It is not altogether clear as to how and why Paul was to be purified. Here is the problem: Why would Paul, knowing that the Mosaic regime was obsolete, submit to a purification ritual, that would appear to convey the impression that Christs blood was insufficient as a medium of cleansing? Emotional goodbyes were exchanged and Pauls party boarded the ship. We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. Lead to, tender, treat. The commander of the Roman troops quickly heard about the rioting. That he had such citizenship will come out only later (22:25). And like the Jerusalem leaderships response to Peters defense of his Gentile initiative, we find the brothers giving glory to God, (11:18), which is Lukes signal for a recognition of Gods visitation. James was the leader and spokesperson of the Jerusalem church, just as he was during the landmark conference of A.D. 49 (15:13). Luke chose his wording to bring out, in a literary manner, the similarity between the fate of Jesus and Paul in their final trip to Jerusalem. Such a procedure was allowed under the law. Paul had just arrived in Jerusalem, against the advice of disciples in Tyre who were led by the spirit to warn Paul. the process by which a person unclean, according to the Levitical law, and thereby cut off from the sanctuary and the festivals, was restored to the enjoyment of all these privileges. These believers were all zealous for the law and the Jewish religious customs, as Paul had been (Galatians 1:14). Paul was actually preaching the Messiah, Jesus, who was encompoused in Moses. If Paul is indicted of sin, so are James and the Jerusalem elders, for they asked him to do what he did. Paul was dragged from the inner courts of the temple, and its gates were shut by the temple police. Acts 21:10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. Start for FREE. "and she shall remain in the blood of her purification for sixty-six days.". Matthew 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer. Some within the Jerusalem church were giving credence to rumors that Paul had been teaching against the ancient Jewish customs. Paul however wasnt forsaking Moses. Until that an offering should be offered for every one of them: Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, , , , , the vowed number of the Nazarite days had quite expired, the fulfilment of the Nazarite days, until the offering for each individual was presented by them, , had to spend under the Nazarite vow which he had jointly undertaken, the well-known seven days required for this purpose, as regards the presentation of the offerings, , to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them, , Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers. Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them went into the temple, declaring the fulfillment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them (Acts 21:26). The missionary group was there and so were the Jerusalem elders, together with James, Jesus half-brother (cf. From hagnizo; a cleansing, i.e. 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. 2. (The Acts of the Apostles,372). These words from the lips of the Spirit bound apostle seemed to settle the question which was in the minds of his co-workers and the other disciples. 1. At the time that. [ b] Then afterward he may enter the camp, but he must live outside his tent seven days. 15:30-31; cf. Luke, the Gentile delegation and the Caesarean disciples pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem (21:12). All the Days of His Life (18 instances in 20 translations . Writings of the early church and Church fathers. Cups and pots and brazen vessels were washed as a matter of ritual observance. There is nothing in the text to indicate that Paul needed to perform this ritual. 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. He had him bound with two chains and demanded who he was and what he had done. Some of the confused Jews cried one thing and some another and when he could not find out who Paul was and what he had done because of the tumult he carried him as a prisoner unto the castle. [b] Then afterward he may enter the camp, but he must live outside his tent seven days. The following day the apostle, along with the four men, went to the temple where the sacrifices would be offered. The mob apparently began beating Paul, probably in the outer court of the temple. According to Josephus, he led some 30,000 followers to the Mount of Olives in order to overthrow Jerusalem (Wars2:261-262;Antiquities20:169-172. The death penalty was applicable only to a Gentile who had violated the ban. offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. 1 Corinthians 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. What shall we do? Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law (21:24). This refers back to his appointment along with six others to take care of the Hellenistic Jewish widows in the Jerusalem church (6:1-6). This is the first of three speeches that Paul would make in his defense, and which take up a considerable part of this section (22:1-21; 24:10-21; 26:2-23). In order to put this matter into proper focus, some background relative to the passage needs to be considered. apostasy) Moses. If the apostle could circumcise Timothy as an expediency, with no design of associating the ritual with salvation (as was sometimes done Acts 15:1), why could he not have done the same with reference to a sacrifice? 8 "The one being cleansed[ a] must then wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and bathe in water, and so be clean. Here is Lukes record of the incident in question. Acts 21:26 tn Grk "until" (BDAG 423 s.v. it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. From prosphero; presentation; concretely, an oblation or sacrifice. Paul agreed to the suggestion. Perhaps Paul saw the collection as a way of completing his mission to the eastern part of the Empire, before embarking on an evangelizing tour of the West. A completion, fulfillment, accomplishment. A sacrifice for sin under the law of Moses would only be required if the Nazarite was unclean at the time he was taking the vow. Paul himself stated that he had become all things to all men. He could go to Jerusalem or not. The purification of the leper was a yet more formal proceeding, and indicated the highest pitch of uncleanness. When they arrived at Jerusalem, the brethren received them gladly (Acts 21:15-17). Then, at that time. When the rioters saw the troops coming, they stopped beating Paul. We remember Pauls testimony inActs 20:24, Neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God. We are convinced by this testimony that Paul had practiced what he preachedI am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me (Gal 2:20). No Gentile was allowed into the temples inner courts. So it was the will of the Lord that Paul go to Jerusalem but through the holy spirit he was warned of what would happen once he got there, in order to prepare him for such consequences. "Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them went into the temple, declaring the fulfilment of the days of purification, until the o." . Luke here identified Philip as one of the Seven (21:8). 