Acts 21: 1 – 30
An admirable scheme?
21 Now it came to pass, that when we had departed from them and set sail, running a straight course we came to Cos, the following day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo. 4 And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. 5 When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed. 6 When we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned home. 7 And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day. 8 On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. 10 And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” 12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.” 15 And after those days we packed and went up to Jerusalem. 16 Also some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us and brought with them a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to lodge. 17 And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; 21 but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 22 What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. 23 Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. 24 Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law. 25 But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.” 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them. 27 Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple. 30 And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut.
Have you ever experienced people who have suggested that you should do things their way and it winds up coming back to bite you? In today’s study we are going to see how Paul takes some advice from other people. As a result in agreeing to their requests we see that a riot breaks out and Paul’s life is not only threatened but takes him out of his ministry.
I think all of us have experienced people who try to manipulate their will into our lives. Manipulative people are those who disguise their interests as your interests. These people will do their best to manipulate you into believing that their opinions are objective facts.
Let me give you an example of this. A manipulative person tells you that the entire office thinks you’re arrogant, crazy, or incompetent.
Then...They'll act concerned.
They'll offer to help you improve your performance, improve your attitude, and improve your life in general. If you don’t change in exactly the way they want you to change, your life will be ruined. That’s what they want you to believe. The truth is these people don’t want to help you. They want to control you.
They want to change you, not to better your life, but to validate their lives and to keep you from outgrowing them. Once you let manipulative people in your life, they can be extremely hard to get rid of. They'll flip flop on issues, act slippery when you try to hold them accountable, and promise help that never comes.
So, I want to give you some information on how to deal with manipulators;
1. Ignore everything they do and say.
When dealing with a manipulative person, the biggest mistake you can make is trying to correct them. By attempting to correct them, you sink deeper into their trap.
Manipulative people will use frustration and confusion to bait you into conflict. They want to get you emotional so they can see how you tick. Once they know the things that trigger you, they’ll use them to influence your actions. A better strategy is to ignore them completely. Simply delete them from your life. If you can’t delete them right away, like if they’re a boss, coworker, or family member, agree with what they say and then go do your own thing anyway.
2. Pray for God’s Wisdom and Discernment.
Manipulative people are constantly using their own strategies against you. They'll hold past actions over your head. They’ll become friends with your friends and turn them against you. They’ll dangle some small reward in front of you and make you chase it continuously—every time you get close to it, they’ll pull it away.
You need to turn the tables. If you’re forced to deal with a manipulative person who keeps making your life miserable no matter how hard you try to ignore them, go to your Father God and ask for His help. To educated and encourage kids in school to fight off bullying what advice to they give them if confronted by a bully? Go tell your teacher or another adult. So, you need to go to your Father.
3. Trust our Holy Master’s guidance.
You know what’s best for your life better than anyone else. Too many people go around asking for other people’s opinions about everything. What should I do with my life? The bible does say that there is much wisdom from many counselors. But do not forget that our Precious Lord Jesus Is The Wonderful Counselor. Go to Him first on all your issues Then in His authority look to other Christian friends for advice.
If you asked say three people to pray and then give you an answer to a problem you had how would you consider their advice? Here is my advice on taking their information;
1. If all three agree in the same advice. – You pretty much can do what they advise.
2. If two agree and one doesn’t – You might want to wait and pray some more. Our Holy Spirit is not the author of confusion. So, I would ask them all to pray again to see if the Holy Spirit brings the advice into complete harmony.
3. If two disagree and one agrees.-- Ask your friends to continue to pray and get back to you with their opinions. If they are still in disagreement then you along with your friends pray together and ask our Precious Holy Spirit to reveal if there is another way to go.
4. If all disagree -- take their advice and don’t go there.
4. Try not to fit in.
The idea that consistency is somehow virtuous or tied to success is a misconception. Manipulative people want you to be consistent so they can count on you to push their agendas forward. They want you to show up every day at 9am and work for them for minimum wage. They want you to get home on time and clean the house and make them feel good about themselves. They want you to make them look good. I personally know some manipulative bosses whose policy is to delegate all work, accept all credit for success, and transfer the blame for errors.
