October 17
Bible Reading: Acts 21:16-26
Acts 21:23, “Do therefore what we tell you.”
The book of Acts is an historical narrative. It records for us the history of what happened in the expansion of the church. That does not mean that every decision that is made or everything that happened is as God would have it. Our account speaks of a major decision by the church leaders that did not lead to the desired results.
Soon after Paul arrived in Jerusalem, he met with James and the elders. They heard from Paul regarding the things that God had done among the Gentiles. Then they informed Paul of the problem the church was facing. The issue of the Gentile’s relationship to the law had been settled at the Jerusalem council (Acts 15). The council’s decision was to not bind the Gentiles to the law, but it did not say that it was wrong for the Jewish believers to go on observing it if they so wished. That difference remained, and would remain, as an ongoing problem in the church. Some Jewish believers, zealous for the law, falsely accused Paul of speaking against the law. James and the elders, to appease Paul’s opponents, came up with a plan. He was to take four men under a vow, follow the law’s requirements, and take them into the temple so that Paul might be seen as “keeping the Law” himself (Acts 21:24).
The plan did not work as the leaders had supposed. They sought to resove a conflict, but instead of mollifying Paul’s opponents, the Jews, upon seeing Paul in the temple, incited a riot! So great was the confusion that the Roman commander and his soldiers had to intervene.
It’s left to the reader to discern the rightness of the decision of James and the elders. As for Paul, J. Veron McGee, argued that Paul was merely hoping to see souls saved: “A Jew who comes to Jesus Christ does not stop being a Jew. So, they say to Paul, ‘Look, you are a Jew. That is your background. And you want to win the Jews for Christ.’ Paul says, ‘I sure do!’ So, they say, ‘Since you are a Jew, it wouldn’t hurt you to go with these four Jewish men who have made a vow. They have shaved their heads and are going into the temple. Would you go along with them?’ Paul says, ‘Sure.’ Paul didn’t take this vow because he was commanded to do. He took this vow because he wanted to win these people.”
In proclaiming the gospel of grace, Paul was always getting himself into trouble, but at the heart of that was his desire to see folks saved, no matter how much the effort cost him (1 Corinthians 9:20-22).
“I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.”—the Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 9:22).
RESCUE THE PERISHING
Rescue the perishing,
Care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus the mighty to save.
Refrain:
Rescue the perishing,
Care for the dying;
Jesus is merciful,
Jesus will save.
Though they are slighting Him,
Still He is waiting,
Waiting the penitent child to receive;
Plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently;
He will forgive if they only believe. [Refrain]
Down in the human heart,
Crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more. [Refrain]
Rescue the perishing,
Duty demands it;
Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way patiently win them;
Tell the poor wanderer a Savior has died. [Refrain]
LookingtoJesus 