In chapter 20:22 Paul declares that he is now headed for Jerusalem. Chapter 21 begins with Paul setting sail and heading for Jerusalem. Along the way the ship stops at several ports. In Caesarea Paul stays with Philip the evangelist one of the Seven. This is one of the men chosen to oversee the distribution of food to the widows in Jerusalem in chapter 6. It is also probably the same man who had the encounter with the Ethiopian in chapter 8.
Next we see Agabus the prophet for the second time. We first saw him in chapter 11 when he predicted a famine in Jerusalem. Now he is predicting that Paul will be bound in Jerusalem. Although Paul’s companions try to persuade Paul not to continue on to Jerusalem because of this prophecy but Paul will not be dissuaded.
When Paul finally arrives in Jerusalem he is greeted by James and all the elders. They are pleased to hear all that God has been doing among the Gentiles through Paul’s ministry. They are concerned however that some Jews will falsely accuse Paul of persuading Jews to break the Law of Moses. To avoid this they convinced Paul to join in and pay for the purification rites of 4 men who had made a vow. This was done to disprove any rumors that Paul tried to discourage Jews from following the Law and customs of Moses. Why would he pay for these men’s vows if he was encouraging them not to take them?
It is not wrong for Jewish believers to continue to follow the customs of Moses (v. 24). Paul would later write that he would become all thing to all men so as to win some (1 Cor. 9:22). The Old Testament sacrificial system is no longer necessary for the covering of sins (Leviticus 16). Salvation is through acceptance of Jesus who is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). Neither Jew of Gentile is bound to the Law of Moses (Romans). Just as it is acceptable for Jews to follow Jewish customs it is also not necessary especially for Gentile believers (v. 25). So that the earlier decision by this same group as to the requirements for Gentile believers not be confused they are again reiterated. Gentile believers are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. We would be better off today as American Christians if we would simply follow the standards set forth by the first century elders here and in Chapter 15. A word to the wise is sufficient.
