We now come to Acts 21, which is an enigmatic chapter in many ways.

• Paul was warned by more than one person “speaking by the Holy Spirit” not to go to Jerusalem. Paul went anyway. Should he have gone? Or should he have listened to the warnings?

And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit, they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. (Acts 21.4, ESV)

When we heard [another warning], we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21.12 – 13, ESV)

Paul couldn’t “die in Jerusalem” because he hadn’t yet testified before kings (see Acts 9.15)!

• So he goes to Jerusalem and James has an idea. Again, was this a good idea or not? James said:

You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. What then is to be done?… We have four men who are under a vow; take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. (Acts 21.20 – 24, ESV)

I don’t think James’ counsel was wise. We’ll see shortly that it didn’t turn out well. But even if it had, I think James had it only half right back in Acts 15. James understood that Gentiles didn’t have to keep Jewish laws. What he didn’t understand was that Jews didn’t have to keep Jewish laws either! Paul had it out with Peter over this very issue (see Galatians 2).

So the result of James’ idea was that Paul’s presence in the Temple caused a riot, and Paul was “rescued” by the Romans (we’ll talk more about that in a couple of days).

When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” …Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, …and as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. He at once took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. Then the tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains….(Acts 21.27 – 33, ESV)

The bottom line is that from this point on, for the rest of the book of Acts, Paul is in Roman military custody (Acts 21.33 – 28.30). I want to say more about that tomorrow.

For now, what do we make of Paul’s decision to go to Jerusalem, James’ counsel, and Paul’s accepting that counsel? Right or wrong, optimal or not, all three decisions had positive motivations behind them: Paul will not operate out of fear, James is still trying to reach as many Jews for Jesus as possible, and Paul is submissive to James’ authority. And sometimes that’s all we can do. None of us knows the results of any of our decisions before the fact.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2.12, 13, ESV)

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. (Philippians 1.27, 28, ESV)