Acts 21:1-40 - Corps Notes - December 14, 1976
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Publication Date: 12-14-1976
Victor Paul Wierwille was a Bible scholar and teacher for over four decades.
By means of Dr. Wierwille's dynamic teaching of the accuracy and integrity of God's Word, foundational class and advanced class graduates of Power for Abundant Living have learned that the one great requirement for every student of the Bible is to rightly divide the Word of Truth. Thus, his presentation of the Word of God was designed for students who desire the in-depth-accuracy of God’s Word.
In his many years of research, Dr. Wierwille studied with such men as Karl Barth, E. Stanley Jones, Glenn Clark, Bishop K.C. Pillai, and George M. Lamsa. His formal training included Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Theology degrees from Mission House (Lakeland) College and Seminary. He studied at the University of Chicago and at Princeton Theological Seminary from which he received a Master of Theology degree in Practical Theology. Later he completed his work for the Doctor of Theology degree.
Dr. Wierwille taught the first class on Power for Abundant Living in 1953.
Books by Dr. Wierwille include: Are the Dead Alive Now? published in 1971; Receiving the Holy Spirit Today published in 1972; five volumes of Studies in Abundant Living— The Bible Tells Me So (1971), The New, Dynamic Church (1971), The Word's Way (1971), God's Magnified Word (1977), Order My Steps in Thy Word (1985); Jesus Christ Is Not God (1975); Jesus Christ Our Passover (1980); and Jesus Christ Our Promised Seed (1982).
Dr. Wierwille researched God's Word, taught, wrote, and traveled worldwide, holding forth the accuracy of God's "wonderful, matchless" Word.
Acts 21:1-40
December 14, 1976
We begin tonight in that section of Acts, were it any other book than the Bible, it wouldn’t be
here. The only reason this is in the Word of God is because the Word of God is truth, and it
tells the truth about men of God. Had I been God, I’d have never put the David-Bathsheba story
in the Old Testament, or a lot of other things. But I’m not God, and God in His Word, when
holy men of God spake as they were moved, God put in the Word what he wanted in it. That’s
why the 21st chapter and following is in the book of Acts. It is in that section of the Word of
God here that, boy I’d give almost anything if I didn’t have to teach it. Every time I work this
my heart breaks. I sit and cry in-side; and yet, it’s the Word and it’s the story of life.
Acts 21:1
“gotten” - withdrawn
“we came with a straight course unto Coos” - on that third missionary journey of Paul, the 3rd
stage. You see, in Acts 20 they were at Miletus, weren’t they? Third stage; down below Miletus
toward the southwest. It’s spelled on your map “Cos.” In King James, it’s spelled “Coos.”
“Rhodes” - I made this note about Rhodes, and you’re gonna have to bear with me because I
just got so many things scribbled at so many different places. I’ll just have to pick it up in my
mind as I can. Rhodes had one of the ancient wonders of the world. It was a brass image of
Apollo. It was 106 feet high, out of solid brass. That day, after they came from Coos, they went
by Rhodes, “unto Rhodes,” and they passed between the legs of this statue. It was 106 feet
high, and all the ships that passed by had to go between its legs. It reminds me of the Golden
Gate in San Francisco, which is not golden. It was a real disappointment the first time I ever
saw it. This ancient wonder of the world, according to Josephus, was destroyed in 224 BC. In
1660 AD they sold it and the man who bought it loaded the brass on 900 camels to haul it
away.
Acts 21:2
“unto” – toward
“Phenicia” - of course, would be toward the Tyre area, which is on your map. In that general
direction was where they were headed. And I guess the Phoenicians were the first ones that
built the real navigational ships. The last time we were in that section of the country, quite a
few of the things had been changed; but the first time we were there, the sea coast and a lot of
the places where the old ships were built, were still so that you could tell. I think that’s one of
the areas where I saw the oldest cemetery I think I’ve ever seen; people that were buried in egg
shells, wooden things that looked like egg shells. At that time, of course, the archeologists and
the governments were not so adamant. Like today if you want to go and do any archeological
work in Israel you have to go through the Jerusalem, whatever that trip is up there, the school
and they’re constantly breathing down your neck. But in that day, one of the tombs that we
looked at still had human bones of a baby in it. I was real blessed on that trip, because if I
renewed my mind now, which I didn’t do today along this line, I could recapture a lot of the
things that I could recall from that time. But, the Phoenicians were great navigators, great ship
builders, and this is where they were headed.
