367. JERUSALEM AND BONDS
"He steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem"
Paul's missionary journeys were behind him with all the tribulations which attended them. He had preached the Gospel. Ecclesias had been established and strengthened throughout the civilised world. The attitude of the elders of the ecclesia at Ephesus would reflect the sentiments of the true brethren in all parts as they sorrowed "that they should see his face no more" (Acts 20:38). Like Jesus, Paul now "steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem" (Lk. 9:51). He would readily give himself for the gospel's sake (Phil. 1:20; 2:17; 3:8; Col. 1:24). He had a contest to com plete (2 Tim. 4:7; Phil. 2:16), and the service Christ had laid down for him, he would fulfil (Acts 9:15, 16). The aim of this lesson is to show how bold and fearless Paul was as a witness for Christ.
Acts 21, 22, 23
PAUL HEADS FOR JERUSALEM (Acts 21:1-14).
Leaving Miletus, Paul's journey by ship took him to Coos, then Rhodes, then east along the south coast of Lycia to Patara where they were fortunate to find a ship that would sail direct to Phoenicia. At Tyre, Paul stayed with local brethren. During.this sojourn, some of the members, through the power of the Holy Spirit, predicted that bonds and afflictions awaited him at Jerusalem (21:4). Seven days later Paul departed by ship for Acre (Ptolemais).
From Acre, Paul travelled south to Caesarea, staying at the house of Philip. Again trouble was forecast for Paul, this time through the prophet Agabus. Paul, the prophet said, would be bound by the Jews and delivered to the Gentiles (21:11). With Jerusalem near at hand, even Paul's travelling companions, who had so continuously heard the same prediction, now joined their pleading with that of the local brethren in beseeching the Apostle not to go up to Jerusalem. Paul's reply caused the brethren to stop, observe and ponder: "What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus" (v.13). The great principle of Paul's life and the secret of his courage and determination was a confident faith in God's power and His pro mise of support (Phil. 4:13; 2 Cor. 12:9, 10). Paul's faith overcame the world (1 Jn. 5:4, 5). Reverently the brethren responded: "The will of the Lord be done" (Acts 21:14).
JERUSALEM € AT LAST (Acts 21:15-26).
Three days and some 120 kilometres later, Paul and his companions received a friendly welcome from the Jerusalem brethren. On the day following, they met with James and all the elders of the large ecclesia (v.18; cp. v.20). Paul gave a detailed account of his activities especially making mention of "what things God had wrought among the Gentiles" by his ministry. The plain implication in his words was that if God had accepted Gentiles who did not observe the Law, then any seek ing to impose it or enforce it on Jew or Gentile did wrong in God's eyes.
James and the elders glorified God for His grace extended to the Gen tiles as well as the Jews, but they warned of dangers facing Paul. There were widespread rumours alleging that he: €
- refused to impose the requirements of the Law of Moses on Gentile believers;
- actively dissuaded Jewish believers against continuing to keep the Law.
Whereas Paul vigorously opposed the teaching of Judaism, he did not oppose the proper use of the Law (cp. Rom. 7:12; 1 Tim. 1:8; Gal. 3:24; 1 Cor. 9:20). Paul assented to the spirit of the Law, of which Law, Christ is the substance. Hence Paul had no hesitation in accepting the suggestion of the elders to publicly endorse the action of four Jewish believers who had taken upon themselves the Nazarite vow (see Num. 6). The vow taught that "by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified" (Rom. 3:20); that even the greatest and most righteous men under the Law still sinned and came short of the glory of God. Therefore they too, were in need of redemption, which fact was acknowledged in that they had to offer the sin offering as well as others! (Lev. 16:17). Accordingly, after preparations were finished, Paul made his way with the four men into the Temple.
A RIOTOUS TEMPLE CROWD (Acts 21:27-40; 22:1-30).
The seven days were almost ended when Paul was recognised in the Temple by some Jews visiting Jerusalem from Asia. Paul was hated by them, for they accused him of "teaching all men everywhere against the people (Jews), and the Law, and this place (Herold's Temple)" (v.28). They also accused him of profaning the Temple by bringing Greeks into it.
The whole city was incited against Paul and he was dragged from the Temple and beaten almost to the point of death. Fortunately someone had taken the news of the uproar to the Roman Captain, Claudius Lysias. When the Jews saw the Roman soldiers they ceased beating Paul. As the soldiers led him away in chains, the people crowded around shouting, "Away with him" (v.36), as they had some years before (cp. Lk. 23:18). To enter the fortress they had to climb stairs. When they were on the way up Paul spoke in Greek to the captain, asking if he could speak to the people.
Allowed to speak, Paul, with his characteristic hand gesture, addressed the crowd in the Hebrew tongue. He spoke of his heritage and upbringing and how, as a disciple of Gamaliel in this very Temple, he had been educated to be strictly orthodox. Though born in Tarsus in Cilicia his zeal was such that he had come to Jerusalem to be more perfectly instructed. With zeal for God, he had persecuted the followers of Jesus Christ even to death.