Instead you need to..- Look to Jesus.
Consider that all you service and work is for Him. Let it be different in every possible way and to never stay the same for too long. Personal growth, by definition, requires a lack of consistency. It requires constant change.
5. Stop compromising.
Guilt is a useless emotion. But...It’s a powerful tool.
Guilt is one of the weapons that manipulative people will use against you. They’ll make you feel guilty for past failures and small mistakes, or they’ll make you feel guilty for being happy and confident. No one should ever feel too good about themselves. That's what they want you to believe.
Another weapon manipulators will use against you is doubt. They’ll work to instill a sense of self-doubt within you. Doubt about your abilities and your worth. Manipulators gain power in this state of uncertainty. Their influence becomes stronger when you are uncertain. They have a better chance of getting you to compromise on your values, goals, and self when you're uncertain.
The solution is simple...Stop feeling guilty. You are God’s kid so stop doubting yourself. When it comes to your own career and life, you don’t owe anyone anything except the Lord. You deserve to feel good about yourself and to be proud of your accomplishments.
6. Never ask for permission.
Manipulative people want you to feel beholden to some imaginary rule or ideal that says you cannot freely take action without asking them first. They want you to come to them first. Then they will take your ideas and hand them in as their own.
Have you ever seen on TV advertising for you to hand in an invention or new product to their company? They say that they will help you develop your idea and promote it to various companies. In the end they give you a quick disqualifier – Most ideas and new products hardly get accepted and implemented by companies. What got me thinking if this is so they why do they have about 50 offices scattered around the country? It is because after they get your idea they will discourage you or tell you that you have to come up with a huge amount of money in order for them to market your product or idea. So then what do the majority of people do? They drop their dream of success and wealth. What do these inventor companies do? They steal your idea. In about a year or so you will find your product or idea mysteriously showing up in the market place.
7. Create a greater sense of purpose.
The reason manipulators continue to thrive in this world is because so many people don't know what they're working for. They don't know why they're in their career or life. They somehow promoted themselves as God’s gift to the company or to your inner circle. When your life lacks purpose, you’ll believe anything. You’ll do anything because nothing really matters. People who lack purpose are just killing time. They don’t know where they’re going or why they’re here.
To keep from going crazy, these people work at jobs they don't like and stay busy sending boomerang emails and going to the same pointless meetings. Busyness empowers manipulative people. Manipulators control purposeless people by peddling useless information and activities to them. If you’re constantly distracted, constantly consuming useless content, constantly trying to stay busy – you are being used. The only way to escape this fate is to develop a sense of purpose. When you know where you’re going, manipulators can’t hurt you. When you're focused, they can’t distract or misguide you.
8. Take responsibility for yourself.
If someone fools you once, shame on them. If someone fools you 100 times then you trust the weather announcer too much. Stop letting manipulators walk all over you. Stop being a door mat. No one feels bad for you and you’re only embarrassing yourself. Have enough self-awareness and self-respect to say ‘no’ to people who treat you poorly. You can’t just float through life blaming other people for your problems.
Yes, manipulative people exist. Yes, their actions are wrong. But this doesn’t mean you get a free pass to make mistakes and be used. No one can manipulate you without your permission. You’re responsible for your own successes and failures. If others outthink or out-strategize you—it’s your fault, not theirs.
Be accountable.
Learn from your mistakes.
Don’t keep trusting the same slippery person over and over again. Cut them loose. Delete them from your life. Commit to surrounding yourself with positive and likeminded people who aren’t just going to use you.
Today we are going to see the apostle Paul be influenced into some manipulator recommendations. Paul has been doing his best to speak up for his ministry to the Gentiles. Yet Paul is still a Jew in all his ways. We will see that when he get back to Jerusalem he wants to fit in with the other Messianic Jews. They are going to come up with an idea for him to do which as I have mentioned greatly impacts Paul’s life.
