#1602 Acts 21 Part 3 Agabus Wasn't Lying

 

27 Now when the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon noticing him in the temple, began to throw all the crowd into confusion and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches to everyone everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides, he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 Then all the city was stirred, and the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. 31 While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 At once he took along soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; and he began asking who he was and what he had done. 34 But among the crowd some were shouting one thing and some another, and when he could not find out the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 35 And when he got to the stairs, he actually was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd; 36 for the multitude of the people kept following them, shouting, “Away with him!” Acts 21: 27-36 LSB

Acts 21: 27-36

V.27 Now when the seven days were almost over - Paul was trying to complete the days of purification along with the Nazarites that he sponsored.

V. 28 This is the man who teaches to everyone everywhere against our people, the law, and this place - Paul was actually doing a ritual cleansing, had made a Nazarite vow even after his conversion, had Timothy circumcised so as not to offend the Jews, and he loved the law of Moses, but did teach that it was incapable of saving. Salvation came through grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone according to Scripture alone. Paul preached what God had said through the prophets about His Holy One, His Righteous Servant. Their accusations are false. 

…7in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast.… Ephesians 2: 7-9

…2For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh, 4so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.… Romans 8: 2-4

V. 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him - His name never gets old if you like Tanganyika cichlids like I do. They saw him with Paul, but again this was not the truth, only speculation.  

Trophimus the Ephesian… whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple: It was absolutely prohibited for Gentiles to go beyond the designated “Court of the Gentiles” in the temple grounds. Signs were posted which read (in both Greek and Latin): “No foreigner may enter within the barricade which surrounds the temple and enclosure. Any one who is caught trespassing will bear personal responsibility for his ensuing death.” The Romans were so sensitive to this that they authorized the Jews to execute anyone that offended in this way, even if the offender was a Roman citizen. - Enduring Word

Vs. 30-31 Seeking to kill him - They would kill foreigners who crossed the barricade, but Paul was a Jew, raised in the tradition of the Pharisees, and he had even complied with the ritual cleansing. I suppose since Trophimus was suspected of being where he wasn't supposed to be they could blame that on Paul and try to place that punishment on him. The mob they are rousing has now drawn the attention of Rome. Those that governed the area which try to keep up the Pax Romana, or (Roman Peace), an era that saw Rome grow but also put down uprisings like this to keep the peace. 

V. 32 Stopped beating him - The Jews stopped beating Paul when the Roman commander showed up, probably for fear that they would have to prove their side against a Roman citizen. They are beating him without trial or proof, and they have caused an uproar.

V. 33 Ordered him to be bound with two chains - This would fulfill the prophecy made by Agabus.

…10After we had been there several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, “ The Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.’” 12When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.… Acts 21: 10-12

Vs. 34-36 Away with him - That is not a call to get this guy out of here, but a call for his death. 

…14It was the day of Preparation for the Passover, about the sixth hour. And Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” 15At this, they shouted, “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!” “Shall I crucify your King?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” replied the chief priests. 16Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified, and the soldiers took Him away.… John 19: 14-16