(མཛད་པ། 21:17-26)

 

When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “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? They will certainly hear that you have come. Do therefore what we tell you. 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. But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.” Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them. (Acts 21:17-26)

 

James the brother of Jesus is now leader of the church in Jerusalem. He and the church council gave Paul a warning.

The many devout Jews who have come to believe in salvation through Jesus will hear of Paul’s arrival. They have been told wrongly that Paul has taught new Jewish believers elsewhere to reject Jewish law and customs. So James advises Paul for his safety to show that he himself remains a good Jew; and to do so by assisting the 4 men to fulfill their vow.

As for non-Jewish believers, James said, ‘We have already told them how much of the old Jewish law we feel they need to keep.’

However James’s plan did not succeed. Next time we’ll read how Paul would be attacked by a mob.

 

(མཛད་པ། 21:27-36)

 

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.” For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. Then all the city was stirred up, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 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. He inquired who he was and what he had done. Some in the crowd were shouting one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. And when he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, for the mob of the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!” (Acts 21:27-36)

 

It was not believing Jews wanting to accuse Paul who caused trouble (see previous post), but those who now attacked him were some of those unbelieving Jews who had repeatedly opposed him on his missionary journeys.

It was a false charge, but serious, because non-Jews were not allowed in the temple. They dragged him to be killed outside, in the same way as an impure non-Jew might be treated.

Fortunately the Roman barracks were right beside the temple. But how was the tribune going to treat him? Find out in succeeding posts.

(མཛད་པ། 21:37 – 22:2)

 

As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? Are you not the Egyptian, then, who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?” Paul replied, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city. I beg you, permit me to speak to the people.” And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying: “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet. And he said: (Acts 21:37 – 22:2)

 

Explanation:

The tribune at first thought that Paul was some brigand (jag pa).

Then, when Paul spoke to him in Greek (which was the language of educated people, just as Chinese is spoken in Lhasa, or English in Hong Kong), he thought that Paul must be that rebel from Egypt (ngo log pa) who had raised a guerrilla force to hide in the country and then fight against Rome.*

In answer to the tribune Paul said, ‘No; I am a Jew and a citizen of Tarsus, a free city of the Roman Empire.’

Then in addressing the crowd he was courteous in awaiting permission to speak, and respectful in addressing them both as ‘brother-Jews’, and any of the council members present as ‘fathers’.

The steps were for Paul a platform of opportunity to give witness to Jesus Christ, trusting that the Holy Spirit would give him the words to use, as Jesus has promised (see Luke’s Gospel Chapter 12 verses 11 & 12). Because he spoke using the standard Hebrew dialect (like spyi skad), and not Greek, the crowd listened.

Next time we’ll read his testimony of how Jesus had spoken to him and had appeared in vision to him.

[* They were defeated, but he himself had escaped]