21 Now it came to pass, that when we had departed from them and set sail, running a straight course we came to Cos, the following day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.
Paul and his companions continue by ship slowly down the coast of Asia Minor to Cos on the mainland and then across the strait to the island of Rhodes, and then back to Patara on the mainland, getting ever closer to Jerusalem. It was at Patara that large ships could be found for the sea crossing. From there they would cross the open sea for four hundred miles to Phoenicia which would require a larger sea-going vessel rather than a coaster. It was the regular route from that part of Asia Minor to Phoenicia. So at Patara they changed vessels and found one that was crossing over to Phoenicia. Going aboard this vessel they set sail.
3 When we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo.
Soon they passed by Cyprus on their left, and then continued on to Syria, landing at Tyre because it was there that the ship was to unload its cargo. We are here reminded that much of what happened on the voyage had been partly determined by the ships’ schedules.
4 And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.
There at Tyre they spent the customary ‘seven days’ and it was here that Luke mentions for the first time the prophecies concerning what was to happen to Paul. But that these had been happening with alarming frequency we have already learned from 20.23. Here certain disciples who were prophets said to Paul through the Spirit that he should not set foot in Jerusalem. This must mean either that the Spirit had in prophecy warned them of what was to happen, and they then gave him the message that he should not set foot in Jerusalem.
5 When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed. 6 When we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned home.
The seven days being ended they prepared to go on board, and the whole Tyrian church, including wives and children, came with them out of the city, and all kneeling on the beach, they prayed and bade each other farewell. It was a wonderful expression of Christian love and unity. If it was within sight of the ship it must have been a wonderful testimony to the amazed crew, which would give further opportunity of witnessing to them on what remained of the voyage.
7 And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day.
The voyage from Tyre brings them to Ptolemais. From now on it will be on foot. Here again they greeted the brethren and remained with them for a day, before proceeding.
8 On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.
Leaving Ptolemais they arrived in Caesarea, where they went to stay with Philip the evangelist, one of ‘the seven’ of the early days (6.3-6). He had probably been ministering here for many years.
9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
Luke then explains that Philip had four virgin daughters who were apparently official. This was probably to be seen as an indication of his continued godliness and flourishing faith. It had passed on to his daughters. Here were women who had kept themselves as virgins the better to serve Christ.
10 And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
From Judaea arrived the prophet Agabus. He was the one who had gone from Jerusalem to Syrian Antioch and had prophesied there the famine that was coming on ‘all the world’ (11.28).
11 When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”
Agabus deliberately sought them out and then took Paul’s belt and used it to bind his own hands and feet. And then he declared that the Holy Spirit had shown him that the owner of that belt would himself be bound in the same way by the Jews in Jerusalem, and would then be handed over to the Gentiles. This last would be seen as the worst possible fate for a Jew. He would be unable to maintain his religious cleanliness and would be cut off from Israel.
This is the third time that Luke has mentioned these warnings, indicating completeness of warning. He was in fact warned any number of times. This acted out prophecy of Agabus relates him to the Old Testament prophets who regularly acted out their prophecies
12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.
The result of the prophecy is that his companions, including Luke, together with the church at Caesarea pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
But Paul rebuked them. He knew that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and told them that their pleas were just making it harder for him. Indeed that their weeping was breaking his heart. But he wanted them to know that it was the Lord’s will, and that he was ready, not only to be bound at Jerusalem, but also if necessary to die there. In view of the hatred for Paul among the Jews, who were out to kill him, it may be that being in a kind of gentle captivity was the safest place from which to carry on his ministry.
14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”
Once they recognized that he believed that it was God’s will for him to be bound in Jerusalem, and that nothing would change his mind, they declared ‘The will of the Lord be done.
15 And after those days we packed and went up to Jerusalem.
Their time at Caesarea coming to an end they took up their baggage (which included the Collection) and went up to Jerusalem. The verb ‘took up our baggage’ may indicate that they used horses.
