Paul's Final Journey Series

November 18, 2023

Paul had no false hopes that he would be well received at Jerusalem. He had encountered much resistance over the years by those leaders who thought that the work of preaching the gospel should be in keeping with their own opinions. They had argued that arbitrary measures of control were necessary to make sure Paul was kept in line – especially when it came to Jewish customs and traditions. So, imagine his surprise when the Apostles welcomed him with genuine warmth.

He must have been encouraged when James and the other elders received the Gentiles offerings with gratitude. Perhaps he even breathed a sigh of relief when they praised God as he reported all that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. This was the opportunity for all the church leaders to acknowledge openly that God had worked through Paul and to confess their own jealousy and prejudice.

Instead, they said to Paul: "Great job and all, but we have a problem…. Thousands of Jews have believed, all of whom are zealous for the law. They know that you teach Jews and Gentiles alike to turn away from Moses by telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. They will certainly hear that you have come, so do what we tell you. There are 4 men with us who have made a vow. Join these men in their purification rites, and pay their expenses, then everybody will know that you live in obedience to the law and there is no truth in these reports about you.

It would seem that Paul did have something to worry about after all.

• Ellen White (AA 403.1 and 404.1) - Instead of uniting in an effort to do justice to the one who had been injured, they gave him counsel which showed that they still cherished a feeling that Paul should be held largely responsible for the existing prejudice. They did not stand nobly in his defense, endeavoring to show the disaffected ones where they were wrong, but sought to effect a compromise by counseling him to pursue a course which in their opinion would remove all cause for doubt…… The Spirit of God did not prompt this instruction; it was the fruit of cowardice – they wanted to avoid conflict and potential persecution by the Jewish religious leaders.

• Ellen White (AA 405.1-2) - Paul realized that so long as many of the leading members of the church at Jerusalem should continue to cherish prejudice against him, they would work constantly to counteract his influence. He felt that if by any reasonable concession he could win them to the truth he would remove a great obstacle to the success of the gospel in other places. But he was not authorized of God to concede as much as they asked…… Instead of accomplishing the desired object, his efforts for conciliation only precipitated the crisis, hastened his predicted sufferings, and resulted in separating him from his brethren, depriving the church of one of its strongest pillars, and bringing sorrow to Christian hearts in every land.

The next day, Paul took the 4 men, went to the Temple and purified himself and them. When the days of purification were over, they went back to the Temple. Some Jews from Asia saw Paul in the Temple and, per their usual M.O., caused a riot. The entire city was in a turmoil. Paul was seized and dragged from the Temple. While the mob was trying to kill Paul, news of the riot reached, Lysias, the Roman commander. He and his men raced to the scene. When the mob saw the Romans, the stopped beating Paul. Paul was arrested, put in chains and taken to jail. Paul asked to allowed to speak to the crowd and after he concluded his remarks, the crowd shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He is not fit to live!”

Lysias gave orders that Paul be flogged and questioned to find out why the people were rioting.

Paul: Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn't even been found guilty?

Terrified, Lysias released Paul and ordered the Sanhedrin to assemble, but they caused such a racket that Lysias was afraid they would kill Paul, so Paul was taken back to the barracks.

• Acts 23:11 - The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."

40 Jewish men formed a conspiracy to have Paul killed, but the plot was discovered by Paul’s nephew, who informed Lysias. He ordered Paul be taken by armed guard to Governor Felix in Caesarea

Because Felix wanted to remain on good terms with the Jews, he left Paul in prison for 2 years – until Festus became Governor of Judea.