Page 101 - Acts Student Textbook

mission. However, v. 19 seems to be positive to me!

What was the view of Jewish brethren toward Paul? Were the accusations against Paul Legit?
(21:20, 21)

James and the elders rejoiced in the work among the Gentiles. However, they made a suggestion that
they hoped would help smooth the antagonism and opposition of the Jews. Many Jews believed in
the gospel, but were still zealous for the law. They had heard that Paul was teaching Jews, who lived
in Gentile areas, that they should forsake Moses’ law, should not circumcise their children, and
should not walk according to the customs (of the law). This apparently upset some Jewish Christians,
so these leaders in the church sought to eliminate this opposition and potential division. Paul had
hoped that the gift he brought from Gentile churches might remove some of this prejudice some
Christians still had against him. This opposition went back at least as far as the discussion of chap. 15.
Several of Paul’s letters had discussed at length the issue of the Old Testament law and the attitude
some Jewish Christians had toward Paul. Evidently, this was a serious antagonism, so the leaders had
a suggestion that might help Paul overcome it.

Note that the references to the law here do not mean that the elders approved of the Jewish concept
of binding the law as necessary to salvation. Paul would never have agreed to encourage that.
Rather, they still kept it as national law and family tradition. But they had been falsely informed that
Paul was teaching Jews who lived in Gentile areas that they must cease even such practices. This was
false in that, though Paul had taught that the law was no longer binding, nevertheless many aspects
of it could be kept as national law or civil traditions. This would include circumcision – Paul said it did
not matter one way or another, so long as it was not bound as necessary. It would also include rules
regarding eating unclean meats (cf. Romans 14). Doubtless, many other such Mosaic practices could
be continued as civil law or tradition. Paul himself observed such acts when among Jews (1
Corinthians 9:19-23).

How did James and the elders try to help Paul overcome the accusations of the opposers? (21:22-
24)

The men had a plan to defuse this opposition. They knew the people would hear Paul had come and
the assembly (of the church) would meet. So, they suggested anticipating the problem and taking
steps to eliminate it before it even came up. They had four men who had vows. Apparently these
were members of the church. This refers to a limited Nazarite vow (cf. Num. 6:1-8). Paul had earlier
taken a similar vow (cf. 18:18). The idea was for Paul to be purified with them and pay their expenses
so they could complete their purification rites and shave their heads. Then everyone would know
that Paul was not telling people it was wrong to keep the customs, but he himself walked orderly,
keeping the law. In short, he was to have fellowship with them and join in this activity according to
the law, so people would know about it.

Did James’ plan work, on what charges did the Jews capture Paul? (21:27-29)

Near the end of the period for the purification of the men, certain Jews from Asia (obviously
unbelieving Jews) stirred up a mob and captured Paul (21:27-29). They saw him in the temple and
claimed he had brought Greeks (Gentiles) into the temple and defiled it. They accused him of
teaching everywhere against the Jewish people, against the law, and against the temple. These Asian
Jews interpreted Paul's preaching as against Judaism instead of fulfilling the OT promises. These
charges are similar to the ones made against Stephen (cf. 6:13, 14). Much of this was fabrication.
Paul himself may have stated this; he surely agreed with this Jewish theological position (cf. 22:20)
before his Damascus encounter with Christ. The message of Christ undermined the legalism and
ritualism of popular first century Judaism! This is seen not only in Paul's universalism—salvation

100