16 Also some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us and brought with them a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to lodge.
They were accompanied by certain disciples from Caesarea, together with Mnason who was from Cyprus, but had a house where they could lodge. He was an ‘early disciple’, probably from Pentecost days. He had invited them to stay with him. In view of the fact that Paul was a marked man his bravery in doing this must be recognised. All these men were willing to hazard their lives and their futures for Christ.
The rejection of its Messiah by Jerusalem, and of Jerusalem by its Messiah, had been made clear in chapter 12. Peter had then ‘departed for another place’. However, there was a sense in which Paul’s coming had given it another opportunity. But the Temple would now symbolically ‘close its doors’ against God’s messengers forever, and the only Apostle left in Jerusalem would be transferred to Rome. Furthermore in chapter 26.28-32 King Agrippa II (son of the king in chapter 12) who even now controlled the appointment of High Priests and their vestments and had overall oversight over the Temple and its worship, would choose to do the same. Both Jerusalem and its King again said no to Jesus Christ. So while the church in Jerusalem welcomes Him, Jerusalem itself rejects Him once again and finally. All that remains for it is for it to be destroyed. Stephen had stressed the dual offer to Israel of its Saviors, and especially of the Righteous One.
17 And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
Arriving in Jerusalem Paul and his companions were ‘received gladly’ by the whole church. Their welcome was friendly and genuine as befitted fellow-Christians. It is probable that at this stage these people knew nothing about the Collection. They welcomed them for what they were. There is no hint here of opposition.
18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.
On the next day the Gentile representatives arranged to meet James, along with all the elders. Paul also went with them. The fact that all the Jerusalem church elders also made themselves present meant that it was an official meeting. But the non-mention of the Apostles suggests that they were elsewhere obeying Jesus’ command to take the Good News to the whole world.
19 When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
Then Paul greeted them and gave them a full account, item by item, of all that God had wrought among the Gentiles through his ministry (and that of his companions). The word had been continually effective and had spread and prospered.
20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law;
Their response was that they glorified God. They truly rejoiced to hear of what God had been doing. And they approved of it too. Then they pointed out to Paul that there were also grounds for glorifying God in the Jewish church. Here also many thousands, even tens of thousands, had come to believe in Jesus Christ. We need not restrict this numbering to Jerusalem. The reference is to the acknowledged Jewish church as a whole in the whole region, in contrast with Gentiles. The Jewish church too was multiplying. And because they were Jewish Christians they were zealous for the Law. A Jew who became a Christian became a better Jew. But the elders then went on to draw attention to a problem, and that was that among the Jewish Christians were those who were only too willing to believe the worst about Paul.
21 but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.
For some had been informed that Paul was teaching Jews who became Christians to cease being Jews, not to have their children circumcised and not to walk in the customs of the Jews. Such twisting of the truth, when men have been defeated in an argument, has been commonplace throughout the ages. It is amazing how thwarted men, even Christians, can so dishonor Christ, but it regularly happens. They had been told that he was teaching them to forsake Moses. Defeated in their arguments they retaliate with lies. That this was untrue we know because Paul had had Timothy circumcised because he was half a Jew. And nowhere do we learn of Paul teaching Jews no longer to be racially, and by customary behaviour, Jews. He was not concerned with race and customs when he taught. He was only concerned with central truth. As long as their race and customs did not lead men astray from the truth they could hold to what they liked. And, as we have seen, we have reason to believe that Paul himself continued to observe Jewish customs. They had been his fashion of life from his youth up. What was good in them he wanted to retain (they were not a burden to Paul now that he saw that they were not an essential for salvation). And he knew that observance of them could aid the witness among Jews. What he would not do was impose them on others, or make them necessary for salvation.
