Acts 21:15-25 Paul Arrives at Jerusalem
15 After this we packed our things and left for Jerusalem. 16 Some believers from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to the home of Mnason, a man originally from Cyprus and one of the early believers. 17 When we arrived, the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem welcomed us warmly.
18 The next day Paul went with us to meet with James, and all the elders of the Jerusalem church were present. 19 After greeting them, Paul gave a detailed account of the things God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry.
Paul has made it to Jerusalem in time for the Feast of Pentecost. Now Paul is reporting about all the great things God has been doing. “Wonderful!” say all the elder in the church, and then they make a request. Such a simple request, and yet such a poorly-conceived one.
The apostles and leaders of the church are Jews, raised in Jewish homes and steeped in Jewish customs. These men remember that Jesus promised that he had come to fulfill the Law but not to set it aside. Now these men have been getting pressure from fellow Jewish Christians who have been hearing rumors about Paul. The rumor circulating is that Paul is teaching proper Jews that they don’t have to follow Jewish customs such as circumcision. There are compelling health reasons for circumcision as well as for the other regulations embodied in the Law of Moses. But there are also minutiae that have developed as rabbis have attempted to clarify the meaning of the Law. Jesus himself mocked the Pharisees for practices such as tithing the spices in their kitchens while neglecting kindness, justice, and mercy. Paul has not been teaching anything to encourage Jews from abandoning their cultural practices. As leaders, the apostles should defend Paul; however, rather than face this issue head-on, the apostles are hoping to remain in the background, dumping the need for vindication on him. This cowardice is about to cause major problems.
20 After hearing this, they praised God. And then they said, “You know, dear brother, how many thousands of Jews have also believed, and they all follow the law of Moses very seriously. 21 But the Jewish believers here in Jerusalem have been told that you are teaching all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn their backs on the laws of Moses. They’ve heard that you teach them not to circumcise their children or follow other Jewish customs. 22 What should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come.
23 “Here’s what we want you to do. We have four men here who have completed their vow. 24 Go with them to the Temple and join them in the purification ceremony, paying for them to have their heads ritually shaved. Then everyone will know that the rumors are all false and that you yourself observe the Jewish laws.
25 “As for the Gentile believers, they should do what we already told them in a letter: They should abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.”
In the beginning, it sounds so reasonable. Despite persecution from Jewish religious leaders, the Jewish Christians are still hoping somehow to remain acceptable to traditional Jews and Jewish Christians who are still observing all the Laws of Moses. But the Sadducees have never believed in an afterlife, and the Pharisees are furious that Jesus has refused to remain dead after they went to such great lengths to seal him in the grave. The apostles don’t want to expose themselves any more than necessary. Why not send Paul to the temple along with these other men to engage in a purification ceremony? Hopefully, such an action will silence critics and also get them off the hook. As these men are searching for ways to relieve the pressure on themselves, they fail to think this idea through or to ask what might go wrong. They seal their cowardice with a high-sounding statement about the advice they have already given the Gentiles.
In an earlier age in American politics, the term “mugwump” came into use. The term was used to describe people from one political party who wished to remain in that party while supporting measures proposed by an opposing party. The idea was that of someone sitting on the fence with his mug, his face, on one side while his wump, his rump, was on the other. While compromise is sometimes necessary, refusing to take a stand on an issue has never saved anyone from difficulty. Here the church elders are behaving like mugwumps, and Paul will pay the price for their refusal to defend him.
It’s easy to criticize the church leaders for failing to support Paul. But how brave are we? Don’t we try to find any means possible of deflecting criticism from ourselves? And when do we cross the line between reasoning to outright cowardice? The words of an old hymn express it well.
ONCE TO EVERY MAN AND NATION
1 Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide,
in the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side;
Some great cause, some great decision, off’ring each the bloom or blight,
and the choice goes by forever ‘twixt that darkness and that light.
2 Then to side with truth is noble, when we share her wretched crust,
ere her cause bring frame and profit, and ’tis prosp’rous to be just;
Then it is the brave man chooses while the coward stands aside,
till the multitude make virtue of the faith they had denied.
3 By the light of burning martyrs, Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track;
toiling up new Calv’ries ever with the cross that turns not back.
New occasions teach new duties; ancient values test our youth.
They must upward still and onward, who would keep abreast of truth.
4 Though the cause of evil prosper, yet the truth alone is strong;
though her portion be the scaffold, and upon the throne be wrong;
yet that scaffold sways the future, and, behind the dim unknown,
standeth God within the shadow keeping watch above His own.
May God help us to remain steadfast, firm in our convictions that His perfect Will alone should prevail, even if we must bear the cost.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to remain true to Your Word and Your Will, even when it might cost us everything. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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