It’s time for Paul to come home to Jerusalem where it all started with Christ’s Resurrection. After a year and a half in Corinth and three years with the Ephesians, Paul wants to be in Jerusalem by Pentecost.
Here is his journey to Jerusalem:
After sighting Cyprus and leaving it to the left, we sailed for Syria and landed at Tyre.
Having looked up the disciples, we stayed there seven days. And they told Paul through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem.
Paul: “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
And when we could not persuade him, we acquiesced and said. “The Lord’s will be done.” After this we made our preparations and went our way to Jerusalem.
On our arrival in Jerusalem the brethren gave us a hearty welcome. On the next day Paul went with us to James, and all the presbyters came in. After greeting them, he related in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
They to Paul: “Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, all of them zealous upholders of the Law.
Now, they have heard about thee that thou dost teach the Jews who live among the Gentiles to depart from Moses, telling them they should not circumcise their children, nor observe customs. What then?
So do what we tell thee. We have four men who are under a vow; take them and sanctify thyself along with them, and pay for them that they may shave their heads; and all will know that what they heard of thee is false, but that thou thyself also observes the Law.
Then Paul took the men, and the next day after being purified along with them he entered the temple and announced the completion of the days of purification, when the sacrifice would be offered for each of them.
Jews from the province of Asia: “Men of Israel, help. This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people and the Law and this place, and moreover he has brought the Gentiles also into the temple and has desecrated this holy place.”
Stirred up, thrown into confusion, was in a tumult…
…seizing Paul, they proceeded to drag him out of the temple… They were trying to kill him… and when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul… shouting, “Away with him!”
Paul was saved by the tribune and the soldiers but all he wanted to do was tell his story to the people, most of who were disbelieving Jews:
Paul to the tribune: “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. But I beg thee, give me leave to speak to the people.
He gave him leave, and Paul… addressed them in Hebrew, saying…
Paul: “I am a Jew, and I was born at Tarsus in Cilicia bit was brought up here in this city, a pupil of Gamaliel, and instructed according to the strict acceptation of the Law of our fathers. I was zealous for the Law just as all of you are today. And I persecuted this way even to the death, binding and committing to prisons both men and women, as the high priest can bear me witness, and all the elders. In fact I received letters from them to the brethren in Damascus, and I was on my way to arrest those who were there and bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.”
Paul: “And it came to pass that, as I was on my way and approaching Damascus, suddenly about noon there shone round about me a great light from heaven: and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me:
The Lord: “Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?”
Paul: “Who art thou, Lord?”
The Lord: I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou are persecuting.”
Paul: “What shall I do Lord?”
The Lord Jesus: “Get up and go into Damascus, and there thou shall be told of all that thou art destined to do.”
And as I could not see because of the dazzling light, my companions (who saw indeed the light, but they did not hear the voice) had to lead me by hand, and so I reached Damascus.
Paul: “Now one Ananias, an observer of the Law… came to me…
Ananias: “Brother Saul, regain thy sight.”
Ananias: “The God of our fathers has appointed thee beforehand to learn his will and to see the Just One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for thou shalt be his witness before all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why dost thou delay” Get up and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.”
Paul: “And it came to pass that, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I was in an ecstasy and saw him as he said to me…”
The Lord Jesus: “Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.”
Paul: “Lord, they themselves know that I used to imprison and beat in one synagogue after another those who believed in thee; and when the blood of Stephen, thy witness, was shed, I was standing by and approved it, and took charge of the garments of those who killed him.”
The Lord Jesus: “Go, for to the Gentiles far away I will send thee.”
The People: “Away from the earth with such a one! For it is not right that he should live.”
The tribune ordered him to be taken into the barracks and to be scourged and tortured that he might find out why they shouted so against him.
Paul to the centurion: “Is it legal for you to scourge a Roman, and without a trial?
Centurion to Tribune: “What art thou about to do? This man is a Roman citizen.”
Tribune to Paul: “Tell me, art thou a Roman?”
Paul: “Yes.”
Tribune: “I obtained this citizenship at a great price.”
Paul: “But I am a citizen by birth.”
At once therefore those who had been going to torture him left him…
The next day, as he wished to find out the real reason why he was accused by the Jews, he loosed him and ordered the priests and all the Sanhedrin to assemble; and taking Paul forth, he placed him in front of them.
Why did the Jews turn on Paul after he shared his conversion story?
Fear of change, the unknown, what is beyond the law?
Resentment and pride, why Paul speaking to the Lord Jesus and not me?
This setting seems like a re-enactment of Jesus’ trials and tribulations.
A tribune in place of Pontius Pilate trying to understand the issue and help Paul
Once again Paul has an opportunity to tell his story and we have an ongoing opportunity to learn more about how Jesus works on us from the inside-out and through other people.
Stay tuned, only six more chapters in the Acts of the Apostles.
Paul has returned to Jerusalem; to what extent will the prior persecutor become the persecuted?
Day 128: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Paul Returns to Jerusalem; Persecutor becomes Persecuted.
Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Acts of The Apostles Chapters 21-22.
