Acts 21 v 15 - 26 A Debtor to Grace Alone
The Church -
Her Position - 15 And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.
Her Provision -
The Gift - 16 There went with us also certain of the disciples of Cæsarea,
The Grace - and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus,
an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.
The Gladness - 17 And when we were come to Jerusalem,
the brethren received us gladly.
Her Progression -
The Respect - 18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
The Report -
A Personal Report - 19 And when he had saluted them,
A Precise Report - he declared particularly
A Powerful Report - what things God had wrought among the Gentiles
A Practical Report - by his ministry.
The Response - It was -
Prompt - 20 And when they heard it,
Pleasing - they glorified the Lord,
Perceptive - they glorified the Lord,
Her Problem -
The Numbers in the Church - 20 and said unto him, Thou seest, brother,
how many thousands of Jews there are which believe;
The Nature of the Church - and they are all zealous of the law:
The Nurture for the Church -
Suffering from -
Hearsay - 21 and they are informed of thee,
Heresy - that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
Hostility - 22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
The Charge
The Advice - 23 Do therefore this that we say to thee:
The Adventure - We have four men which have a vow on them;
24 them take, and purify thyself with them,
and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads:
The Advantage - 24 and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
The Advancement - 25 As touching the Gentiles which believe .....
The Choice - His Compliance was
Prompt - 26 Then Paul took the men
Personal - and the next day purifying himself with them
Public - entered into the temple,
Practical - to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
In Jewish folklore leprosy/uncleanness is known as a spiritual disease Purification requires waiting seven days, shaving one's hair, washing one's clothes, immersing one's body, and offering a Temple sacrifice.
On the eighth day, he brought a sin-offering of a female lamb,
a guilt-offering and a burnt-offering, both male lambs. Or birds if poor.
Blood from the slaughtered guilt-offering was placed on his right ear,
right thumb and right big toe; where some of the oil was also placed.
Finally, the sin-offering and burnt-offering were sacrificed.
The Challenge 1 Cor 9 -
His Position 19 though I be free from all men
His Prostration - yet have I made myself servant unto all,
His Persuasion - that I might gain the more. 20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21 to them that are without law, as without law, that I might gain them that are without law. 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
His Presentation - 24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
His Preservation - 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly;
so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
