Acts 21:17 to 23:35 - Paul In Jerusalem

Paul Arrives in Jerusalem – Read Acts 21:17-26

This is the climax of the book of Acts and one of the most difficult episodes in the New Testament to understand. Paul arrives from Caesarea with his delegation from the churches of Asia Minor and Greece. They have traveled to Jerusalem to present the Christians there with the donations received from the “Gentile churches” that Paul has founded. They arrive from their long journey and are received warmly. The delegation is put up in the house of a man named Mnason who was one of the early believers.

The following day Paul and his companions go to see James and the elders of the Jerusalem church. Paul gives a detailed report on his missionary journeys and when the elders heard this they “praised God.” But what they say next to Paul is totally unexpected: “You see brother, how many thousands of Jews believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. What shall we do?”

What James and the elders are telling Paul is that he is a problem – that the Christians in Jerusalem are holding to the Law of Moses and that Paul’s teachings are at variance with those of the mother church. Jews and Christians alike will soon find out that Paul is in town and this could lead to trouble.

The sequence of events that follows has been the subject of much scholarly debate and thoughtful reflection by Christians everywhere.

Since Paul will be seen as an apostate – a lapsed and non-observant Jew – the elders propose to Paul that he should join with a group of four men who have taken a Nazarite vow. Paul will pay their expenses at the temple, join in the purification rites by shaving his head, and accompany the men to the temple after seven days to make the appropriate animal sacrifice. So by taking part in such a public Jewish ritual, Paul will be seen by all to be atoning for any lapses and participating fully in Jewish Law and customs.

And Paul agrees. The following day he and the four men purify themselves and go to the temple to make an appointment for the animal sacrifice that will conclude the purification ritual.

And this is why there is so much debate about this particular episode. Paul has written extensively in his epistles to the Galatians and Romans about the obsolescence of the Hebrew Law and how justification is freely available through faith in Jesus Christ. Why would Paul, stubborn and learned Christian that he is, agree to undergo such an obviously Jewish purification rite? A rite that is no longer relevant to the believing Christian? And why would the elders even propose it knowing the climate of hostile opinion against Paul in Jerusalem at the time?

Opinions vary widely on the interpretation of this event. Non-Christian skeptics have claimed that Paul’s mission to Jerusalem was a failure – the donations were never reported by Luke as having been accepted by the elders. James and the others simply wanted Paul out of the way so they proposed an obviously inflammatory act that would lead to Paul’s arrest or death. This would neatly eliminate Paul’s competitive theology.

Other scholars argue the technicalities – Paul has never preached against Jewish Law per se, only that it is no longer required for salvation. There is no harm in observing Jewish laws and customs, especially to those born Jewish like himself. Paul had Timothy circumcised in Galatia to appease Jewish sensibilities - Paul’s observance of a vow while he was in Jerusalem was, to him, no more or less than theological fence-mending, and allowable within the scope of his own theology.

Others say that the elders were sincere in their suggestion and simply made a miscalculation of public sentiment towards Paul. Paul likewise made a mistake – theologically and politically - by participating in such a public and obviously Jewish vow. The debate will likely continue among Christians far into the future, but this is clearly the critical turning point in Paul’s calling as an apostle.


Paul Arrested - Read Acts 21:27 to 21:36

At the end of the seven day interval following the vow, Paul returns to the temple. In order to make an animal sacrifice, Paul would have to cross through all of the temple courts – the Court of Gentiles, Court of Women, the Court of Israel - to get to the inner Court of Priests where the sacrificial altar was located. As Paul approaches some Jews from Asia Minor recognize him and stir up a crowd. These Jews believe Paul is an apostate Jew because of his preaching among the Christian churches in their home provinces. In addition, they thought they had seen Trophimus (one of Paul’s companions, a delegate from one of the Gentile churches) accompanying Paul on the temple grounds. The penalty for an outsider or an apostate who trespasses on the inner courts of the temple is death, and these Jews are trying to apprehend Paul for this crime of desecration.

The crowd grows into a mob and the mob begins to riot in their attempt to seize and beat Paul to death. The commotion is heard by the commander of the local Roman garrison – located in the nearby Antonia fortress – and Paul is saved by the soldiers from the violent mob. Paul is hustled off to the barracks so the Romans can interrogate him and get to the bottom of the story.