27The seven days of purification were almost completed when some Jews from Asia recognized Paul in the temple. Share Perhaps it was Luke who was repeating the four regulations as a literary device for the benefit of his readers. The idea of uncleanness was not peculiar to the Jew; but with all other nations simple . Earlier, the disciples at Tyre had also strongly urged Paul not to go (21:4). The Voice translation 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them ( Acts 21:25-26). During his years in Caesarea, Philip probably continued to evangelize the maritime plain. Arrested in the Temple. The Antonia tower overlooked the temple, and two flights of steps gave troops stationed there direct access to the court of the Gentiles. 1.b. However, his being ritually unclean after a long residence in Gentile lands seems to explain this adequately. 2:22), even though the act of bearing a child is not sinful. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. He simply became a Jew in order to win the Jews. Then, on the next day he left on a rugged trip into the next town, Derbe. Acts 21:27. Paul reported in great detail on his missionary journeys and the impact of the gospel among the Gentile populations. Given Lukes tendency for trying to show that Pauls Gentile mission and the Jerusalem church marched together, it seems odd that he would not discuss the offering. Some so claim, but is this a necessary conclusion? In any case, in another situation at Lystra Paul apparently had been stoned into insensibility, but was still able to get up and go into the city (14:14). How did sprinkling an unclean person with the ashes of an "heifer" provide sanctifying and purifying of the flesh? The ritual was only meant for those wishing to become Nazarites and wasnt performed by the vast majority of Jews. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. Their testimony is as followsAnd when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done (Acts 21:14). (literally) the time space between dawn and . lustration. Paul and his delegation disembarked and located some disciples in the city with whom they stayed a week (21:4). It was also the Roman provincial capital of Judea. This proves that the Holy Spirit had made it plain to the heart of Paul that his last ministry in Jerusalem would be bitterly opposed by the enemy, and that the same Holy Spirit bound him to go there to suffer for Christ. Perhaps they thought Paul had brought the entire delegation into its inner courts.) Luke had left Philip at Caesarea at the end of a missionary tour some two decades earlier (8:40), and this is his only reappearance in the book. 4And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. Orr, James, M.A., D.D. (1 John 4:10), How could someone take an oath and be "unaware of it"? Join us for a time of Bible study; we have Sunday school classes for all age groups. But in the details of daily life there were special causes of cermonial uncleanness which were severally provided for by ceremonial laws enacted for each separate case. The multitudes in Jerusalem who were in Christ remained devoted to the law that Paul was clearly preaching against. Others argue that the apostle was sincere in yielding to this procedure; he simply did not fully understandat this pointthat the law had been abrogated. To have, hold, possess. It does not appear, therefore, that this episode can be explained upon the basis of the apostles limited knowledge. Did Paul sin when he purified himself in the Jerusalem temple, according to the record in Acts 21?. According to Luke, they were trying to kill him on the spot, without even a trial (21:31). The city had a magnificent harbor built by Herod, and it served as the port for Jerusalem. ), but since in English it is somewhat awkward to say "the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice would be offered," the temporal clause was translated "when the sacrifice . Chapter 28 Pauls Last Message to National Israel (Acts 28:16-31), Chapter 27 Sailing With Paul (Acts 27:1-28:15), Chapter 26 Paul Speaks For Himself Before Agrippa (Acts 26:1-32), Chapter 25 Paul Before Festus (Acts 25:1-27), Chapter 24 Paul Before Felix (Acts 24:1-27), Chapter 23 Paul Brought Before the Chief Priests (Acts 23:1-35), Chapter 22 Paul Addresses the Jews in Jerusalem (Acts 22:1-30). Paul here was underscoring his loyalty to the Roman Empire. 27 When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. In particular, for Paul to participate by: a. In the Mosaic rites of purification is their expiatory character. Join us in the auditorium for a time of praise and singing and the study of Gods Word. Many students of the Word are quick to criticize Paul for making his last visit to Jerusalem. Caesarea was in the province of Judea, but the city was not considered part of the Jews land because of its Gentile population and outlook. Its possible Paul initially objected to the elders suggestion of participating in the purification ritual. It was suggested, therefore, that Paul identify with them, paying their temple fees, and, purifying himself along with them. He would be participating in a hallowed ancestral custom, and no one could claim he was teaching Jews to abandon the laws of Moses. Eventually, though, they got around to telling the great apostle about a problem they felt was serious. The fact that the four men were to have their heads shaved at the end of their vow period indicates they were undertaking a Nazirite vow (Numbers 6:1-21). They grabbed him. Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? One merely needed to be careful not to offend a church member who thought it was wrong. the events of his labors among the Gentiles, giving all glory to God (vv. However, when Paul said he was a citizen of Tarsus, he wasnt appealing to his Roman citizenship. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place (21:28). The Lord saw to it that Paul did not remain in the Jerusalem temple until an offering was offered for him. pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; , Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren. Paul had successfully removed himself as the center of attention. Luke summarized Pauls report as being positively received, saying, When they heard this, they praised God (21:20). He wanted reassurances that if he participated in the purification rites and vow this would not be interpreted as the churchs rejecting the prior agreement. 5). Each (of more than two), every one. We know and understand that Yeshua wants a bride who is white as snow, spotless and without a blemish. Agabus, foretelling what should befall him at Jerusalem. the priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put. Agabus had appeared in Lukes account when he prophesied of a severe famine that would eventually touch much of the Roman world (11:27-28). Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden. The, the definite article. As it happened, four Jewish church members were in the middle of observing a Nazirite vow. Luke wanted his readers to know that Pauls work, no less than Peters, had been accepted by the mother church as divinely inspired. She must not touch any holy thing or go into the sanctuary until completing her days of purification. Asked April 29 2019 Thats when the riot began. Agabus came in, took Pauls girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, so shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles (Acts 21:8-11). Perhaps the elders had heard about what amounted to Pauls departure from the agreement. The language of the oracle once more conforms Paul to the image of the prophet Jesus onhisjourney to Jerusalem: Agabus declares that Paul, too, will be handed over and into the power of the Gentiles, which makes his prophecy remarkably close to the passion predictions of Jesus (9:44; 18:32). The complete notice reads: No foreigner is to enter within the balustrade and embankment around the sanctuary. Acts 21:13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? This could be done by publicly reiterating the Jerusalem churchs commitment to the decree of Acts 15. A Jewish woman had to be purified following the birth of a child (cf. Luke Johnson writes. The next day the ship sailed southwest to the island of Rhodes. This is very clear that the Jewish elders at this point did not believe that gentiles should come under the law and they didnt try to make Gentiles come under the law of Moses. Luke had already told us that many thousands had responded to the gospel message in the Jerusalem area during the earliest days of the church. Some of the disciples from Caesarea decided to go with Paul and the delegation. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. (:5) For a Female Child. This question being settled, Pauls company took up their luggage and went with him unto Jerusalem. Lukes account is hazy on exactly what Paul did. Then he told Paul: The Holy Spirit says, In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles (21:11). Third, some respected men have argued that Paul slipped on this occasion, lapsing into weakness; his practice, therefore, was inconsistent with his preaching (cf. "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". Paul had earlier stated that the Holy Spirit had warned him that he faced prisons and hardships in Jerusalem (20:23; 21:4). 18-19). This is why he could honestly say neither count I my life dear unto myself.. But since Paul had been accused of defiling the holy temple, the mob was not interested in discussing the finer points of the law. Agabus now took Pauls belt and tied his own hands and feet with it. Verse Acts 21:26. New English Translation (NET). Copyright Grace Communion International. 12:1ff; Lk. He took some soldiers, and they ran into the crowd to disperse it (21:32). He correctly described the stages of a coast-hugging ships journey, as well as sea travel in general of those times. Acts 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 thingsoffered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. David Williams writes, Philip was called the evangelist when he had settled in one place. All rights reserved. Certain of the disciples of Caesarea also accompanied him. He thought that if Paul had entertained a clearer perception of the abolition of the law, he would not have done what he did here especially later on, after writing the books of Ephesians and Hebrews (he assumes Paul wrote the latter). How is Christ the "atoning sacrifice"? Aramaic was the language of Judea, and of those in the eastern Roman Empire who did not speak Greek. The research was done in the mid 1990s, but all articles were edited in 2012 by Michael Morrison, PhD, professor of Biblical Studies at Grace Communion Seminary. The Romans killed and captured many of the Egyptians followers, though he escaped. 0 responses They said: Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Paul in fact made no offering at all. New Testament Baptism: In Water or the Spirit? . But the zealous Christian Jews of Jerusalem were concerned lest the rumors were true, that Paul was telling Jews to stop observing their ancestral customs. James had recognized that Pauls work had been guided by God. The charter still stood, with the exceptions set down at the conference. Almost certainly, Paul and the delegates presented the collection for the poor saints when they reported the progress of the Gentile mission. Acts 21:27 The Voice (VOICE) 27 The seven days of purification were almost completed when some Jews from Asia recognized Paul in the temple. the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Acts 21:26 Context. Less than $5/mo! This decision on the part of the elders in Jerusalem was accepted by the apostle Paul. The Romans even allowed the Sanhedrin to execute the death penalty for anyone who violated this regulation, something that Josephus (Antiquities15:417;Wars6:124-126) and Philo (Embassy to Gaius212) both mention.