Paul arrives in Jerusalem

The blessing of God is promised to the peacemaker, but the religious negotiator had better watch his step. Darkness and … More

Compromise

Paul finally arrived in Jerusalem and went before the church leaders to give a missionary report of what God had done in his journeys (vv. 17-19). They listened very politely but when he was finished, they told him they had a local situation that perhaps he could help them settle (vv. 20-21). They had been hearing of Paul’s strong stand on salvation by grace alone, which was totally apart from the law. Now they were brought face to face with Gentile believers who were the fruit of Paul’s labors. When we come down to the bottom line, we discover that they were not interested in world evangelism at all. They turned at once from the thrilling story of Paul’s missionary adventures and success to a criticism of his neglect of their petty religious rules.

Many of the professing Christians in the Jerusalem church were trying to force Christians to keep the Jewish law. They wanted all Gentiles to be circumcised. James, the recognized leader of the Jerusalem church, and the elders, had a proposition all worked out which they put to Paul (vv. 22-24). They wanted him to exhibit to the people that he was a pro-Judaist Christian and one of their own kind (Gal. 6:13), even if only for the sake of show. They had four men who were taking a vow and suggested that Paul join them and go through the Jewish ritual of purification, complete with a shaved head (vv. 25-26). They even suggested that he pay for the offerings for those men.

Paul reasoned that if it would reconcile his Jewish brethren, he was willing to do what the Jerusalem elders requested. Paul’s purpose in taking a Nazarite vow was in keeping with his passion to reach Jews of his day for Christ. He would bend over backwards and do anything short of compromising his own convictions in the Gospel. For the sake of Christian unity and peace he was willing to pay the price demanded of him by the elders. However, there is no evidence that his compromise did the slightest amount of good.

Application

It should never be my goal to please the people in the Church, but to please the Lord. I always need to stand true to what the Bible teaches and not what man may try to get me to do.

Acts 21:17-26 (English Standard Version)


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