Acts 21:15-26

(Acts 21:15-26)

And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem. There went with us also certain of the disciples of Cæsarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.  And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.  And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.  And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.  And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:  And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.  What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.  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.  As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.  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.

The apostle Paul entered Jerusalem after the third evangelistic trip, and sat face to face with the leaders of the Jerusalem Church. On one side was the apostle Paul and his companions for the Gentiles, and on the other side were the apostle James for the Jews and the elders of the Jerusalem Church. The meeting between the two sides was a time of emotion.

The apostle Paul and his companions reported God's work in the heathen, and the apostle James and the elders gladly welcomed them and glorified God. However, the author Luke describes without avoiding the subtle tension surrounding them.

After listening to the apostle Paul's report, James said: 『And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. 』

There were rumors about the apostle Paul among the members of the Jerusalem Church. It is said that Paul taught Jews living in all parts of the Gentiles to betray Moses, not to practice circumcision, and not to observe customs. Paul did not betray Moses, nor did he tell him not to obey the customs. It was only taught that circumcision was not a condition of salvation. The apostle Paul, predicting the threat of bondage and death, requested intercession from the members of the Roman church to rescue them from their enemies.

『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. 』He proved by doing himself that the rumors were not true. Since the Jews are concerned about the law, they decided that reassuring them would be beneficial for evangelism.