The Beginning of the End(21:17-26)

Ephesians 6:20I am an ambassador in

chains

Acts 15:2…Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.

The Beginning of the End

I. Paul’s Mindset Coming to Jerusalem

II. Paul’s Reception in Jerusalem

III. Paul’s Response in Jerusalem

The Beginning of the End

I. Paul’s Mindset Coming to Jerusalem

Acts 24:17Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings.

Romans 15:25-29At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them.

For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. 28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. 29 I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

1 Corinthians 16:1-2Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.

The Beginning of the End

I. Paul’s Mindset Coming to Jerusalem

II. Paul’s Reception in Jerusalem

Galatians 5:2-4Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

Galatians 5:6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Galatians 6:15For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

Romans 14:2-6One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Romans 14:2-65 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.

The reason I thought of this book in connection with Acts 21 is that in my opinion in this chapter we come to a period of Paul’s life that was similar. I say in my opinion because, although the majority of commentators do not take such a view, I hope to show that though Paul was driven by high motives, what he did at this time of his life was wrong. Being wrong, it had unfortunate consequences for him and perhaps also for other people. --Boice

But Paul’s error was worse than mere hypocrisy…It was a compromise of the gospel. …the man who had argued so forcefully that we are saved by Jesus Christ alone was about to go to the Jewish temple and in the presence of the very priests who had crucified the Lord, there participate with others in a sacrifice of an animal that was meant to be an atonement for his sin. That is, he was about to turn his back on the only sufficient sacrifice of Christ. --Boice

Whether he [Paul] was wise in doing so may well be doubted.… But he cannot be fairly charged with a compromise of his own gospel principles. On the contrary, he was acting on his own rules. –F.F. Bruce

1 Corinthians 9:19-22For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.

21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

Galatians 3:23-26Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25

But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

Galatians 5:1For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Romans 9:1-3I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

John 17:20-23I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

Paul had a massive vision of solidarity—a church of Jews and Gentiles, united, militant, taking the world by storm for Christ—not giving into legalism like that of the Judaizers! --Hughes