Acts 21 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Acts 21

Paul Goes to Jerusalem

21:1 And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.¹ 2 And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo. 4 And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5 When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed 6 and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.

7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers² and stayed with them for one day. 8 On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. 10 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews³ at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” 12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”

15 After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16 And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.

Paul Visits James

17 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, 21 and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. 22 What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24 take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. 25 But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled,⁴ and from sexual immorality.” 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them.

Paul Arrested in the Temple

27 When the seven days were almost completed, 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 is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even 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, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31 And as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He inquired who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 35 And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, 36 for the mob of the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!”

Paul Speaks to the People

37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38 Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” 39 Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” 40 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language,⁵ saying:

Footnotes

[1] 21:1 Some manuscripts add and Myra
[2] 21:7 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 17
[3] 21:11 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time
[4] 21:25 Some manuscripts omit and from what has been strangled
[5] 21:40 Or the Hebrew dialect (probably Aramaic)

Commentary

v1-3: Journey from Miletus to Tyre. Repeatedly Paul has fellowship, and enjoys hospitality.

v4-6: At Tyre, Paul is warned about persecution ahead.

v7-9: Paul has similar experiences at Ptolemais and Caesarea. Here is a real commitment of Christians to each other.

v10-11: The prediction of Paul's imprisonment, as in v4; 20.22-23. Paul may be seen as stubborn or brave; yet these prophecies, being consistent, can only be fulfilled if he goes to Jerusalem. He set his face as a flint to go; trials are not a reason to avoid going somewhere.

v12-14: A sense of resignation? We should be careful how we use such phrases as "The Lord's will be done." We must not use it to excuse inaction or disobedience.

v15-16: Paul arrives at the house of Mnason in Jerusalem, having been accompanied by Christians from Caesarea.

v17-19: As on his previous visit, Paul reports on his ministry, "what God had done."

v20-21: See 15.1-29; the on-going problem of the OT law, and how Christians should relate to it. There are tens of thousands of apparently converted Jews who are "all of them zealous for the law."

Gal 2, and Phil 3.1-11 detail the Christian doctrine here; chapter 15 applied to the obligations upon Gentiles, and this chapter applies to obligations for the Jews; but even peter agreed that the Jews were not able to bear the yoke of the law, 15.10.

The Jews in Jerusalem have heard rumours about Paul's teaching, which rumours are not far from the truth.

It seems the Christians in Jerusalem remained unmolested; but if there are tens of thousands of Jews still zealous for the law, then the break with the old covenant was not so clear. The Jews in Jerusalem were perhaps appeased by this more syncretistic Christianity.

v22-24: Paul is ordered to obey the elders; although he does obey them, it seems clear that what he does is unnecessary for a Christian.

v25: The elders, referring to the letter of chapter 15, which Paul knows about, imply that the letter teaches that Christians should live according to the OT law, including circumcision.

v26: Paul enters the temple, really to bring peace with the Jewish Christians. The plan backfires as unbelieving Jews attack him .

v27: Jews have come from Asia, with whom Paul has previously had conflicts.

v28-29: The accusation against Paul does match the reports that have reached the elders; the accusations are similar to those brought against Stephen, 6.13-14. Perhaps Paul's mind took him back to that incident, where he stood by approvingly as Stephen was stoned to death.

v30-36: Claudias Lysias; the commander of the garrison at Jerusalem; the instrument in God's hands to preserve Paul.

v37-40: Claudias also gives Paul an opportunity to speak to the people; later he arranges for Paul to address the Sanhedrin (22.30), and later still he delivers Paul from the Jews who sought to kill him (23.18-25). He stands as a man of integrity and justice.