The events in today’s passage occurred after Paul ended his third mission trip and went to Jerusalem. In today’s passage Paul is arrested, and is bound in chains. From here until the end of Acts Paul’s hardships are recorded. Luke who wrote Acts wrote it in four parts. At Pentecost Acts began with the coming of the Holy Spirit and was greatly expanded with the salvation of Paul on the way to Damascus. Presently Paul is arrested at Jerusalem and this is tied to his imprisonment in Rome. In other words, these events in Jerusalem are central to all the events in Acts. They are the turning point to what happens from here on. Today from this event of Paul being arrested let’s look at three things that we can learn from Paul who did everything for the sake of the Gospel.
I. In order that many people would be won (vs. 17-26)
First let’s look at Christian freedom. When Paul arrived in Jerusalem, the Church brothers welcomed him. The next day they went to see the Jerusalem Pastor, James. There Paul reported to the church elders who had gathered there, the great things that God had done through him among the Gentiles. Of course at that time too they gave the offerings that had been gathered from the Macedonian churches. Those elders who heard the report praised the Lord. There was unity in the church. Even if the works were done by other people than themselves, it was the Lord that worked through the other person so they rejoiced in the work and was thankful. It is important to be happy and rejoice together in the work of the Lord through other people.
However, there were some people who weren’t like this. These were Jews who became Christians, but fervently held to the law. There weren’t necessarily a lot of such Christians, but because of their zealousness towards the law, they were openly against Paul. This was because they thought that just by believing in Christ that you aren’t saved. They thought that you must also follow the law to be saved. Therefore, when they heard that Paul was not requiring the Jewish Christians to follow the law, they became antagonistic towards Paul.
Not all the Jews who entered the Christian faith were like that. It was just some of the Jewish Christians, but they were very zealous towards the law so they weren’t able to leave the old customs, and they weren’t able to see the whole picture, and were locked into their own thinking.
There are times when we are the same. We are so enthusiastic that we can’t see what’s happening. Especially those who have studied about the subject think that they are right and can’t look correctly at the situation.
However, this problem that is occurring here has already occurred in the Antioch church. That problem was supposed to be already solved. In 15:1 the Jews from Judea came to Antioch and were teaching, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” This caused a huge dispute. As a result Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem and discussed this with the apostles and the elders. This was the Jerusalem council. There it was decided that God gives the Gentiles the same Holy Spirit. There was no partiality. God purified them through their faith. Therefore, they must not burden them down with the law. A person is saved through faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore it was decided to “write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.” (15:20) The problem was solved this way, but again the problem arose. Also they are saying that Paul was teaching “not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs.” (21) Paul was teaching that you do not have to be circumcised to be saved. The Jerusalem leaders also agreed to this. However, he never forbids them to circumcise. He never said that they could not follow the law. He only said that salvation was through Jesus Christ. Only by believing in Christ are you saved. Jesus is the savior. The basis of our faith is that by believing and receiving Christ you are saved. This is what Paul was emphasizing.
The Jerusalem leaders who realized that the Jewish Christians accusations were wrong made a suggestion in verses 23-25.
We don’t know what the vow was that the 4 men had made. It was probably a Nazirite vow. We’ve seen the Nazirite vow before, but the Nazirite vow was for at least 30 days and during that time you cannot drink alcohol, go near a dead body, eat unclean food, or cut your hair. When the vow is over, you must cut your hair before God, and offer a sacrifice unto the Lord. Then you are set free. If Paul paid part of the expense of the purification rites it would show them that Paul was following the law and living rightly.
In verse 26 we are told how Paul reacted to their suggestion. “The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.”
Paul immediately accepted their suggestion and the next day went to the temple, and was purified with the men who were being purified for their vows. He paid the bill for all of their purifications. Then until their days of purification were over, 7 days later, he didn’t do anything. Paul taught that a person is saved only by Jesus Christ, not by what he does; but he participated in their vow purification. He was not against the Jewish customs. He followed these customs so that he would not be a stumbling block. He wanted others to be saved.
I Cor. 6:12
Christians are free. However, we need to think about how we are going to use our freedom. We need to be like Paul and be careful not to be a stumbling block. This is love. We are free, but we use that freedom for other people’s good.
