Aramaic was the language of Judea, and of those in the eastern Roman Empire who did not speak Greek. 1915. Did Paul's handkerchief heal sick people (Acts 19:11-12)? This again brings up the question of whether Paul was disregarding the voice of the Spirit in going to Jerusalem. Who was the father of Mary the mother of Jesus Christ? There is no evidence that the apostle was under a vow. To those under the law he came under the law. The full nazarite vow, which would have included abstinence from wine and strong drink as per the law in the book of Numbers would have started long before Paul joined in for the last 7 days. The following day the apostle, along with the four men, went to the temple where the sacrifices would be offered. 1450 Oak Hill Rd The missionary group was there and so were the Jerusalem elders, together with James, Jesus half-brother (cf. This refers back to his appointment along with six others to take care of the Hellenistic Jewish widows in the Jerusalem church (6:1-6). The idea of uncleanness was not peculiar to the Jew; but with all other nations simple . Until that an offering should be offered for every one of them: Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, , , , , the vowed number of the Nazarite days had quite expired, the fulfilment of the Nazarite days, until the offering for each individual was presented by them, , had to spend under the Nazarite vow which he had jointly undertaken, the well-known seven days required for this purpose, as regards the presentation of the offerings, , to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them, , Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers. Only Jesus can make us clean of sin and the practice of unrighteousness . The, the definite article. What does not stifling the Holy Spirit mean? Agabus, foretelling what should befall him at Jerusalem. Acts 21 is the twenty-first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. 27The seven days of purification were almost completed when some Jews from Asia recognized Paul in the temple. The mob apparently began beating Paul, probably in the outer court of the temple. (The church in Jerusalem, along with James, now disappears from Lukes account.). Associate with oneself; by analogy, to assume an office; figuratively, to learn. One was itinerant, the other local (Acts,363). undergo an eight day purification - Num 6:9-12 3. After Paul had gotten from, or torn himself from, the disciples of Ephesus, he moved on toward Jerusalem, stopping at Tyre, where he sought and found disciples (Acts 20:37-21:4). 2019 Grace Bible Church of Fort Worth, Inc. Why did Paul purify himself at the Temple? But with his arrival in the city, the Jerusalem church leaders found themselves with a great problem. For example, individuals journeying by sea would have to find available ships and accept delays caused by loading and unloading cargo. 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. of Asia--in all . Others argue that the apostle was sincere in yielding to this procedure; he simply did not fully understandat this pointthat the law had been abrogated. The Romans even allowed the Sanhedrin to execute the death penalty for anyone who violated this regulation, something that Josephus (Antiquities15:417;Wars6:124-126) and Philo (Embassy to Gaius212) both mention. 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. Some contend that the apostles actions were a matter of expediencyin a unique time-period when certain elements of the Mosaic system (particularly civil/ceremonial) gradually were passing away. Share Agabus prophecy also reminds us of Old Testament oracles in that the message was conveyed through action as well as word. Given Lukes tendency for trying to show that Pauls Gentile mission and the Jerusalem church marched together, it seems odd that he would not discuss the offering. It was the Diaspora Jews from Asia who started the riot. Acts 21:10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. Acts 21:22 What is it therefore? pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; , Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren. Luke reminded us he was traveling with Paul by inserting another we into the narration. Numbers 6:3He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. Less than $5/mo! 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. The BRETHREN (certain Jews) received him..gladly. It seems clear that the course of the apostle led him to a return trip to Jerusalem and then to Rome. As the Jews went about to kill the apostle, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar (Acts 21:31). Several views have been offered relative to this matter. She must not touch any holy thing or go into the sanctuary until completing her days of purification. 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). The great annual purification of the people was on the Day of Atonement (q.v.). 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 third we section ends here (21:17-18). What does Acts 21:26 mean? lustration. offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. For example, the case of the leper ( Leviticus 1314 ,14), and of the house defiled by leprosy ( 14:49-53 ; see also Matthew 8:2-4 ). for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. Community answers are sorted based on votes. . Lukes main concern with the Jerusalem trip was to show his readers that Paul continued to receive the blessing of the mother church in Jerusalem. Now surely Paul . Acts 21:17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. In Caesarea, Paul and the delegation stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist for a number of days (21:8, 10). His hair would be cut and sacrificially burned, also at the temple. 2. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place (21:28). Gently, the Jerusalem brethren explained to Paul that thousands of Jews had believed, i.e., they had been converted to Christ. Salem Media Group. 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. A good answer provides new insight and perspective. Purification. 5:2ff). Group B underwent a hydrogen purification treatment with the use of a phytic, pyruvic, lactic and ferulic acids at 40% mixture (pH 1.4). From Pauls epistles, it seems that presenting the offering personally was the chief reason for his going to Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:1-4;Romans 15:25-27, with 2 Corinthians 8-9). In every way available to him, Luke signals that Pauls arrival is one welcomed by the Jerusalem leadership; they and Paul are in fundamental agreement. No doubt, he was also an elder in any church that might have existed in the Caesarea area. In this case, it was through an inspired prophet from the Jerusalem church. He also continued to provide a port-by-port travel guide of Pauls trip. "and she shall remain in the blood of her purification for sixty-six days.". the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. As Paul was about to be carried into the fortress, he spoke to the commander in Greek, asking if he might say something to him (21:37). Luke wrote that when the delegation arrived in Jerusalem the believers there received us warmly (21:17). Acts 21:26 Context. Most likely the church would have liked to help Paul, but it was powerless to intervene. From ekpleroo; completion. the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. In the section that follows (20ff), the Bible student encounters what this writer considers to be one of the most challenging episodes in the entire book. Acts 21:27 The Voice (VOICE) 27 The seven days of purification were almost completed when some Jews from Asia recognized Paul in the temple. greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no. Acts 21:26 Context . The following solution, therefore, was proposed. ( Acts 21:24 Acts 21:26) we are not informed. Orr, James, M.A., D.D. As Paul was led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, may I speak unto thee? The Seven Days of Purification. 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. Do as I say not do as I do as the old saying goes. . This probably meant that Paul was handcuffed to a soldier on either side of him, much in the manner of Peter (12:6). This test came through a certain prophet named Agabus, who came down from Judaea. We have already been told in Acts that Paul does not teach against the Jewish Torah in and of itself. Clarke's Commentary. 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. All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk. Paul reported in great detail on his missionary journeys and the impact of the gospel among the Gentile populations. He, she, it, they, them, same. 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). While it is the case that even an apostle could sin, as indicated above (cf. NKJV - 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. On the following day there was a special meeting. She will continue in purification from her bleeding for 33 days. But in the details of daily life there were special . Understand the meaning of Acts 21:26 using all available Bible versions and commentary. Acts 2:147:60 describes the . At the conclusion of his Third Missionary Journey, Paul and his companions finally came 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. Perhaps it was Luke who was repeating the four regulations as a literary device for the benefit of his readers. Luke Johnson writes: Like that earlier delegation, this one is welcomed gladly by the brothers (15:4). 27 Now when the seven days were almost ended, u the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and v laid hands on him, Paul had admonished Timothy to do the work of an evangelist in supervising the affairs of the growing church at Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3). Why was Paul asked to join four Jewish men in completing a vow in Acts 21:23? It seems odd that the elders repeated the decrees word-for-word back to Paul. He was not disappointed. 5). Paul and his delegation disembarked and located some disciples in the city with whom they stayed a week (21:4). And these discussions were not mere passing allusions, as were Peters brief references to the Gentiles in Acts 2 (which he did not comprehend at the time, cf. They were not trying to renegotiate the terms under which Gentiles could be allowed into the church. A prophet by the name of Ababus told that Paul would be bound by the Jews and handed over to the the Gentiles, in this case the Gentiles being the Romans. To signify the accomplishment of the days of purification . If Paul is indicted of sin, so are James and the Jerusalem elders, for they asked him to do what he did. We respectfully offer the following general observations on this position. Pauls act of purification, therefore, need not suggest that he was seeking personal forgiveness by means of an animal sacrifice. Clermont-Gannau in 1871 and two Greek fragments of another were found in 1935. 23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; 24 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. In the absence of more conclusive information, it is unwise to accuse Paul of compromise or sin. What did the manger for baby Jesus look like, and symbolize? Acts 21:26 (ESV) Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them. James had recognized that Pauls work had been guided by God. 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