Page 748 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

TN_07_MacArthur_Bible_July.qxd 8/8/03 16:07 Page 729

JULY 20
he had greeted them, he told in detail those
things which God had done among the
20
Gentiles through his ministry. And when
they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And 21:28 the people, the law, and this place.
they said to him, “You see, brother, how many Paul’s enemies leveled 3 false charges against
myriads of Jews there are who have believed, him. They claimed that he taught Jews to for-
21
and they are all zealous for the law; but they sake their heritage—the same lie told by the
have been informed about you that you teach Judaizers. The second charge, that Paul
all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to for- opposed the law, was a very dangerous one,
sake Moses, saying that they ought not to cir- albeit false,in this setting.Originally,Pentecost
cumcise their children nor to walk according to was a celebration of the firstfruits of the har-
22
the customs. What then? The assembly must vest.But by this time,it had become a celebra-
certainly meet, for they will hear that you have tion of Moses’ receiving the law on Mt. Sinai.
Thus, the Jewish people were especially zeal-
come. Therefore do what we tell you: We ous for the law during this feast. The third
23
24
have four men who have taken a vow. Take charge,of blaspheming or defiling the temple,
them and be purified with them, and pay their had helped bring about the deaths of Jesus
expenses so that they may shave their heads, (Mark 14:57,58) and Stephen (Acts 6:13). All 3
and that all may know that those things of charges were, of course, totally false.
which they were informed concerning you are
nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly 21:30 doors were shut. This was done by the
25
and keep the law. But concerning the Gentiles temple guards, since Paul’s death on the tem-
who believe, we have written and decided that ple grounds would defile the temple (2 Kin.
they should observe no such thing, except that 11:15). They made no effort, however, to res-
they should keep themselves from things cue the apostle from the crowd, which was
offered to idols, from blood, from things stran- intent on beating him to death.
gled, and from sexual immorality.”
Greeks into the temple and has defiled this
29
holy place.” (For they had previously seen
Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city,
21:24 be purified. Having just returned from whom they supposed that Paul had brought
an extended stay in Gentile lands, Paul was into the temple.)
considered ceremonially unclean.He therefore 30 And all the city was disturbed; and the peo-
needed to undergo ritual purification before ple ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him
participating (as their sponsor) in the ceremony out of the temple; and immediately the doors
marking the end of the 4 men’s vows. pay were shut. Now as they were seeking to kill
31
their expenses. For the temple ceremony in him, news came to the commander of the gar-
which the 4 would shave their heads and the rison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. He
32
sacrifices associated with the Nazirite vow. immediately took soldiers and centurions, and
Paying those expenses for another was con-
sidered an act of piety; and by so doing, Paul ran down to them. And when they saw the com-
would give further proof that he had not for- mander and the soldiers, they stopped beating
33
saken his Jewish heritage.shave their heads.A Paul. Then the commander came near and
practice commonly associated with a Nazirite took him, and commanded him to be bound
vow (Num.6:18). with two chains; and he asked who he was and
34
what he had done. And some among the multi-
tude cried one thing and some another.
26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, So when he could not ascertain the truth
having been purified with them, entered the because of the tumult, he commanded him to
35
temple to announce the expiration of the days be taken into the barracks. When he reached
of purification, at which time an offering the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers
36
should be made for each one of them. because of the violence of the mob. For the
27 Now when the seven days were almost multitude of the people followed after, crying
ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the out, “Away with him!”
temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid 37 Then as Paul was about to be led into the
28
hands on him, crying out, “Men of Israel, barracks, he said to the commander, “May I
help! This is the man who teaches all men speak to you?”
38
everywhere against the people, the law, and He replied, “Can you speak Greek? Are
this place; and furthermore he also brought you not the Egyptian who some time ago
729