#1601 Acts 21 Part 2 Shave Their Heads

 

17 And after we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us gladly. 18 And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 And after he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God did among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it they began glorifying God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law; 21 and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 22 What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24 take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads. Then all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law. 25 But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should keep from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from sexual immorality.” 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them. Acts 21: 17-26 LSB

Acts 21: 17-26

V. 17 The brethren received us gladly - This contrast with Paul's reception after conversion years before. No one trusted him initially and no thinking person can blame them because he was killing Christians just prior to that, and he oversaw the stoning of Stephen, who would have been well known to the disciples. We should expect to be evaluated and observed over time, especially in such extraordinary instances, is he repentant, are we safe, what is he teaching? A lot of time has passed and Paul's ministry has been very open. He has worked with apostles and submitted himself to every inquiry, even praising the Bereans for evaluating what he said against Scripture. 

…6so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring glory to God. 8For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs,…Romans 15: 6-8

1Continue in brotherly love. 2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. 3Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.… Hebrews 13: 1-3

V. 18 James and all the elders were present - This is not James the Apostle, brother of John, for he had already been killed. This is James, the half brother of Jesus, the head of the church in Jerusalem. The apostles were the pillars of the church, foundational to it's start, but we can see the transition to church leadership held by elders and deacons. I hear people call themselves "apostles" today, but this is sometimes ignorant in a more innocent way, that they equate it with being a church planter, or an evangelist, but in the more nefarious way, there are those who think they hold the same authority as the apostles and speak new things that are on par with the Bible. The papacy of Rome is an example of this, along with many in the charismatic movement who reference themselves by that title, and support the "New Apostolic Movement", which is just heresy. 

10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw,… 1 Corinthians 3: 10-12

19Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. 21In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.… Ephesians 2: 19-21

18Only after three years did I go up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas, and I stayed with him fifteen days. 19But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20I assure you before God that what I am writing to you is no lie.… Galatians 1: 18-20

…54Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked. 55“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 56Aren’t all His sisters with us as well? Where then did this man get all these things?”… Matthew 13: 54-56

And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present - "Us" signifies Luke was with them. Clearly James is the chief elder in this formal reception of Paul. It is interesting that no apostles are mentioned as being present, given that both elders and apostles were present at the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15. The most natural explanation is that the apostles were away preaching the Gospel, carrying out Jesus’ commission to be His witnesses to the “ even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8+, e.g., tradition says the apostle Thomas traveled as far as India). Also note that this is not a meeting of the entire church which Robertson says is "probably because of the known prejudice against Paul created by the Judaizers." In the context of what comes to light in Acts 21:20-21 Robertson is probably correct.

This James is James the less, the half-brother of Christ.

Elders (4245)(presbuteros the comparative form of présbus = an old man or an ambassador) referred to men who were older or more senior with no negative connotations but rather a sense of venerability. Presbuteros is transliterated into English as “presbyter”, a leader in one of the Jewish communities--especially a member of the Sanhedrin or as in the present passage of the early Christian church. - Precept Austin

Vs. 19-20 God did among the gentiles through his ministry - Paul always gives the credit to God, for we can proclaim the gospel, but we cannot cause men to desire the God they don't want. He attributes the success to God and they have the correct response in glorifying God. Paul also has some gentiles with him, again showing a very open ministry. The church at Jerusalem shares back with him the good news that many God fearing Jews have come to Christ, something that is a great burden upon his heart. 

…18I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed, 19by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20In this way I have aspired to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.… Romans 15: 18-20

11I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. 12The TRUE marks of an apostle— signs, wonders, and miracles— were performed among you with great perseverance. 13In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!… 2 Corinthians 12: 11-13

…2I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood, 4the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises.… Romans 9: 2-4

