Saturday, November 04, 2023

If the Lord takes me back to Jerusalem (Acts 21)

The first part of Acts chapter 21 is just more of Paul's travels. The SAB notes that when Paul stops for a week in Tyre, it's an indication of failed prophecy by Ezekiel. I don't know about that personally, and will deflect to some more learned than me for a response. Eventually, Paul and his company come to Caesarea, where they stay with Philip and his daughters. A prophet comes to visit and gives a strange prophecy essentially saying Paul is going to be captured and bound in Jerusalem. Paul's friends try to convince Paul not to go to Jerusalem any more, but Paul is determined to go, even if it means death.

Paul arrives in Jerusalem, and tells the believers there about all the missionary work he's done since they last saw him. They are happy with the news, but they warn him that some Jews have been spreading rumors about him, and he may not be safe. They suggest a plan: there are four men which are preparing to take a Nazarite vow; Paul can go shave his head with them and give an offering at the Temple and pay for the other men's expenses, and people will see that Paul is a good, observant Jew. Paul agrees with the plan and goes to the Temple, at first everything seemingly going according to plan. After about a week, however, some Jews from Asia recognize Paul, and grab him. They cry out to the other Jews a bunch of false accusations against Paul (although they may have thought they were true), and the people drag Paul outside, presumably to stone him to death for blasphemy. A leader of the Roman guard breaks up the crowd and carries Paul away in chains. Paul asks the leader for a chance to speak, and he is surprised Paul speaks Greek, having thought he was an Egyptian revolutionary. Paul explains that he is a Jew from Tarsus and asks the leader for a chance to address the crowd. The leader allows it, and the chapter ends mid-sentence.

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