244. JERUSALEM AND BONDS

"He steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem"

Paul's third preaching campaign had almost come to an end. He had preached the gospel all over the Roman world and had established and strengthened ecclesias wherever he went. Now he "set his face steadfastly to go to Jerusalem " as Jesus had done years before (Luke 9:51).

He was determined that nothing would prevent him from witnessing there, despite repeated warning that tribulation awaited him. He had a contest to complete, he had been given a commission and was prepared to give his life for that cause.

Acts 21, 22 and 23

PAUL RETURNS TO JERUSALEM (Acts 21:1-14).

After a sorrowful departure from Miletus, Paul and his companions sailed to Coos, then to Rhodes and on to Patara along the south coast of Lycia. From there they set sail across the Mediterranean, past Cyprus and landed at Tyre, where they remained seven days with the brethren. During their stay, Paul was once again warned not to go to Jerusalem because persecution lay ahead. However, after leaving Tyre, they travelled south to Ptolemais (Acre) and then on to Caesarea. At Caesarea Paul stayed at the house of Philip, who many years before preached in Samaria and Caesarea (Acts 8:5, 40). Whilst still in Caesarea, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea and enacted a prophecy. He took Paul's girdle, and after binding his hands and feet, said that the Jews would do the same to Paul in Jerusalem and then deliver him into the hands of the Romans. When they heard that, even Paul's companions joined with the brethren of Caesarea in pleading with the Apostle not to go up to Jerusalem. Paul fully realised the danger ahead, and his reply (v.13), caused them to stop and think — he was not only ready to be bound, but to die also. The secret of his courage and determination was his confident faith in God's power. He knew God would never forsake those that put their trust in him (Psa. 9:10; Phil. 4:13; 2 Cor. 12:9-10). Consequently, his companions, seeing he would not be persuaded, said, "The will of the Lord be done".

JERUSALEM AT LAST (Acts 21:15-26).

Paul and his companions set off again, this time by road, to Jerusalem, and were welcomed on their arrival by the Jerusalem brethren. On the following day, they met with James and all the elders to inform them of their preaching and to present the collection of money from the Gentile ecclesias for the poor brethren in Judea.

James and the elders glorified God because of what they heard, but warned Paul of dangers facing him. There were rumours circulating that Paul was encouraging the Jews to completely forsake the customs of the Law of Moses. This was untrue. Paul knew that it was no longer necessary to keep the law to be saved, but he did not oppose the proper use of the Law (1 Tim. 1:8; 1 Cor. 9:20). In order to prove the rumours false, the elders suggested that Paul join four other Jewish believers in the Temple for the purification ceremony of the Nazarite vows they had taken upon themselves (see Num. 6). Hoping that this would reassure everyone, Paul agreed, and made his way to the Temple.

Air view of Jerusalem, showing the present Temple area. The octagonal building in the

centre is the "Dome of the Rock" first erected in A.D. 691. To the right, note the shadow

in the Kidron Valley, and the road between Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives that leads

to Bethany and Jericho.

RIOT IN THE TEMPLE (Acts 21:27-40).

When the seven days of the ceremony were almost ended, Paul was recognised in the Temple by some visiting Jews from Asia. Because of their hatred of him, they immediately stirred up a riot, seized Paul and dragged him from the Temple, intent on beating him to death. Fortunately the Roman captain, Claudius Lysias, heard of the uproar and immediately took a band of soldiers to quell the riot. He ordered Paul to be chained and carried into the Tower of Antonia near the Temple. Meanwhile the people followed shouting, "away with him" as they had done years before (cp. Luke 23:18). On the way up the stairs into the Tower, Paul asked the captain if he could speak to the people.

PAUL'S DEFENCE BEFORE THE JEWS (Acts 22).

Paul was given permission, and from the steps he addressed the crowd in the Hebrew tongue. He spoke about his heritage and upbringing. He told them he had been a student of the famous teacher Gamaliel in this very Temple, and had lived according to the law. With a mistaken zeal for God he had persecuted the followers of Jesus Christ all over the world. He related his trip to Damascus in detail — how he was struck down and blinded by a light from heaven. As he spoke, the crowd were silent in awe. He told them how his sight was restored, of his baptism and his total change in life. He then revealed that when in Jerusalem again he received a commission from Jesus saying, "Depart, for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles" (v.21).

