When the commander gave Paul permission to speak, he motioned to the crowd from the steps of the Antonia fortress. This is the first of three speeches that Paul would make in his defense, and which take up a considerable part of this section (22:1-21; 24:10-21; 26:2-23). (For additional comments on the Nazirite vow, see the commentary on 18:18.). The Jerusalem garrison is thought to have consisted of some equivalent number of troops. ), but since in English it is somewhat awkward to say "the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice would be offered," the temporal clause was translated "when the sacrifice . The Tarsus of Pauls day was an important center of Hellenistic culture. The Voice Update. One of the most controversial contexts in the book of Acts has to do with Pauls activity in the Jerusalem temple, as recorded in Acts 21. When the Jerusalemites heard the commotion in the temple area, they came running from every part of the city (21:30). Several views have been offered relative to this matter. As I was reading in Acts, I came across Paul and Day of Purification (Acts 21:26). of Asia--in all . Paul had earlier stated that the Holy Spirit had warned him that he faced prisons and hardships in Jerusalem (20:23; 21:4). Since the men's purification takes seven days (Acts 21:27), some scholars think this is a resetthe difference between eight and seven days may be because Luke counts days in the Greek way and not the Hebrew way. Paul here was underscoring his loyalty to the Roman Empire. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. 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. We respectfully offer the following general observations on this position. Many students of the Word are quick to criticize Paul for making his last visit to Jerusalem. 21. Orr, James, M.A., D.D. In Acts 2:1-13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. 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. The missionary group was there and so were the Jerusalem elders, together with James, Jesus half-brother (cf. Why the commander allowed Paul to speak is not clear. Acts 24:17). Perhaps the elders had heard about what amounted to Pauls departure from the agreement. To signify the accomplishment of the days of purification . Earlier, the disciples at Tyre had also strongly urged Paul not to go (21:4). b. Paul humbled himself to do these things because, as he admitted himself, he would sacrifice . Luke Johnson writes: Like that earlier delegation, this one is welcomed gladly by the brothers (15:4). Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular. Another Jew might associate himself with a Nazirite by paying for his offering, something that was regarded as a devout deed. Report, November 23 2019 It was a time of wonderful rejoicing. Acts 21:27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him. Lukes account is hazy on exactly what Paul did. 4 occurrences in 23 translations, Old Testament (2), Leviticus (2), New Testament (2), Luke (1), Acts (1). Technically speaking, the Jews leaders did not bind the owner of this belt, and they did not hand him overrather, the RomansrescuedPaul from a Jewish mob. There are probably logical explanations for both situations, but Luke chose not to discuss these things in order to keep his account brief and moving along. Perhaps it was Luke who was repeating the four regulations as a literary device for the benefit of his readers. Fourth, is it possible that Paul went through this ritual as a matter of expediency in an attempt to relieve a tense situation? May 09 2019 holy for the priest, with the wave breast and heave shoulder: and after that the Nazarite may drink wine. Was Jesus Crucified? in its legal and technical sense, is applied to the ritual observances whereby an Israelite was formally absolved from the taint of uncleanness. How should a Christian man respond if his wife doesn't like sex? How did sprinkling an unclean person with the ashes of an "heifer" provide sanctifying and purifying of the flesh? The process was initiated, which would be culminated a few days later. Still a larger number argue that he was entirely out of the will of the Lord when he arrived at Jerusalem, entered the temple and took a Jewish vow, and waited for the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them. At first thought it does seem difficult to understand why Paul would move on to Jerusalem in direct opposition to the urge of the Holy Spirit, who spoke to him through Pauls brethren. From hagnizo; a cleansing, i.e. Acts 21:26 chapter context similar meaning "Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them." Acts 21:26 KJV copy save Try Bible Gateway Plus free today. It was a popular port-of-call for large vessels plying such eastern Mediterranean areas as Macedonia, Achaia, Asia, Syria, Judea and Egypt. What then [is . The us referred to Luke and the delegates from the Gentile churches who had brought the relief fund to the mother church. In the absence of more conclusive information, it is unwise to