MacArthur adds "God Himself was tolerant (OF THE BELIEVING JEWS CONTINUING TO PRACTICE JEWISH FEASTS, ETC) during this period of transition, knowing how difficult it was for the Jewish Christians to break with their past. He also knew that in a few years this would no longer be a dominant issue in the church. After the Jewish revolt against Rome (a.d. 66-70), which culminated in the destruction of Jerusalem, the influence of the Jerusalem church waned. Christianity gradually became a predominantly Gentile faith, and other churches (such as Antioch and Alexandria) ascended to the forefront....This large group of zealous Jewish believers provided fertile soil for false teachers—Paul's old nemeses the Judaizers (Who were the Judaizers?). These bitter enemies of the gospel of grace had dogged Paul's footsteps throughout his missionary journeys. In fact, he wrote Galatians largely to counter their dangerous false teachings. They denied that salvation is by grace through faith alone, insisting that keeping the Mosaic law was required for salvation (cf. Acts 15:1). The Jerusalem Council explicitly rejected their heretical teachings. (Ibid)

Warren Wiersbe asks "why were so many believing Jews still clinging to the Law of Moses? Had they not read Romans and Galatians? Probably not, and even if they had, old customs are difficult to change. In fact, one day God would have to send a special letter to the Jews, the Epistle to the Hebrews, to explain the relationship between the Old and New Covenants. As Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse used to say, "The Book of Hebrews was written to the Hebrews to tell them to stop being Hebrews!" It was not until the city and the temple were destroyed in a.d. 70 that traditional Jewish worship ceased. Paul did warn the Gentiles not to get involved in the old Jewish religion (Gal. 4:1-11); but he nowhere told the Jews that it was wrong for them to practice their customs, so long as they did not trust in ceremony or make their customs a test of fellowship (Rom. 14:1-15:7). There was freedom to observe special days and diets, and believers were not to judge or condemn one another. The same grace that gave the Gentiles freedom to abstain also gave the Jews freedom to observe. All God asked was that they receive one another and not create problems or divisions. (Bible Exposition Commentary). - Precept Austin

More from Acts 15

Vs. 21-22 To forsake Moses - These men saying this were an issue for Paul throughout his ministry, his own hecklers, even to the point of writing Galatians in response to the Judaizers. Paul taught justification by faith in Christ Jesus, where these taught that a man could be justified by keeping the law, which was never the law's intent. The law proved our need of a mediator, a Savior, that we were incapable of keeping the law outside of grace. Paul asserts that the law is good for it's actual purpose which was to show the trespass. In relation to the law, the Bible asserts that there is none righteous, not even one, and so Christ had to come to be our righteousness, and so my faith rests in Him, the only one to perfectly keep God's law, fulfilling all righteousness.

MacArthur helps us understand the dynamic at play which made the false accusations would have had considerable potential to cause trouble among the believing Jews - The charges against Paul were unsettling for the Jerusalem church, since they dealt with issues that went to the heart of what set the Jews apart as God's people. Further, this was "a time of intense Jewish nationalism and political unrest. One insurrection after another rose to challenge the Roman overlords, and Felix brutally suppressed them all. This only increased the Jewish hatred for Rome and inflamed anti-Gentile sentiments. It was a time when pro-Jewish sentiment was at its height, and friendliness with outsiders was viewed askance." (Polhill, New American Commentary) Thus, the allegations against Paul posed a serious threat to the Jerusalem church's efforts to evangelize unbelieving Jews. (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Acts) - PA

…23Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.… Galatians 3: 23-25

Paul's opponents had purposely misquoted him regarding his teaching about the Law. Paul had made it crystal clear in his teaching that " by the works of (BY TRYING TO KEEP IT IN AN ATTEMPT TO MERIT GOD'S FAVOR AND BLESSING) the Law (absolutely) no flesh will be justified (DECLARED IN RIGHT STANDING) in His sight; (THEN PAUL EXPLAINED THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW) for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin." (Ro 3:20+) And then he added his own personal example declaring "I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET." (Ro 7:7+). This is the essence of what Paul taught about the Law. But lies were being spread that he had told the Jews to totally abandon the Law. - PA