22 What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come.
These elders knew that it was inevitable therefore that some of these prejudiced Jewish Christians would hear of Paul’s arrival and probably become incensed, and angry at his presence in Jerusalem. It seemed therefore a good idea to these men that Paul should prove his Jewish credentials so that such people might recognize that they were wrong about Paul after all. It was a suggestion that was both sensible and helpful, taking into account the weaknesses of weaker Christians.
23 Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. 24 Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law.
So their suggestion was that he meet the costs of four young Jewish Christian men who were involved in a Nazirite vow. This would involve him purifying himself in the Temple for seven days with them for only then could his offerings be acceptable. And he would thus be sharing in their last week of consecration before they shaved their heads, and presented the hair to God with appropriate sacrifices. It would be a sharing in their consecration but not a strict participation. He would not be taking a Nazirite vow. Yet he would be offering sacrifices and thank offerings and rededicating himself and expressing oneness with these young men. And their plan would result that all Jewish Christians would recognize that Paul was truly faithful to, and approved of, the customs of the Jews with regard to the Law of Moses. They would have their doubts laid aside.
Some might be bothered at the thought of Paul offering sacrifices. But we have reason to believe that he had observed the Passover at Philippi (20.6). The full revelation of the end of all sacrifices was a truth which had not yet burst on the church. And we can be sure that all Jewish Christians within range of Jerusalem constantly offered sacrifices as worship and dedicatory offerings, and that the Apostles, including Paul, approved.
25 But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.”
The repetition of these stipulations may well have resulted from something said by Paul, for the elders then immediately assured Paul that they did not expect this of Gentiles. Indeed they had written to all believing Gentiles that all that was expected of them was to keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication, just as had been decided earlier in Jerusalem. It would appear from this that they had circulated the decree wherever they knew of Gentile Christians being present. All that was asked of Christian Gentiles was that they would make it possible for pious Jewish Christians to have fellowship with them by avoiding the eating of blood, and that they would avoid all attachment to idolatry and sexual misbehavior.
26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them.
It should be noted that there is no suggestion that Paul saw any objection to this at all. It would seem that he willingly and carried out the suggestion, joining the Nazirites in the Temple and purifying him alongside them for their last seven days, so that his own offerings could be accepted, and covering all the costs of their offerings until their vows were satisfactorily completed. There is no hint at all of disapproval in Luke’s narrative.
There is no reason to doubt that Paul would be willing to do this when acting as a Jew among Jews. The previous visit that he had made to Jerusalem had been because of a similar vow. If he could win Jews to Christ by doing this, or ensure the maintenance of their faith in Christ as Jews, he would be only too pleased to do it, especially as it was so clearly of concern to the leadership of the church who were behaving in an exemplary fashion with regard to the decision made earlier in Jerusalem.
Indeed what happened next cannot really be laid at the door of this behavior. The men involved were haters of Paul (some of them had been planning to kill him when he sailed from Corinth, and others had tried to kill him in Asia Minor), and they would have constantly been on the lookout for how they could trap him whatever had happened here. They had already revealed that they had an almost pathological hatred for him. Had they not caught him here they would no doubt have caught him this way some other time, unless he avoided the Temple altogether.
Some teachers that I have read have made this statement –‘We error if we put the blame on the perfectly admirable scheme of the elders for what happened to Paul.’ Oh really? I am not the brightest light bulb in the package but how can any scheme be admirable? What ever happen to trusting the Lord? Remember, when the Lord Jesus visited Paul on the road to Damascus. What was Paul’s response? It was, ‘what shall I do Lord? Then our Lord gave Paul his marching orders. Why would our Precious Holy Spirit over and over tell Paul that he was to not go to Jerusalem?
So why was Paul adamant to go anyway to Jerusalem when God told him over and over again about what would happen if he did go? I think the answer is revealed in two scriptures. Take a look with me and see if you see the same thing;
2 Corinthians 12: 12 It is doubtless[a] not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.
Philippians 1 “19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, 26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.”
What did you come up with in these verses? I am not saying Paul had a death wish but I do believe that since he had a visit to heaven as he says in the letter to the Philippians, his mind was on going to be with the Lord in Heaven.