In some detail he narrated the events that had taken place on the way to Damascus; of the voice from heaven, of the blindness that had en sured, of his being led into Damascus, and of the visit of Ananias. The crowd listened in silence. He went on to describe the miracle of his blind ness being healed, his baptism and his total change of life. He made par ticular mention of further revelations in Jerusalem (22:17). These facts also had no adverse effect upon Paul's audience. However, as soon as he stated his commission from the Lord Jesus, "I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles" (v.21), all the pent-up hatred of the Jews towards their conquerors, towards the Greeks, and toward this apparently renegade Jew, burst forth. Casting off their clothes and casting dust into the air, they cried, "Away with such a fellow from the earth; for it is not fit that he should live!" (w. 22-23).
Not understanding the sudden outburst of rage, the captain took Paul into the castle, with the intention of extracting the truth by torture, a common Roman practice with criminals. But by asserting that he was a Roman citizen, a status into which he had been born (unlike the captain who had purchased it), Paul brought their intentions to a halt. The first move was thus taken in a chain of events that eventuated in Paul being sent to Rome. Seeking a definite charge against Paul, the Sanhedrin was assembled to make a formal enquiry.
PAUL BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN (Acts 23:1-10).
Before the Sanhedrin, Paul boldly took the initative. All his life, he said, he had been conscious of God's laws and had striven to uphold them. Incensed at this statement, the High Priest, who was supposed to uphold the Law, ordered Paul to be smitten contrary to the Law (Deut. 25:1-2). Paul quickly responded by prophesying "God shall smite thee, thou whited wall" (v.3). Josephus records that Ananias, High Priest from A.D. 47-59, was later murdered, thus fulfilling Paul's prediction.
Part of the Sanhedrin was made up of Pharisees who believed in the resurrection and angels, and part was of Sadducees who denied both. Paul continued and cleverly divided his accusers by appealing to the Pharisees in the words, "I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resur rection of the dead I am called in question" (v.6). Conflict between the Sadducees and the Pharisees occurred at once. Paul, again in danger, was snatched out of their midst by the guard and brought into the castle.
FROM JERUSALEM TO CAESAREA (Acts 23:11-35).
During the night Paul was again encouraged by the Lord standing by him (v. 11; cp. 18:9; 22:17). He was comforted by the assurance that as he had borne witness at Jerusalem, so he must yet testify to Christ in Rome (v.l 1). The hatred of the Jews and their complete lack of respect for the Law was indicated by the vow of the would-be murderers of Paul (v.12), which was sanctioned by the chief priests (v.14). On hearing of this plot, Claudius Lysias sent Paul with an escort of 470 soldiers under cover of night to Caesarea (w.23-24), the headquarters of the Roman power in the land. A message was sent to Felix, the governor, outlining the details of the case. It summarised the events of the Temple riot and the conspiracy against Paul, but carefully omitted to mention that Paul's citizenship was revealed under threat of scourging! At Caesarea Paul was kept in custody pending the arrival of his accusers from Jerusalem. These circumstantial details illustrate the way in which God uses the schemes of men to fulfil His will; Paul was to preach in Rome and this was the begin ning of his long journey there. There was nothing that men could do to upset the purpose of God.
LESSONS FOR US:
- God protects His servants and gives them strength in their trials.
- We should be faithful servants of Christ ready to accept his way, not afraid to speak the Truth, and confident that our God will uphold us.
- The Hand of God controls the lives of men, bringing His purpose to its fulfilment.
- Our service to Christ should be bold and unflinching so that God's name might be glorified.
REFERENCE LIBRARY:
"Paul the Apostle" (W. H. Boulton) € Chapters 17, 18
"The Story of the Bible" (H. P. Mansfield) € Vol. 14, Pages 60-81
"Archaeology and the New Testament" (Merrill F. Unger) € Chap. 16
PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:
1. Why did Paul keep a vow of the Mosaic Law when he came to Jerusalem?
- Why was Paul arrested in Jerusalem?
- How did Paul divide the Sanhedrin when in Jerusalem after his ar rest?
- What caused Claudius Lysias to have Paul escorted out of Jerusalem to Caesarea?
- What lessons can we learn from Paul's bold and fearless defense of the gospel in Jerusalem?
ESSAY QUESTIONS:
1. Discuss the important aspects of Paul's speech to the Jews in the Temple court after he had been arrested by Claudius Lysias on his last visit to Jerusalem.
- Outline the events surrounding the riot in the Temple, and the plot against Paul's life by the Jews, when he was in Jerusalem for the last time.
- What part did the Law of Moses play in the life of Paul? Comment on the reason for Paul's vow and purification at the Temple on his last visit to Jerusalem.