accuse Paul of compromise or sin. for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. There may have been a greater good (the unity of Jew/Gentile relations) to be accomplished in this case, than whatever negative impressions might have resulted from Pauls offering of a sacrifice. This position has an obvious weakness. (Matthew 10:910). James and the elders recognized that Gods direction had been present in Pauls work, and Luke wanted to point this up. We are one of the few churches who still have a Sunday evening service. Luke continued to reflect the emotional scene surrounding Pauls departure by saying the travelers had to tear themselves away from the elders (21:1). The following day the apostle, along with the four men, went to the temple where the sacrifices would be offered. It is not altogether clear as to how and why Paul was to be purified. What could be done to defuse this volatile situation? The Image of God in the Bible, by Michael Morrison, Studies in Galatians, Ephesians and Philippians, Studies in the Pastoral Epistles and Philemon, Preaching in the Book of Acts Part 1: Peter, Preaching in the Book of Acts Part 2: Paul, A Harmony of the Conversion and Commission of Paul, Christians and the Law of Moses: A Study of Acts 15, Decree of the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) Part 1: The Literary Flow of Acts 15, Decree of the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) Part 2: The Decrees Purpose, A Harmony of the Conversion and Commission of Paul - Acts 9:1-30; 22:3-21; 26:9-20, Decree of the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15). He would have also taken care of the offering to be made by each of the four men. The Jews from Asia stirred up the people BEFORE the 7 days were complete and Paul was ceased. Ahijah the Shilonite tore his cloak to demonstrate how Solomons kingdom would be broken up (1 Kings 11:29-39). The elders explained the problem to Paul: You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. Paul was at one with the rest of the Jewish Christian element of the church. As long as Paul was out of sight travelling through the empire, he was out of mind. 1 Cor. The entire precincts of the Temple. to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them ( Acts 21:25-26). As Frank Goodwin observed, Pauls conduct in this transaction was perfectly consistent with his previous teaching and practices (A Harmony of the Life of St. Paul, Grand Rapids: Baker, 1951, p. 121). Join our Patreon membershiphere, Buy my book Is God Moral? He demonstrated to the thousands of Jews which believed that he himself was walking orderly and keeping the law. This was a Nazarite vow, This wasnt a requirement for all Jews to perform only those wishing to become a Nazarite (which could be from 30 days-to a lifetime). An offering, sacrifice. He also continued to provide a port-by-port travel guide of Pauls trip. But Pauls inner conviction to go to Jerusalem was stronger. "Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them went into the temple, declaring the fulfilment of the days of purification, until the o." . What shall we do? Some so claim, but is this a necessary conclusion? Today, we would put such information in a footnote. Luke had left Philip at Caesarea at the end of a missionary tour some two decades earlier (8:40), and this is his only reappearance in the book. The term believed is employed to summarize their obedience to the gospel. This reference to warnings of the Spirit picked up the thought that in every city the Holy Spirit had been warning Paul of the hardships awaiting him in Jerusalem (20:23). And they entered the temple to give notice when the days of purification (the ending of each vow) would be fulfilled and the usual offering could be presented . lustration. http://netbible.com All rights reserved. Join us in the auditorium for a time of worship and praise to our God and Savior and hear a clear message from Gods Word. 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, s entered the temple t to announce the 7 expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them. The ritual was only meant for those wishing to become Nazarites and wasnt performed by the vast majority of Jews. However, since he recently had been in Gentile territory, he would be viewed as ceremonially unclean, hence would need to purify himself in order to partake with the others (Simon Kistemaker, Exposition of the Acts of the Apostles, Grand Rapids: Baker, 1990, p. 760). Neuter of hieros; a sacred place, i.e. (1 John 4:10), How could someone take an oath and be "unaware of it"? When her days of purification are complete, whether for a son or daughter, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. Join us in the auditorium for a time of praise and singing and the study of Gods Word. Clarke's Commentary. We remember Pauls testimony inActs 20:24, Neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God. We are convinced by this testimony that Paul had practiced what he preachedI am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me (Gal 2:20). . Pauls decision was apparently in his own hands. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. Verse Acts 21:26. Surprisingly, everyone quieted down. take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave, heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but. Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them (Acts 21:18-26). From pros and phero; to bear towards, i.e. "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1.b. The commander was surprised to be addressed in Greek. 2:11ff), one ought to be very careful in charging Paul with an overt sin in the absence of explicit testimony. 20And 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, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. Most likely the church would have liked to help Paul, but it was powerless to intervene. This was the fifth (and final) time Paul had visited the city since he left on his journey of persecution for Damascus (9:1ff). We as readers of Acts already know the accusation is false. In Paul's day the purification process was guided by an outdated or old covenant with men's traditions mixed in. 18-19). Agabus came in, took Pauls girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, so shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles (Acts 21:8-11). ( Mark 7:3 ) What play have been the specific causes of uncleanness in those who came up to purify themselves before the Passover, ( John 11:55 ) or in those who had taken upon themselves the Nazarites vow, ( Acts 21:24 Acts 21:26 ) we are not informed. However, his being ritually unclean after a long residence in Gentile lands seems to explain this adequately. The day after arriving in Jerusalem, Paul and the delegation had a meeting with James and the elders. We will soon learn that his name was Claudius Lysias (23:26). Here was the problem: a report had been circulated widely that Paul went about constantly teaching that Jews, especially those who lived in Gentile lands, should forsake, (apostasia cf. (ceremonial) purification. 1 Corinthians 9:20 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; Acts 24:18 Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. Acts 21:13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? We must again notice that the Elders had agreed that the Gentiles need not be brought in under the law. All the Days of His Life (18 instances in 20 translations . In the final analysis, I must say this. 2), so could Paul. From prosphero; presentation; concretely, an oblation or sacrifice. the priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put. No doubt these were some of the same Jews who had been so hostile to Paul in Ephesus (19:9; 20:19). Luke summarized Pauls report as being positively received, saying, When they heard this, they praised God (21:20). Acts 21:24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave theirheads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but thatthou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. By welcoming Paul, the leaders seemed to be aiding and abetting the apostate Paul. Luke affirms that when the company arrived at the sacred city, the brethren received us gladly (Acts 21:17). the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Samson was a Nazarite for a lifetime, not just for seven days like Paul (Acts 21:27). (The church in Jerusalem, along with James, now disappears from Lukes account.). He especially emphasized a few speeches Paul delivered as well as his harrowing sea voyage to Rome. Luke wanted his readers to know that Pauls work, no less than Peters, had been accepted by the mother church as divinely inspired. He must have also been aware that the relief fund was a major reason for Paul coming to Jerusalem. When they arrived at Jerusalem, the brethren received them gladly (Acts 21:15-17). Who said, canst thou speak Greek? Earlier, when Paul penned his letter to the saints in Rome, he asked for their prayers to the end that upon his arrival in Jerusalem, the ministration, i.e., gifts of benevolence, might be acceptable to the saints (Rom. The apostle was not insensitive to the feelings of his Israelite kinsmen. On the other hand, neither did Agabus tell Paul to continue his journey to fulfill some purpose of God. In other words, is one logically, If Paul erred in this episode, why did he later, in an. There is a good reason why Paul was mistrusted. Rather, Pauls teaching on the abolition of the law had been clear and definitive (cf. He remained close to Paul. Does Jesus forgiving sins mean that he is God? Perhaps the commander thought Paul was an uneducated foreigner, but Paul spoke Greek like a native, without the accent common in Judea. 