Paul Speaks to the Crowd – Read Acts 21:37 to 22:29

Just before he is to be taken inside for interrogation, Paul asks for permission to speak to the crowd from the steps of the Antonia fortress. Paul addresses the crowd in Aramaic so they will understand him, and they quiet down to be able to hear him clearly. Here Luke quotes a long speech by Paul, who presents an eloquent history of his ministry. Paul recounts how he was born in Tarsus, studied the Law under Gamaliel to become a Pharisee, approvingly saw Stephen martyred and persecuted the early church. Paul also gives a complete account of his conversion experience on the road to Damascus. Paul next describes a vision he had while praying at the temple on his first visit to Jerusalem as a Christian: Jesus tells Paul to leave Jerusalem and go: “I will send you far away to the Gentiles.”

The crowd had listened quietly enough to Paul up to this point, but upon hearing of his mission to the Gentiles they begin to shout and yell again, calling for his death. The Roman commander has seen enough and orders Paul to be taken inside and flogged to get the truth out of him. But just as the whip is raised, Paul mentions that he is a Roman citizen and the centurion immediately reports this to the commander – it is illegal to flog a Roman citizen without a trial. So Paul avoids the flogging but is closely held until the next morning when he is to appear before the Sanhedrin.


Paul Before the Sanhedrin – Read Acts 22:30 to 23:11

The next day the Roman commander orders the Sanhedrin to assemble so he can get their opinion on the validity of the accusations against Paul. Paul is defiant in his words to the Sanhedrin and is struck on the mouth – a sign that he is thought to be lying. Paul realizes that the Sanhedrin consists of both Sadducees and Pharisees, and he decides to turn this to his advantage. Paul states that he himself is a Pharisee and his arrest is because of his belief in the resurrection of the dead.

The Sadducees – the priestly class – were strict followers of the Law of Moses, and so did not believe in angels, spirits or hold that resurrection was possible. The Pharisees, however, did believe in angels and spirits and held that resurrection was possible. Immediately a theological dispute breaks out among the members of the Sanhedrin, no doubt revolving around Paul’s statement that he was acting sincerely on instructions from a vision of Jesus. The Pharisees, acknowledge the validity of such a vision and in their eagerness to win the theological argument, declare that Paul has done no wrong. The sadducees disagree and the dispute increases , threatening to turn violent. The Roman commander, who had sought guidance from the religious authorities, had no choice but to remove Paul back to the safety of the fortress and decide what to do next. Luke reports that during the night the Lord stood near Paul saying: “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify about me in Rome.”


The Plot to Kill Paul – Read Acts 23:12-35

Frustrated by the Romans and the inaction of the Sanhedrin, some 40 Jews began to plot to kill Paul, taking a vow not to eat or drink until this was accomplished. They actually conspire with the chief priests who are to ask the Romans that Paul be required to appear before the Sanhedrin again – Paul will have to be taken out of the fortress for this – so the conspirators will have their chance to effect his death. Luke reports that Paul’s nephew gets wind of the plot and reports it to Paul, who sends the young man to the commander. The commander listens to the boy, is convinced that the threat is real and decides to move Paul back to headquarters in Caesarea.

Later that night a “detachment of 200 soldiers, 70 horsemen and 200 spearmen” – a small army - accompany Paul out of town. Luke quotes the letter written by the commander to the Roman Governor Felix describing the events in Jerusalem. When Paul arrives in Caesarea the governor has him held in Herod’s palace until Paul’s accusers arrive for the formal trial.

In this way Paul is delivered safely from the mob in Jerusalem. But he is a prisoner of the Romans and now must endure a series of complicated legal proceedings that comprise the elaborate Roman justice system. His movements and actions are restricted and his work as an apostle, although not finished, has been permanently changed.


Links of Interest

A good explanation of the Nazarite vow is given here: http://www.bibleresearch.org/lawbook4/b4w5.html

Detailed commentary on Paul’s speech to the mob at the temple is here:
http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/4422.htm

Detailed commentary on Acts 21 is here:
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/mcgarvey/acts.ch21.html

Detailed commentary on Acts 22 is here:
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/mcgarvey/acts.ch22.html

Detailed commentary on Acts 23 is here:
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/mcgarvey/acts.ch23.html


Study/Discussion Questions

1. Why did the elders in Jerusalem suggest that Paul take a vow?

2. Why do you think Paul agreed to the vow and to undergo purification at the temple?

3. Who was Trophimus and why was he with Paul?

4. Where were the Jews from who accused Paul, and why were they in Jerusalem?

5. Why did the Sanhedrin fail to act on Paul’s case? Why would they take part in a conspiracy to assassinate Paul? What does this say about Luke’s opinion of the state of the Jewish religious leadership?

6. Why do you think only his nephew - but none of the Christians - helped Paul after his arrest?

7. How would you characterize the actions of the Romans with respect to Paul? What is Luke trying to say?