If someone spread lies about you, you could take then to court of prove your innocence to society. But if someone pretending to be Christian spread lies about you to the Church, how would you defend yourself? It’s not so easy because when the lie spreader sowed the seed of untruth, it was believed by some, doubted by others … yet it caused uncertainty in the hearts of many.
I recall a pastor who went on an overseas tour and purchased an instrument for use in his Church. Some on his council believed he bought the instrument specifically for his daughter at the Church’s expense. The accusation spread throughout the congregation, causing doubt about the pastor. His intentions were noble, yet the allegations caused extreme damage to the point of him having to leave the Church. At a synod that followed, he raised the issue because his good name was tarnished. He wanted a synodical examination to clear his name. Over the days of synod this was conducted and before the body was dismissed the finding were presented. Fortunately representatives from both sides of the Church Council were present. After a thorough examination the committee appointed found that the pastor was innocent of all accusations and had operated within the scope of his job description. He accepted their finding which cleared his name … but he lost his pastorate and the seeds of doubt sown had caused such damage resulting in a good man being lost to the denomination.
We have been considering the message James and the elders in Jerusalem were giving to Paul and the missionary team about Paul.
Ac 21:21 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. 22 What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, 23 so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. 24 Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everybody will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. 25 As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.” 26 The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.
1) We have seen the truth about Paul from the Court of the Scriptures. What they accused him of was nothing less than stirring up trouble … and the ones doing so were not even real Christians! They were zealous for the law as a rite but not as an instrument to draw them close to God. The law ought to convict of sin leading the sinner to Jesus for pardon and salvation. They were not interested in that. Legalism and fanaticism was all they could practice. Again we need to watch ourselves that we do not slump spiritually and get caught up in legalism, ritualism and religiosity. The Gospel and its mandate must fill our hearts, minds and ministry all the time.
2) At all costs the Church leaders wanted peace because they remembered what happened to Stephen whilst Paul watched … and now Paul was seen to have turned traitor. They were terribly concerned about Paul’s presence and what these trouble makers would do if they found out he was here … and more … should they accept the financial support sent by the Gentles Churches?
Ac 21:22 What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come
News would spread fast … especially when people knew Paul was in town.
3) They devised a plan. The leaders felt there was a way to protect both Paul and themselves. They knew it was a lie being spread about Paul, so they thought, if Paul could in some one prove them wrong he could dispel their lie. How could Paul do this? By participating in one of the Jewish ancestral customs. In this way he would show the masses that he was a practicing and observing Jew.
4) The plan presented. Four men had undertaken to participate in a Nazirite vow that according to Jewish Rules would last 30 days. They needed to abstain from any form of alcohol, not touch or be near anything that would defile them … even a corpse … and they would not cut their hair during this period.
Nu 6:13 Now this is the law for the Nazirite when the period of his separation is over. He is to be brought to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 14 There he is to present his offerings to the LORD? a year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering, a ram without defect for a fellowship offering, 15 together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and a basket of bread made without yeast—cakes made of fine flour mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil.
Jewish rules added that they would need to make a “hair offering”. The hair cut off the head would itself be surrendered to the sacrificial fires. Their rules permitted that another could participate in this rite by associating himself by paying the cost of the offering. This was the elders plan … that Paul associate himself with these men and by it be seen to observe an ancestral custom … thinking this would bring peace and calm and dispel the lies being told about Paul. To accept this idea Paul would need to be purified himself. He had been in Gentile countries, eating non-kosher foods, sleeping in Gentile homes, etc. Paul accepts this plan as we see in verse 26.
5) The elders remind Paul of their official position regarding the Gentiles. Verse 25 goes back to chapter 15 where the Church Fathers stated they would not make it hard for Gentiles to be Christian:
Ac 21:25 As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.
No circumcision and no Jewish ancestral customs!
6) Why would Paul agree to this request? Some say he was not all that wise. Others say he was not too positive about the outcome. Well:
Ac 21:26 The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.
He initiated his own purification and committed to finance the offerings of the others. There are two things here.
(i) Paul did not compromise Gospel principles.
1 Cor 6:20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
(ii) The elders were worried. How could they accept Paul and the gift he brought without losing the confidence of their own people in Jerusalem? This participation in the Nazirite vow would, to them, place the lie directly upon Paul’s accusers. A lesson for us is that we must never depart from Gospel principles even if it draws persecution.
Our Father, help us as Your people to stand firm and steadfast on the Gospel, even if it brings hardship our way. Amen.