11 And when he was come unto us, he took Pauls girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. There is nothing in the text to indicate that Paul needed to perform this ritual. A crowd followed the soldiers, shouting, Get rid of him! (21:36). Even if the apostle did err (and we are not ready to affirm that he did), the mere recording of the transgression would not make the Bible culpable. From eis and eimi; to enter. Acts 21:26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them. Patara was a commercial city and possessed a fine harbor. where he is apprehended, and in great danger, but by the chief captain is rescued; and requests, and is permitted to speak to the people. Gal. Pauls trouble was caused by a mob of unconverted Jews, instigated by Diaspora Jews from Asia. This very clearly was not Pauls idea. A biblical analysis here, . . After leaving Miletus, the ship sailed south to the island of Cos, where it anchored for the night. Acts 21 is the twenty-first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. Caesarea was in the province of Judea, but the city was not considered part of the Jews land because of its Gentile population and outlook. This decision on the part of the elders in Jerusalem was accepted by the apostle Paul. He would be participating in a hallowed ancestral custom, and no one could claim he was teaching Jews to abandon the laws of Moses. Acts 21:26, NASB: Then Paul took along the men, and the next day, after purifying himself together with them, he went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them. The research was done in the mid 1990s, but all articles were edited in 2012 by Michael Morrison, PhD, professor of Biblical Studies at Grace Communion Seminary. According to Luke, they were trying to kill him on the spot, without even a trial (21:31). The daughters supposedly provided information on the early days of the church to a bishop of Hierapolis, Papias, for his now lost books on Jesus teachings (Ecclesiastical History3.39.9). Luke chose his wording to bring out, in a literary manner, the similarity between the fate of Jesus and Paul in their final trip to Jerusalem. McGarvey contended that the apostles understanding was limited at this point New Commentary on Acts of Apostles, 1892 Reprint, Delight, AR: Gospel Light, II, p. 208). Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law (21:24). Thats when the riot began. Acts 21:26. No Gentile was allowed into the temples inner courts. (The commander estimated the Egyptians followers at 4,000, which was probably nearer the correct size, given Josephus tendency to exaggerate.). Josephus spoke of such an Egyptian who perhaps three years earlier had appeared in Jerusalem during the procuratorship of Felix, claiming to be a prophet. Acts 21:26 Context. (:5) For a Female Child. "Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them went into the temple, declaring the fulfillment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them" (Acts 21:26). He had a large enough home, as well as the resources, to host not only Paul but also his delegation (and perhaps the disciples from Caesarea). Who was the father of Mary the mother of Jesus Christ? 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into . The essence of purification, in all eases, consisted in the use of water, whether by way of ablution or aspersion; but in the majora delicta of legal uncleanness, sacrifices of various kinds were added and the ceremonies throughout bore an expiatory character. After a week at Tyre, the ship was ready to sail, and Paul prepared to continue his trip to Jerusalem. Paul didnt keep the law, but he honoured the request so that he may be better accepted by the Jews and to bring the Jews to Christ. And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. (page 379). They also told him of the many thousands of Jews in Jerusalem that believed, yet they remained zealous (devoted) to the law. This again brings up the question of whether Paul was disregarding the voice of the Spirit in going to Jerusalem. Acts 21:17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. Paul agreed to the suggestion. In any case, in another situation at Lystra Paul apparently had been stoned into insensibility, but was still able to get up and go into the city (14:14). (literally) the time space between dawn and . All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk. "But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean for two weeks, as in her menstruation;". [b] Then afterward he may enter the camp, but he must live outside his tent seven days. Report. To be able to quell any temple disturbance, the garrison was quartered in the fortress of Antonia, in the northwest corner of the temple area. By joining in the rites of the four men and paying for their required offerings, Paul would be making a public demonstration of his respect for Jewish tradition. But Luke is not troubled by such discrepancies; he does not see prophecy as being an exact picture, but as a general prediction of the outcome: Paul ends up being imprisoned by the Gentiles. Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army. Do therefore this that we say to thee: we have four men which have a vow on them; them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: 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.