3.. . Church                 leadership

21:15-26

ancient disciples and James and elders

required purification

21:15-26 After these days (at Caesarea) and having made ready, we went up to Jerusalem.  Also some of the disciples from Caesarea came with us.  They brought us to the house of a certain Cypriot named Mnason where we could stay.  He was an early disciple.  Being in Jerusalem the brothers received us joyfully.  The next day we went in with Paul to see James.  All the elders  had come as well.  After greeting them (Paul) related each and every thing which God had accomplished amongst the Gentiles through his ministry.  On hearing this they glorified God and said to him.  "You see brother how there are many, even tens of thousands of the Jews who have believed.  This includes people quite zealous for the law.  They were informed about you that you were teaching apostasy about Moses.  That is, throughout the nations you were telling all the Jews not to

circumcise their children, nor to walk in our customs.  What then is to be done? In any event they will hear that you have come (to Jerusalem).  We are telling you therefore that you should do the following.  There are four men here who have taken a vow on themselves.  (We want you to) go and be purified with then and pay the price for them to shave their heads.  Then all men will be informed that there is nothing in what they have been told.  Rather you also continue to keep the law.  And with regard to the believing Gentiles we have put it into writing that we judge they should do the following that is,  keep both from idol sacrifice and blood and what is strangled and fornication."    And so Paul took the men the next day and having been purified with them they went into the temple.  They announced that on the completion of the days of purification the offering (customary sacrifice) should be made on behalf of each one of them.

 

4. .

Law -enforcers

21:27-39

Chillarch of the cohort

protected

21:27-39 Now when about seven days (for the purification custom) were fulfilled the Jews from Asia saw him in the temple and stirred up all the crowd.  They laid hands on him crying out "Fellow Israelites help us.  This is the man who has been speaking out against the people and the law and this place."  He has been teaching everyone everywhere about this.  He has even brought Greeks into the temple and has profaned this holy place.  (They said this because) they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.  So the whole city was moved and there was a running together of the people.  They lay hold of Paul and dragged him outside the temple.  The doors were then immediately shut.  While they were seeking to kill him the information came to the Chilliarch (Tribune) of the cohort (of soldiers) that there was a riot in Jerusalem.  At once he took a centurion and soldiers and ran down to them. On  seeing  the  Tribune  and  the

soldiers they stopped beating Paul.  Then on drawing near the Tribune laid hold of (Paul) and ordered that he be bound with two chains.  He inquired who he might be and what he had done. They all called out different things from amongst the crowd.  As he could not hear (what it was about) because of the uproar he ordered that he (Paul) be brought into the fort.  When he was on the steps he was actually being carried because of the violence of the crowd.  The multitude of the people followed crying out "Take him away."  And, being about to be brought into the fort Paul says to the Tribune   "Is it lawful for me to say something to you."  He answered "Do you know how to speak in Greek?"  You are therefore not the Egyptian who prior to now has been unsettling (people) and leading out four thousand men into the desert of Sicarii?"  Paul said "I am indeed a Jew, a Tarsian of Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city.  I beg you allow me to speak to the people."