Daily Scripture Reading Acts 21:26 - 22:7
One of the debates in the early church was whether or not Gentiles had to observe the Mosaic Law. The answer was a clear no.
A related question was whether Jews had to keep observing the Law after they became believers. This question has relevance today. If a 21st century Jew becomes a believer, is he bound by the requirements of the Mosaic Law? If not, is it permissible to observe the Law anyway since that is the family heritage?
The 21st chapter of Acts contains a real-life example of how these questions play out in real life. This chapter does not definitively answer the question, but it does contribute to the solution.
When Paul arrived in Jerusalem, he met with James and the elders and told them all the things God had done among the Gentiles. James and the elders rejoiced in his success, but they were concerned because the thousands of Jews who had become believers had been told that Paul no longer obeyed the Law of Moses. Their solution was to have Paul purify himself and pay the expenses of 4 other men who were under a vow, in order to demonstrate that Paul still kept the Law.
Acts 21:26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them.
Many Christians believe it was wrong for Paul to offer a sacrifice since Jesus had made the ultimate sacrifice and paid the penalty for all sins. Their mindset is it was completely wrong for believing Jews to offer sacrifices after Jesus died and rose again. Here are some reasons why it may not have been wrong.
First, James and the elders approved of this, in fact, it was their suggestion. That implies James, the elders, and the other believing Jews in Jerusalem were still participating in the temple system, including offering sacrifices.
Second, there is no indication in the Bible that God was displeased with Paul’s action. While an argument from silence is often dubious, in this case it has to be considered.
Third, there were many types of sacrifices in the Mosaic Law. Some sacrifices were sin offerings, a way of acknowledging sin. Other offerings were thanksgiving offerings, a method of thanking God for His provision. You can make an argument that the only sacrifice that was obsolete after the death and resurrection of Jesus was the sin offering, meaning other types of sacrifices were still valid and permissible for believing Jews.
Fourth, the Old Testament sacrificial system looked forward to the work of Christ on earth. After the resurrection of Jesus, the believing Jews used the sacrifices and Mosaic Law to look back on, commemorate, and celebrate that which Jesus did on earth.
Ultimately, the Bible does not tell us whether God approved or disapproved of Paul’s action; therefore, we cannot be certain of God’s opinion. The fact that the Bible records Paul’s action, but does not condemn it, does tend to lead to the conclusion that God was okay with what Paul was doing.
Furthermore, since James and the elders did not abandon the Law or Judaism when they became believers, that is an indication 21st century Jews do not need to abandon Judaism when they become believers.
Acts 21:27 ¶ Now when the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon noticing him in the temple, began to throw all the crowd into confusion and laid hands on him,
Note the words “in the temple”. Paul was in the temple when this confusion started.
The words “all the crowd into confusion” tell us we once again see a small group of people influencing the actions of a large crowd.
Acts 21:28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches to everyone everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides, he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”
This was not an accurate representation of Paul’s teachings. He was not against the Jewish people or the temple. Instead, Paul taught that Gentile Christians did not need to observe the Mosaic Law.
The Mosaic Law prohibited non-Jews from entering the temple, so if Paul had brought a Greek into the temple, that would have been a violation.
Acts 21:29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.
This verse tells us the accusation that Paul had brought a Greek into the temple was a false accusation.
Acts 21:30 Then all the city was stirred, and the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut.
The words “all the city was stirred” inform us the protest against Paul which started in the temple spread all through the city.
Acts 21:31 While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.
Don’t miss the word “kill”. The Jews wanted to kill Paul, not merely arrest him.
Acts 21:32 At once he took along soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
The phrase “stopped beating Paul” lets us know that this was violent.
Acts 21:33 Then the commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; and he began asking who he was and what he had done.
Acts 21:34 But among the crowd some were shouting one thing and some another, and when he could not find out the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.
Acts 21:35 And when he got to the stairs, he actually was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd;
Acts 21:36 for the multitude of the people kept following them, shouting, “Away with him!”
Acts 21:37 ¶ As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek?
Acts 21:38 Then you are not the Egyptian who some time ago raised a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?”
Acts 21:39 But Paul said, “I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city; and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.”
Acts 21:40 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, motioned to the people with his hand; and when there was a great hush, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying,
Acts 22:1 ¶ “Men, brothers, and fathers, hear my defense which I now offer to you.”
Acts 22:2 ¶ And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even quieter; and he said,
This was a remarkable transition. The crowd went from being violently out-of-control to being quiet enough for a man to address the whole crowd.
The following verses record Paul’s telling of his life story. Many of the details are also recorded elsewhere in the Bible.
Acts 22:3 ¶ “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but having been brought up in this city, having been instructed at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strictness of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today,
Acts 22:4 I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering both men and women into prisons,
Acts 22:5 as also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brothers, and started off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to be punished.
Acts 22:6 ¶ “But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me,
Acts 22:7 and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’
Tomorrow we will finish reading Paul’s recitation of his life story.
The apostles, including Paul, and the brothers of Jesus grew up practicing Judaism. When they became believers after the death and resurrection of Jesus, they did not abandon their observance of the Mosaic Law.
What are the implications of this for modern Jews who become believers?
What does the Bible say elsewhere about whether or not Jews can or must continue to observe the Law of Moses?
What would be the benefit of believing Jews continuing to practice Judaism even if they are not required to do so?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”