27 Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”
Another reason that I think the elders were wrong in their scheme was the fact that they never had the insight to understand that Paul was being targeted by the Jews from Asia. It never occurred to them that these murderers followed Paul and were waiting for their opportunity to get him.
The first few days went by perfectly satisfactorily. There would in fact have been no outcry had it not been that ‘the Jews from Asia’ saw him in the Temple. We read in verse 29 the Jews who had come from Ephesus had recognized Trophimus. They had in fact probably been keeping their eyes open for him, and when they saw him in the Temple their desire to kill Paul surfaced. They knew perfectly well that they were calling for him to be beaten to death, but did not take the trouble to ascertain the facts (which their own Law insisted that they must do - Deuteronomy 13.14). It was his death they wanted, no matter how obtained. There was nothing pious about this but all that was wicked. They were nothing but would be murderers. And we can be sure that if they had not got him this way, they would have got him somehow. They were determined assassins, although they would have convinced themselves otherwise.
They sought to achieve their ends by rousing the people. They declared, totally untruthfully, that ‘this is the one’ who teaches all men everywhere ‘against the people, and against the Law, and against ‘this place’ (the temple)’. This was precisely the charge that had been laid against Stephen back in chapter 6.13. How this suggestion could tie in with what he was doing in the Temple only they could explain. But they were not interested in truth.
The charge was not true. Paul certainly never spoke against the people as such. He showed continual respect for the Temple (as he makes clear in his speech). And he respected the Law and lived by it. His arguments concerning the Law actually upheld the Law. All he did when he appeared to speak against it was reveal as foolish certain misrepresentations of the Law as proclaimed by the these Jews from Ephesus.
We need to see that however heinous these things might have seemed to be to uninformed Jews, they were not punishable under Roman justice by death. There was only one crime that allowed instant execution and that would be by bringing a Gentile into the inner courts. There were in fact notices warning of this, and one discovered by an archaeologist read, "No man of another nation is to enter within the fence and enclosure round the temple. And whoever is caught will have him to blame that his death ensues." (. So that was the crime that they now accused him of. And they compounded their sin by pretending that their complaint was for pious reasons, ‘this holy place’, as though they were really concerned about its holiness. They were revealing themselves to be the most despicable and hypocritical of people, for it was they who were defiling the holy place by their false and unreasonable charges. Yet they tried to accuse him of doing so. They were piling evil upon evil.
29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.
Luke points out that they had earlier seen Paul with the Gentile Trophimus in the city. That is why they then ‘supposed’ that he had brought him into the inner courts when he was dedicating himself. But you do not kill a man in the basis of ‘supposes’. They certainly ‘supposed’ it, but it was totally without justification, and was simply the product of their own prejudiced and perverse minds. Furthermore it was unlikely, because all doors to the Temple were policed by Levites, one of whose duties was to ensure that no Gentile, whether accidentally or deliberately, entered the inner courts. And it was inexcusable because their own Law said that they must enquire carefully into such a situation before doing anything. There is no excuse for jumping to conclusions simply on the basis of prejudice, especially on so serious a matter (Deuteronomy 13.14).
30 And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut.
The effect of the malicious cries of these people was to ‘move’ others, so that many people ran together and ‘all the city’ was involved (clearly not all in the city would be involved, but Luke intends us to see that it was so in effect. The whole of Jerusalem is rejecting Christ’s messenger), and when they gathered what seemed to be the situation they seized Paul and dragged him from the Temple (the shedding of such blood could not take place in the holy place). And ‘as soon as he was out the doors were shut’. What an ominous sound that has. Luke is bringing out that the doors of the Temple clanged shut on the messenger of God and on his suffering, as they had also shut out Jesus when He suffered ‘outside the camp’. Yet another was being driven ‘outside the camp’.
Please notice the importance of the words ‘Not only did the Jews shut the doors, but God shut them. He was with Paul on the outside leaving Jerusalem for good.
