The Book of Acts

Paul Arrives at Jerusalem

Acts 21:15-25 NLT

“When we arrived (in Jerusalem), the brothers and sisters ... welcomed us warmly.” Acts 21:17

            From Caesarea Paul and his companions packed their things and left for Jerusalem. As shown in verse 17 above, they were received cordially. On the 2^nd day Paul and the others went to meet with James* and the elders of the Jerusalem church. James told Paul of a rumor that had been circulating that said Paul was speaking out against Jewish Christians continuing to practice the Law of Moses. While this was not true, the church body felt it would be proof enough regarding his continued loyalty to the Jewish customs by joining four other men as they went to complete their vow. They all went to the Temple to perform the purification ceremony.

This way there would be no ideological conflict. There would be actual real time evidence that Paul is still a practicing Jew, in addition to adhering to the teachings of Christ. This could be cause for some sense of strife due to the fact that unsaved, orthodox Jews didn’t see Jesus as anything more than a man teaching a different set of rules or laws to follow in place of the Mosaic Law. He taught that “if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Galatians 5:18) Jesus came to fulfill the Law, not replace it, or negate it. This made Jesus a heretic in the minds of the Pharisees & Sadducees. 

            There were two ways that the Jewish Laws could be thought of. Paul accepted one and rejected the other.  1) He rejected the idea that OT laws brought salvation to those who practiced them. In reality, salvation/forgiveness for sin was and is freely given by God. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8 NIV) 2) What Paul DID accept was that the OT law not only revealed our sin to us, but it prepared us for and taught us regarding the coming of Christ. It was he who would fulfill the law and release us from the burden of guilt that came from a person’s failure to follow the law perfectly. Paul agreed to follow through with the purification ceremony as a compromise in order to not offend any he wished to reach with the gospel.

            Paul and the elders came to an agreement regarding what Gentile believers need to adhere to: abstain from eating food offered to idols or from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals and also to not perform sexual immorality. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

Rich Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.