I Cor. 9:19-23
This was Paul’s heart. In order for others to be saved he became a Jew to the Jews and like a Greek to the Greeks. The central points of the Gospel should never be changed, but we should be willing to be flexible with non essential points. Having a correct understanding of the Gospel and being sacrificial is a good Christian witness.
Christians are living to show the greatness of Christ. At times that requires being sacrificial. You can’t live how you want to, but so that the wonderful Christ can be seen. We want to gladly give of ourselves. That was how Paul lived. Paul was able to live like a Jew because he wanted many people to be saved. We too need to live like Paul.
The sacrifice that Paul makes is not a compromise.
1. Here Paul and the Jerusalem leaders are confirming again what the Jerusalem counsel had already decided upon. In other words, salvation is only by faith not by following the law. Paul knew that the Jerusalem Church was standing correctly in their understanding of the Gospel so he could confidently worship at the temple and took part in the vow purification. When we are established in our basic doctrine, then we are able to make sacrifices. When our understanding of the Gospel is not well established then often we compromise.
2. The reason and motive for the sacrifice is important. Paul wanted the Jews to be saved. Therefore, he was willing to make sacrifices. If we just don’t want to be a stumbling block then we make compromises. However, if we are really concerned that the Gospel be spread and others saved, then we will be willing to make the necessary sacrifices.
In the present day church there are occasionally people like these Jewish Christians that cause conflict within church. Sometimes there is thinking that we should compromise. However it is important to stand in a correct understanding of the Gospel and have a heart of love to be like the Jews to the Jews, and spread the Gospel of Christ.
II. There is the help of God (vs. 27-36)
“When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him.” (27) First Paul was being criticized by the Jewish Christians. Next Paul is arrested by the Jews. The Jews from Asia are not Jewish Christians but pure Jews who hadn’t enter the Christian faith yet. They thought that Paul had brought Trophinus, the Ephesian, into the temple area and had defiled the holy place. The temple was a very important place for the Jews. That was a symbol that God was with them. They believed that God was there. Not just anyone could enter the temple. There was a garden of the Gentiles. The Gentiles couldn’t go in beyond this point. Anyone who went beyond that point would be considered making the temple unclean. They thought that Paul had brought Trophimus into the temple and had defiled the temple.
However, this was not the case. They had jumped to conclusions and thus made Paul a criminal. It caused uproar and riots within the city. They tried to kill Paul but “news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. He at once took some officers and soldiers, and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.” (32) They were too stuck in their own thinking so they weren’t able to open their hearts and understand the present situation.
When they tried to kill Paul, the commander of the Roman troops came and “they stopped beating Paul.” (32) If the Roman commander would have been later, then Paul may have been killed.” This was not because the Roman commander wanted to help Paul. The Roman commander was worried about the riot and what influence it would have on his reputation. God used this fear to help Paul. Paul was helped by God.
III. Use every opportunity as a chance to spread the Gospel. (37-40)
Lastly let’s look at Paul’s defense. “The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.” (33) The crowd was shouting all sorts of things in confusion so he wasn’t able to find out what happened. Therefore, he commanded that Paul be taken to the barracks. As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, Paul asked the commander, “May I say something to you.” (37) The commander was surprised that Paul spoke Greek. Paul requested permission to speak to crowd. “Having received the commander’s permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent,” he spoke to them in Aramaic.” (40)
In the middle of a riot, when he was in a dangerous situation, Paul didn’t become discouraged, but asked the commander, “May I say something to you.” (37) Paul wanted to witness to the people. He wanted to witness to the Gospel. Next week we will look at what he said, but Paul used the opportunity he had to witness to the people. This was because for him sharing the Gospel was the most important thing. What a person thinks determines his actions. Those who think that sharing the Gospel is the most important thing will use every opportunity they have to do so.
Paul thought that sharing the Gospel was the most important thing so he used every opportunity as a chance to do so. For you what is the most important thing? Let’s make God number one in our life and live for God. We are alive for the purpose of sharing the Gospel. Let’s use every opportunity as a chance to share the Gospel.