“The Lord stood at his side and said,’ Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.” Acts 23: 11
When Paul saw Jerusalem again, it always took his breath away. The words of the psalmist were comforting reassurances: “His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth…” (Ps.48:2).
The Holy Spirit recalled that the Lord Jesus Christ, in His earthly ministry, lamented when He saw the holy city: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Mat.23: 37-38)
Paul would soon find out that they were not ready for his message.
It began benignly enough. The brothers and sisters received them warmly on their return from their third missionary journey. The next day, they went to see James, the pastor of the Jerusalem church. Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. When they heard this, they praised God.
Then James and the elders of the church shocked Paul with this next statement. “They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs.” Paul could not believe his ears! He thought the error of the Judaizers was settled at the first Jerusalem Council.
Paul was situationally aware— that there were indications of a rise in Jewish nationalism in the wake of the Jewish War with Rome (66—73/74 AD). The Gentile mission of the church became more and more of a liability to Jewish Christianity. In Polhill’s commentary on Acts, we learn “Jewish Christianity was declared heretical by official Judaism.” Paul also was historically aware of the repeated attempts of foreign nations to assimilate them to their cultures. The tragic loss of the northern kingdom due to the apostate ten tribes was a tragic reminder of the consequences of lost identity.
However, Paul had a message from God—the same message the Messiah had brought. Jesus went out of His way to show that the Gospel was for half-breeds and Gentiles too! The Samaritan woman at the well (Jn.4), the faith-filled Centurion (Lk.7), the Good Samaritan (Lk.10), and the sole cleansed leper who returned and gave praise to God was a Samaritan (Lk.17) are just a few examples.
Nationalism has its place, but not when God says it is over! “For He himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross….” Eph. 2: 14-15
After an attempt to appease the Judaizers in a “purification” process that failed to satisfy them, they dragged Paul from the temple. They would have likely killed him were it not for the intervention of the Roman commander. He afforded Paul the right to speak in his own defense. He spoke in the familiar Aramaic, which quieted the mob down. Paul then rehearsed his credentials as a law-abiding Jew and who prosecuted “The Way.” He then gave this testimony of his dramatic conversion experience. The mob followed him quietly up to the point where he said: “ God has called him to the Gentiles.” Then the mob collectively decided:” He should not be allowed to live”. Once again the Roman commander delivered him from the mob only to be examined by scourging in the barracks. Paul reminded the commander that it is not lawful to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned. By this knowledge, Paul secured his release and then stood before the Council the next day. It didn’t go well. Once again the “pagan” Roman commander protected Paul from these “religious “ enemies. That night, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.” Well done, good and faithful servant!
Questions To Think About:
When Paul saw Jerusalem again, it always took his breath away. The words of the psalmist were comforting reassurances: “His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth…” (Ps.48:2).
The Holy Spirit recalled that the Lord Jesus Christ, in His earthly ministry, lamented when He saw the holy city: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Mat.23: 37-38)
Paul would soon find out that they were not ready for his message.
It began benignly enough. The brothers and sisters received them warmly on their return from their third missionary journey. The next day, they went to see James, the pastor of the Jerusalem church. Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. When they heard this, they praised God.
Then James and the elders of the church shocked Paul with this next statement. “They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs.” Paul could not believe his ears! He thought the error of the Judaizers was settled at the first Jerusalem Council.
Paul was situationally aware— that there were indications of a rise in Jewish nationalism in the wake of the Jewish War with Rome (66—73/74 AD). The Gentile mission of the church became more and more of a liability to Jewish Christianity. In Polhill’s commentary on Acts, we learn “Jewish Christianity was declared heretical by official Judaism.” Paul also was historically aware of the repeated attempts of foreign nations to assimilate them to their cultures. The tragic loss of the northern kingdom due to the apostate ten tribes was a tragic reminder of the consequences of lost identity.
However, Paul had a message from God—the same message the Messiah had brought. Jesus went out of His way to show that the Gospel was for half-breeds and Gentiles too! The Samaritan woman at the well (Jn.4), the faith-filled Centurion (Lk.7), the Good Samaritan (Lk.10), and the sole cleansed leper who returned and gave praise to God was a Samaritan (Lk.17) are just a few examples.
Nationalism has its place, but not when God says it is over! “For He himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross….” Eph. 2: 14-15
After an attempt to appease the Judaizers in a “purification” process that failed to satisfy them, they dragged Paul from the temple. They would have likely killed him were it not for the intervention of the Roman commander. He afforded Paul the right to speak in his own defense. He spoke in the familiar Aramaic, which quieted the mob down. Paul then rehearsed his credentials as a law-abiding Jew and who prosecuted “The Way.” He then gave this testimony of his dramatic conversion experience. The mob followed him quietly up to the point where he said: “ God has called him to the Gentiles.” Then the mob collectively decided:” He should not be allowed to live”. Once again the Roman commander delivered him from the mob only to be examined by scourging in the barracks. Paul reminded the commander that it is not lawful to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned. By this knowledge, Paul secured his release and then stood before the Council the next day. It didn’t go well. Once again the “pagan” Roman commander protected Paul from these “religious “ enemies. That night, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.” Well done, good and faithful servant!
Questions To Think About:
- “Nationalism has its place, but not when God says it is over.” (Eph.2:14-15). How can we ensure our love for our country, culture, or heritage never takes priority over our allegiance to the global, diverse Kingdom of God?
- When Paul was at his lowest point in the barracks, the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage.” How does knowing that Jesus meets us intimately in our moments of isolation and discouragement change the way you view your current trials?
- Jesus wept over Jerusalem because its people “were not willing to be gathered under His wings. When has God prompted you to step out, change, or receive His comfort, but your stubbornness or pride made you “unwilling”? What was the spiritual cost?
- Paul was awestruck by the beauty of Jerusalem, yet the city itself was a place of immense danger for him. How can we maintain a spirit of worship and gratitude even when our physical surroundings or life circumstances feel threatening and chaotic?
- Humanly speaking, Paul’s trip to Jerusalem was a dangerous disaster ending in his arrest. Yet, Jesus stood next to him and essentially said, “Well done.” How does this narrative challenge the way you measure success or failure in your obedience to God?
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