Acts 21:30

IN JERUSALEM

‘And all the city was moved.’

Acts 21:30

St. Paul is now at Jerusalem. What changes had taken place during the quarter of a century which had elapsed since his first introduction to the Church in this city!

I. St. Paul’s reception at Jerusalem.—On his arrival in Jerusalem he was—

(a) Received by friends. They were glad to receive him (Acts 21:17), and went to Mnason’s house to give him a warm welcome. The next day a public reception took place. St. Paul ‘rehearsed’ the things which ‘ God had wrought.’ Told them how God had blessed his preaching in Corinth, Philippi, and other Gentile cities. No wonder that when the brethren heard it, ‘they glorified the Lord’ (Acts 21:20).

(b) Misrepresented by opponents.—But whilst the brethren rejoiced at this account of the Apostle’s work amongst the Gentiles, others looked upon him with suspicion (Acts 21:21). But besides these, there were large numbers of Jews who hated St. Paul, and looked upon him as a traitor to the Jewish faith and nation.

(c) The counsel of James. James said that whilst he and the brethren adhered to the decision to grant freedom to Gentile Christians, in the interests of peace he advised St. Paul to do what he could to remove these suspicions. That St. Paul should go to the Temple with four poor men who had taken a Nazarite vow. This meant that they had agreed to let their hair grow and abstain from wine for a month. It was a Jewish mode of thanking God for special mercies, and the Apostle himself had observed it after his first danger in Europe (chap. Acts 18:18). At the close of the month they shaved their heads, went to the Temple, if within reach, on seven successive days, and offered sacrifice (Numbers 6:13). It was a hard proposal to make to the Apostle, who had taught ‘in every city’ that such usages were indifferent, and preached that in Christ Jesus ‘neither circumcision availeth anything nor uncircumcisiom. But he accepted the proposal. He would do all that was possible for peace. Whilst maintaining to the Gentiles freedom of grace, to show that he was still a loyal Jew, to disarm prejudices of Jewish Christians, he accepted the conditions—went with the four men for the seven days of purification, and paid the cost of their sacrifices.

II. The riot in the Temple court.—But further disappointment awaited the Apostle. What he had done for the sake of peace brought him into the greatest peril.

(a) The cause of the riot. He had almost reached the end of the ceremonies, when Jews from Ephesus, who knew the Apostle, saw him in the streets of Jerusalem with Trophimus, an Ephesian Gentile. It was the festival of Pentecost, and pilgrims were present from all parts. Meeting St. Paul in the Temple, they thought Trophimus was still with him, and shouted, ‘Men of Israel, help! This is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place.’ It was the charge brought against Stephen (chap. Acts 6:13). Now a similar charge is brought against St. Paul. They said also that he had profaned the holy place by bringing Gentiles into the Temple.

(b) The seizure of St. Paul. The falsehood spread and led to a riot. St. Paul was dragged down the stairs into the Court of the Gentiles. The design of his enemies seemed to be to get him out of the Temple before proceeding to further violence. Then blows fell upon him fast, and the Apostle’s life was in danger. Only the sacredness of the place saved him from being torn in pieces.

(c) St. Paul rescued by the Romans. But the Roman guard had noticed the tumult from the Castle of Antonia. The captain, hurrying down, was just in time to rescue the Apostle from his peril. At the approach of armed soldiers the rioters paused, parted to right and left, and St. Paul was once more left in the custody of Roman soldiers.

III. The practical application.

(a) Observe how careful the Apostle is to recognise Church order. St. Paul was an Apostle, yet he not only respects the officers of the Church at Jerusalem, but he consults their feelings, submits to their judgment, and strengthens their hands. Sometimes, under the spurious statement that the work of God is the main thing, many speak disparagingly of Church organisation, as if it were not the proper way to do the work of God. God’s work is best done in God’s way.

(b) The earnest Christian must be prepared to meet with misrepresentation, and no form of opposition is more difficult to face than an anonymous misrepresentation like that contained in the words, ‘They have been informed.’ In this case, too, the slanderers hasten to spread the warning that St. Paul does not believe in the Old Testament.

—John Palmer.

Illustration

‘The Castle or Tower of Antonia (named after Mark Antony, built by Herod the Great) was situated on the north-west corner of the Temple. Built on a rock, it overlooked the Temple, and was connected by two flights of stairs with the outermost courts. The Romans always kept the castle strongly garrisoned with troops. From the look-out on the Tower of Antonia the sentry saw the tumult and reported it to the chief captain.’m