That was just too much for the crowd to take! To think that God would deal with Gentiles was blasphemy to them, so they burst forth in frantic demonstration. They shook their clothes, hurled dust into the air and shouted, "Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live" (v.22). The captain could not understand this sudden outburst, and so quickly ordered Paul to be taken into the castle. His in­tention was to extract the reason for the uproar from Paul by torture. However, Paul avoided lashings by asserting his Roman citizenship (since Roman citizens were not allowed to be beaten without a fair trial). This was the first step in a process that would eventually bring Paul to Rome. Nevertheless, Claudius Lysias, in order to find out the cause of the riot, commanded the Sanhedrin to meet and conduct an enquiry.

PAUL BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN (Acts 23:1-10).

Before the Sanhedrin Paul was confident, and said that he had lived "in all good conscience before God". In other words, his whole life was governed by a consistent consciousness of God's requirements. He knew God's requirements and made every effort to obey them fully. However, the High Priest was outraged at Paul's statement, and ordered him to be smitten, contrary to the Law (Lev. 19:35; Deut. 25:1, 2). Paul responded by prophesying, "God shall smite thee, thou whited wall" (v.3). Josephus records that Ananias the High Priest, was later murdered by the Jews, thus fulfilling Paul's prediction.

Paul then continued and cleverly divided the Sanhedrin into two groups by saying he was a Pharisee and believed in the resurrection of the dead. This caused a great uproar because the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, and so did not support him, but the Pharisees did. As Paul was once again in danger of being torn apart, the chief captain ordered the guards to remove him to the safe custody of the castle.

FROM JERUSALEM TO CAESAREA (Acts 23:11-35).

During the night, the Lord Jesus appeared to Paul (v.11, cp. 18:9; 22:17), and encouraged him to maintain his faith and comforted him by the assurance that he must also defend the Truth in Rome.

The next day, certain Jews gathered together and, because of their hatred of Paul, made a vow not to eat until Paul was dead. To make matters worse, their wicked plan was approved by the powerful chief priests. What a total disrespect for God's purposes with Paul! But they had similarly acted with Christ and Stephen. They devised a scheme to assassinate him, but fortunately this was overheard by Paul's nephew, who came and told Paul. When Claudius Lysias heard of the Jewish plot, he immediately sent Paul to Caesarea (where Felix was the Roman Governor), escorted by 470 soldiers. He also sent a message to Felix outlining the details of the Temple riot and the conspiracy against Paul. At Caesarea, Paul was kept in custody until his opponents arrived from Jerusalem. Here is another remarkable illustration of the way in which God overturns the fanatical schemes of men to fulfil His will. Paul was to preach in Rome, and there was absolutely nothing men could do to upset the purpose of God.

LESSONS FOR US:

We cannot help but be impressed by the attitude of the Apostle Paul on his way to Jerusalem. Despite the many warnings that trouble and hardship lay ahead, he had enough faith and courage and determination to press on. He himself did not want to endure the bonds and afflictions that awaited him, yet he realised that God knew best, and therefore that His will should be done. We often only do the things we want to do, but this may not always be what God wants us to do.

Paul realised too, that God truly cares for all those that love and fear Him. Although he almost lost his life in Jerusalem, God manipulated the evil plans of men to save his life. God watches over us too, and will care for us and guide us if we put our trust in Him and obey Him.

REFERENCE LIBRARY.

"The Story of the Bible" (H. P. Mansfield)—Vol. 14, Nos. 2 and 3

"Paul the Apostle" (W. H. Boulton)—pp. 155-182

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. What warnings did Paul receive to not go on to Jerusalem when returning from his third journey?

2. Why was Paul arrested in Jerusalem?

3. How did Paul divide the Sanhedrin when in Jerusalem after his arrest?

4. What caused Claudius Lysias to have Paul escorted out of Jerusalem to Caesarea?

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. Outline the events that happened to Paul in Jerusalem that led to his arrest, and show how God was directing his life.

2. Briefly describe Paul's defence before the Jews as recorded in Acts 22, 23.