Hi @heartathome , @DownMoreThanUp , @Appleblossom , @ENKELI , @tyme , @MissGremlin , @Shaz51 , @REDLINEZ750 , @AlwaysMyself ,
Acts 21 (and Acts 22 following)
- Paul sailing via various ports to Jerusalem.
- Paul stays with disciples at Tyre for seven days - through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
- At Caesarea Paul and company stay with Philip the evangelist. Agabus, a prophet, takes Paul's belt and ties his own hands and feet with it. The Holy Spirit says the Jewish leaders will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.
- Paul insists on going to Jerusalem.
- Arrival at Jerusalem. Received warmly.
- Paul meets with James and the elders the next day.
- Paul describes his ministry to the Gentiles.
- James and the elders describe many thousands of Jewish believers but they are also zealous for the Law.
- They have heard that Paul tells Jewish believers who live among the Gentiles to go easy on the Law including don't circumcise your children.
- To give the impression that Paul upholds the Law, James and the elders ask Paul to make a vow with four other men.
- Gentile believes to continue to live by the simplified guidelines.
- Paul agrees and makes the vow.
- When the seven days are almost over Jews for Asia stir up a crowd against Paul.
- Paul is dragged from the Temple and the Temple gates are shut.
- Paul is taken into custody.
- In Greek, Paul asks permission from the Commander to speak to the people.
- Paul speaks to the Jews in Hebrew (Aramaic).
Acts 22
- Paul's speech to the Jews:
- Brothers and fathers.
- I am a Jew educated to be zealous for God just as you are today.
- I persecuted the followers of this Way.
- I even obtained letters to persecute the believers in Damascus.
- On the way to Damascus I saw a light and heard a voice. "I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting."
- Paul told to go to Damascus where he would be told all that had been assigned him to do.
- Paul blind after the vision.
- Ananias restored Paul's sight and baptised him.
- When I returned to Jerusalem I had another vision of Jesus. "Leave Jerusalem immediately because the people here will not accept your testimony about me."
- Jesus tells Paul in the vision: "Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles."
- The Jewish crowd go crazy at the word Gentiles.
- Paul taken back into custody.
- Paul being a Roman citizen by birth escapes being flogged and interrogated.
- The commander summons all involved to assemble the next day to determine the Jews' accusations against Paul.
Was Paul right to make the vow? Why didn't he talk about the freedom Christians have through Jesus. Including freedom from the Law. Could be about being all things to all people. Becoming like a Jew to convert Jews.
