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PAUL AT JERUSALEM

III. QUAR., LESSON VII., AUG. 13, ACTS 21:27-39

Golden Text—”For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.”—Phil. 1:29

Leaving Miletus, the scene of our last lesson, Paul pursued his journey toward Jerusalem, making several brief visits on the way—at Tyre seven days, at Ptolemais one day, and at Caesarea many days. And although forewarned of persecution at Jerusalem, he was persuaded that the Lord would have him go; and against all the entreaties of the brethren he was therefore invincible, saying, “What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” When he would not be dissuaded from his purpose, the brethren submitted, saying, “The will of the Lord be done” (Acts 21:1-14), and some of them went with him from Caesarea. This was his fifth visit to Jerusalem since his conversion, twenty years before. The day after his arrival he made a report of his missionary work to the brethren, of whom James, the Lord’s brother, was chief.

In the eight years since Paul had visited the brethren at Jerusalem (Acts 18:21,22) he had (1) made two long missionary tours; (2) revisited and strengthened the churches in Asia Minor; (3) carried the gospel into Europe; (4) founded churches in Philippi, Corinth, Thessalonica and Ephesus; and (5) had widely extended the gospel and made many converts to Christianity, whose genuine faith and zeal for the cause of Christ was expressed in their contributions, sent by Paul, for the poor saints at Jerusalem.

At the previous conference, eight years prior to this, the elders at Jerusalem had concurred with Paul’s judgment and previous practice, that it was not necessary to put the yoke of Judaism upon Gentile converts. He had taught that the Mosaic law was no longer in force; that its forms and ceremonies could not save any one, not even a Jew; and that faith in the Lord Jesus was the only way of salvation. He had taught, further, that the chief promises of God were to the spiritual seed of Abraham, of which seed are all who are Christ’s by faith and consecration, whether Jews or Gentiles. At the same time he himself, being a Hebrew, properly observed certain features of the Jewish law; not, however, as a condition of salvation, but rather as a justifiable expediency—a concession to his Jewish brethren who had not yet fully comprehended their liberty in Christ, that so his liberty might not become an occasion of stumbling to them.—See May 1st TOWER, page 142.

The narrative of this lesson needs no special comment, but is another illustration of the dauntless courage and holy enthusiasm of this noble soldier of the cross, a noteworthy instance of which is seen in his request to the chief captain to suffer him to speak to the people,—as soon as they had left off beating him. (Verses 37-40.) And the noble address which followed (chap. 22) was a model of skill, logic and eloquence; and a fair reflection of the worthy character of the Lord’s chosen Apostle. May its inspiration fire our hearts to the furtherance of the Lord’s work. The Apostle’s course was a practical exemplification of his teaching in the golden text of this lesson.

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— July 1 & 15, 1893 —