reveals that he is a Roman citizen.
21:18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
21:19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
21:20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: 21:21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
21:22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
21:23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; 21:24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
21:25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
21:26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
21:27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, 21:28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
21:29 (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) 21:30 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.
21:31 And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
21:32 Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.
21:33 Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.
21:34 And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.
21:35 And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.
21:36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.