MacArthur comments on how ill founded were the charges against Paul - "If Paul really opposed circumcision, why did he circumcise Timothy (Acts 16:1-3+)? And if he taught others not to observe the Jewish customs, why did he take a Nazirite vow (Acts 18:18+)? Further, the Judaizers' lies about Paul were contradictory. In Galatia, they falsely accused him of advocating circumcision (Gal. 5:11); here in Jerusalem they falsely accused him of abrogating it. Like all inveterate liars, they said whatever was expedient at the moment. It is hardly surprising that the children of the father of lies resort to lies (John 8:44). Lies are one of the main ways Satan attacks the work of God. Believers should be slow to accept accusations against other Christians (particularly leaders, 1 Ti 5:19), especially when such charges originate with opponents of the Christian faith." (Ibid)

MacArthur asks "Why were they still clinging to the customs and rituals of the Old Covenant? First, because those customs and rituals had been established by God. Coming to faith in Jesus Christ enhanced these Jewish believer’s love for God and desire to obey Him and thus may have motivated a greater zeal for the old ceremonies. Second, the apostles and other leaders in the Jerusalem church did not oppose the continuation of these practices. Nowhere in the New Testament are Jewish believers condemned for observing them. In fact, Paul commands tolerance for such ‘weaker brothers’ until they grow to understand their freedom and can use it with clear consciences. The Jerusalem Council, while forbidding the imposition of Old Covenant rituals on Gentiles, did not prohibit Jewish believers from continuing to observe them. God Himself was tolerant during this period of transition, knowing how difficult it was for the Jewish Christians to break with their past. (Ibid) - PA

Vs 23-24 Do this that we tell you - Two things can be true at once, the law is good, but the law also can't save you. The moral law hasn't gone, even Christ said, "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 17Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. 18For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.…" It is still wrong to murder, still wrong to commit adultery, but Christ took it even further, to the heart, that to lust is the equivalent adultery because God knows the thoughts of the heart. The four men were under a Nazarite vow, which we surmise from the shaving of the heads to end the vow. 

Nelson Study Bible has an interesting note on pay...expenses - Paul paid the expenses of the four men who had taken a vow, because the men were impoverished by the famine in Judea and did not have enough money to complete their vow by offering a sacrifice in the temple. But there might have been another reason as well. The Jewish historian Josephus tells us that when Herod Agrippa I began his reign over Judea in A.D. 41, he paid for a considerable number of Nazirite vows to show his respect for the Mosaic Law. For the sake of showing his Jewish brethren that he had not forsaken the laws of Moses, Paul did what they asked. Reputation was an issue for the apostle, as it is for all believers (see 1 Tim. 3:7). - PA

But that you yourself also walk orderly - Walk orderly is stoicheo (from stoichos = row, line, rank) literally means to walk in a straight line or by rule and in this context in the present tense would demonstrate to the zealots that Paul continually conducted himself in harmony or agreement with the Law and Jewish customs. The verb stoicheo means to live in conformity with some presumed standard or set of customs. Robertson adds "The rule (by which to walk) is the law and Paul was not a sidestepper!" - PA

Vs. 25-26 Purifying himself along with them - Paul demonstrates that he is not antinomian and that the accusations against him are a mix of ignorance on the part of those who have not heard his teaching, or have and misunderstood, and also the flat out malicious lies of those who hate him. Even some 20 years after his being snuck out of Jerusalem there are still Jews there that want him dead, which we will see in the coming chapters of Acts. 

Then Paul took the men (same phrase Acts 21:24), and the next day, purifying (see hagnizo above) himself along with them, went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification - It warrants repeating why Paul would have agreed to this vow for as he wrote to the Corinthians "To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law." (1 Cor 9:20) He says he "became as a Jew" he means that without compromising the grace of God, he was willing to be as Jewish as necessary when working among the Jews. He knew that the Son had set him free from legalistic obedience to rituals and ceremonies and customs of Judaism. Therefore he considered himself free to follow some of these Jewish ways of life if it meant he would be able to win some of the Jews to Christ. And in the current context his reasoning was that he was willing to take a vow if it kept the peace, knowing that he was not keeping the vow in any legalistic sense or with any intention of hoping to gain acceptance with or be pleasing to God. He knew in Christ he was already 100% accepted. And so here he was willing to abide for a time by Jewish ceremonial regulations in order to assuage his Jewish brethren who thought he was against the Law and the customs. - PA