The Beginning of the End for the Apostle Paul

In Acts 21 we see the beginning of the end of the Apostle Paul. The consequence of his actions put in place the events ending the life of Paul. Paul’s journey to Jerusalem was a choice that cost him his life.
   
We begin in verse 8, “And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy [publicly expound – Young’s].”
   
Philip was not an Apostle but an evangelist (messenger or preacher). In Acts 8 we see Philip preaching in Samaria. In Acts chapter 1 the Apostles were to be baptized with the Holy Ghost and Jesus said to them in beginning at verse 7: “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:7-8)
   
In Acts chapter 8 we find that Philip was not one of those that received the Holy Ghost even though his work for the church was great as one of the seven. Verse 12: “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Verses 14-17: “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.”
   
As you can see from Acts 8, baptism or salvation is not tied to receiving the Holy Ghost like the Apostles. Do you believe that the Ethiopian in Acts 8 (only baptized with water by Philip the evangelist) was saved without the Apostles laying hands on him to receive the Holy Ghost as he went on his way rejoicing?
   
In the verses read in Acts 21 we find that Philip had four daughters that preached too. All Christians are commanded to preach the word (men, women, and young adults) even though Paul admonishes women to keep silent in the church assembly. (1st Corinthians 14:34) Even so, Philip had 4 daughters that took their Christianity seriously even though they lived in a very strict cultural environment (see also Priscilla in Acts 18:26). Sometimes women are much more effective than men when it comes to relationships aren’t they? Women are often known for developing relationships when men are often not relational. Men are often wanting “just the facts” when facts just tell and emotions or relationships sell.
   
In Acts 21, beginning at verse 10, we see a prophet begin to advise the Apostle Paul. His advice was “right on” wasn’t it? “And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought (begged) him not to go up to Jerusalem.”
   
Frankly, Paul had an attitude that many do not have (including myself) when he said this in verse 13: “Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Would you go up to Jerusalem realizing the consequences of your action?
   
Beginning at verse 17: “And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.”
   
At verse 21 we read the beginning of additional advice given to the Apostle Paul regarding the thousands of zealous Jews believing in Christ. “And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.”
   
As we have mentioned in previous articles, circumcision was a foundation of the Jewish nation. We find this out throughout the Old and New Testaments. It would be difficult to change a Jewish Christian let alone Jews that did not believe. Genesis 17, at verse 10: “This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.”
   
Why is this “everlasting covenant” not required today. First, let me say that this is not something most Jewish people would abide by because it is “not of faith.” Reality is what it is.
   
Gentiles can avoid this requirement through various teaching and passages of scripture. Colossians 2, at verse 8: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross…. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”
   
For Gentile Christians this was a constant struggle with the Jewish Christians. This wasn’t a struggle for Jewish Christians because most of them (including Apostles) observed Jewish customs after the cross—including the great Apostle Paul. For those not convinced please continue the reading in Acts chapter 21, beginning at verse 22: “What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.”
   
Did the Apostle Paul say to these brethren in Jerusalem: “Are you kidding me? I teach strongly against keeping the law and being saved by the law.” He certainly did because it was a stumbling block for Gentiles coming to Christ.
   
This was not a stumbling block for Jewish Christians except for those continually binding these traditions upon Gentile Christians. Did Paul say, “No, I won’t do it?”
   
Verse 25: “As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.” Paul conformed himself to Jewish tradition because of Jewish Christians at Jerusalem.
   
Even so, we see the beginning of the end at verse 27: “And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.”
   
Was the temple a holy place for the nation of Jews? This is not the case just way back when. We see Christians today talking about Jerusalem as if it is sacred ground. They won’t believe that Christ will not come back to set up an earthly kingdom. How many scriptures must we read to avoid this mistaken philosophy today?
   
John 8, at verse 19: “Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come. Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.” This “beginning” is throughout scripture from the foundation of the world.
   
John 18, at verse 36: “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”
   
1st Corinthians 3, at verse 11: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
   
James 1, at verse 2: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Will we be tried by fire because the first century Christians certainly were even by their own Jewish brethren?
   
Much of Paul’s letter to the Galatians discussed this Jewish problem. Paul said in chapter 5, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love…. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
   
What could be more of the “flesh” than the act of circumcision? Even though Paul lists the works of the flesh what was most important to the Jewish Christians? Circumcision! Galatians 6, at verse 12: “As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”