Bible Notes:
Saint Luke, the author of the third Gospel, wrote also this history of the primitive Church. Opening with the story of the Ascension and Pentecost, this book records the important events of the early Church: the mass conversions after Pentecost; the persecution by Herod; the conversion of Saint Paul; his three missionary journeys; his arrest and final trip to Rome
Acts Chapter 21: Arrival at Tyre; Ptolemais and Caesarea; Arrival at Jerusalem; Paul and the Law of Moses; The Jews drag Paul out of the Temple; A tribune arrests Paul; Paul asks to address the people; Paul receives permission to speak.
After sighting Cyprus and leaving it to the left, we sailed for Syria and landed at Tyre.
Having looked up the disciples, we stayed there seven days. And they told Paul through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem.
…came to Caesarea, where we went to the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. He had four daughters, virgins, who had the gift of prophecy.
…there came down from Judea a certain prophet named Agabus… and taking Paul’s girdle, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit: The man whose girdle this is the Jews will bind like this at Jerusalem, and they will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”
Paul: “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
And when we could not persuade him, we acquiesced and said. “The Lord’s will be done.” After this we made our preparations and went our way to Jerusalem.
On our arrival in Jerusalem the brethren gave us a hearty welcome. On the next day Paul went with us to James, and all the presbyters came in. After greeting them, he related in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
They to Paul: “Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, all of them zealous upholders of the Law.
Now, they have heard about thee that thou dost teach the Jews who live among the Gentiles to depart from Moses, telling them they should not circumcise their children, nor observe customs. What then?
So do what we tell thee. We have four men who are under a vow; take them and sanctify thyself along with them, and pay for them that they may shave their heads; and all will know that what they heard of thee is false, but that thou thyself also observes the Law.
Then Paul took the men, and the next day after being purified along with them he entered the temple and announced the completion of the days of purification, when the sacrifice would be offered for each of them.
Jews from the province of Asia: “Men of Israel, help. This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people and the Law and this place, and moreover he has brought the Gentiles also into the temple and has desecrated this holy place.”
Stirred up, thrown into confusion, was in a tumult…
…seizing Paul, they proceeded to drag him out of the temple… They were trying to kill him… and when they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul… shouting, “Away with him!”
Paul to the tribune: “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. But I beg thee, give me leave to speak to the people.
He gave him leave, and Paul… addressed them in Hebrew, saying…
Acts Chapter 22: Paul’s address: his former life; His Conversion; His baptism by Ananias; His vision; Paul ordered to be scourged and tortured; Roman citizenship saves him, Paul before the Sanhedrin.
Paul: “I am a Jew, and I was born at Tarsus in Cilicia bit was brought up here in this city, a pupil of Gamaliel, and instructed according to the strict acceptation of the Law of our fathers. I was zealous for the Law just as all of you are today. And I persecuted this way even to the death, binding and committing to prisons both men and women, as the high priest can bear me witness, and all the elders. In fact I received letters from them to the brethren in Damascus, and I was on my way to arrest those who were there and bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.”
Paul: “And it came to pass that, as I was on my way and approaching Damascus, suddenly about noon there shone round about me a great light from heaven: and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me:
The Lord: “Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?”
Paul: “Who art thou, Lord?”
The Lord: I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou are persecuting.”
Paul: “What shall I do Lord?”
The Lord Jesus: “Get up and go into Damascus, and there thou shall be told of all that thou art destined to do.”
And as I could not see because of the dazzling light, my companions (who saw indeed the light, but they did not hear the voice) had to lead me by hand, and so I reached Damascus.
Paul: “Now one Ananias, an observer of the Law… came to me…
Ananias: “Brother Saul, regain thy sight.”
Ananias: “The God of our fathers has appointed thee beforehand to learn his will and to see the Just One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for thou shalt be his witness before all men of what thou hast seen and heard. And now why dost thou delay” Get up and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.”
Paul: “And it came to pass that, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I was in an ecstasy and saw him as he said to me…”
The Lord Jesus: “Make haste and go quickly out of Jerusalem, for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.”
Paul: “Lord, they themselves know that I used to imprison and beat in one synagogue after another those who believed in thee; and when the blood of Stephen, thy witness, was shed, I was standing by and approved it, and took charge of the garments of those who killed him.”
The Lord Jesus: “Go, for to the Gentiles far away I will send thee.”
The People: “Away from the earth with such a one! For it is not right that he should live.”
The tribune ordered him to be taken into the barracks and to be scourged and tortured that he might find out why they shouted so against him.
Paul to the centurion: “Is it legal for you to scourge a Roman, and without a trial?
Centurion to Tribune: “What art thou about to do? This man is a Roman citizen.”
Tribune to Paul: “Tell me, art thou a Roman?”
Paul: “Yes.”
Tribune: “I obtained this citizenship at a great price.”
Paul: “But I am a citizen by birth.”
At once therefore those who had been going to torture him left him…
The next day, as he wished to find out the real reason why he was accused by the Jews, he loosed him and ordered the priests and all the Sanhedrin to assemble; and taking Paul forth, he placed him in front of them.
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