“set forth” - launched
Acts 21:3
“discovered” – sighted - saw it
“Cyprus” - is called the Kittim in the Old Testament [Genesis 10:4, “Chittim” in Numbers
24:24]
“unlade” - unload
“burden” - cargo
Acts 21:4
“finding disciples” – this was sort of interesting to me as I checked it again. It meant they
searched for them; they went looking for them. There were not that many disciples there; so
when they got there, he went looking. Where is the twig? He found his twig.
“through” - dia - by way of
All of you know that this is a remarkable section of God’s Word. Many, many years ago it so
severely shook my life, because I just could not imagine the great Apostle Paul ever making a
mistake. I just could not imagine the great Apostle Paul ever going against God’s will, because
I had the same opinion of men of God that people have carried through the years; and that is, if
he’s a real man of God, he never makes a mistake. I had that of Peter, I had it of John, and I had
it of Andrew. That’s what I was taught.
You can’t go beyond what you’re taught. In my mind I held that opinion, yet I knew what the
Bible said, but somehow or other what the Word said never impressed my head big enough as
did the teaching. The wrong teaching made more of an impression than what the Word had
done. I read about David messing it up, but it never registered; that he really messed it up. That
Peter ever messed it up, really never registered. I read it in the Word, but it really never
registered. What remained were the teachings; that the teachers had given me in Sunday School
and; that the clergymen had given me in church: that these were holy men of God, they were
great men of God. I just wouldn’t believe that Paul could make a mistake, and I think you’ve
heard me tell this story. When I first saw it, I just opened it up to my people; I told them what I
saw and I said “You better check it out because I just don’t know. I can’t believe it, but if it is,
then it is.” Well, you all know this has made a great indentation on my life and my
understanding of the things of God’s Word, and God’s men and women.
The great principle is that God never tells anybody else anything about you until you refuse to
hear what He has to say. He’ll always talk to every individual believer first. He had told Paul at
least once, and I’m sure He told him more than that, that he should not go to Jerusalem. Then
why did he go? Because Paul had made a commitment in Jerusalem, when left to carry the
Word, that he would remember the people in Jerusalem. So he had been collecting offerings all
over the Gentile world, so to speak, and since he had made that commitment to Jerusalem, he
wanted to personally deliver that back to Jerusalem; so that the elders; James and the rest in the
church at Jerusalem, could not say that Paul had not kept his commitment. If he could bring
that offering back at the time of the “Rock of Ages”, then he could do two things on the same
trip.
Pentecost was coming up, the birthday of the Church, and if he could deliver that thing back
there at the time of Pentecost, boy, that’d be tremendous. This is why those tremendous verses
that I taught previously;
Acts 20:22-24
verse 24 - “finish my course” - I taught you before - what Paul wanted to do. He wasn’t
thinking of dying.
verse 24 - “testify of the gospel of the grace of God” – how the Gentiles abundantly shared and
here he was carrying that offering. It was getting to be Pentecost. He wanted to deliver it, yet
the Spirit had told him in every city; that’s why I know God told him more than once, “Paul,
don’t go to Jerusalem.” But Paul’s ears, spiritually, were not open.
Acts 21:4
“finding disciples” - there at Tyre. Tyre and Sidon are two very interesting cities you ought to
brief your head on, historically.
“who said to Paul through the spirit” - There we have the first record of them saying to Paul, by
prophecy, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
God had already told him not to go personally, but Paul wanted to go. Now God allows the
believers to try to get Paul back to his spiritual senses. That’s why in this chapter begins the
sickening part of the Book of Acts for me. Sickening, not so much because Paul blew it, but the
way people undercut him; the way people forgot so soon what Paul had done. It’s like you can
do ninety-nine good things for people, and you do one bad thing. You know what they
magnify? The one and they forget the ninety-nine. Sure, I don’t like for Paul that he blew it, but
I don’t like it when I blow it either, or when you blow it; make mistakes, and all of us do. But
you’ll see how real devilish people are if we can see the depth of this stuff here in chapter 21.
It’s almost unbelievable to me, but it’s there.
Well, God’s doing His best to keep Paul from going and if our God was a God of possession,
Paul would never have gone to Jerusalem. But our God’s a God of freedom of will and, boy,
how I praise the Lord for that. That we have the freedom of will to; either believe and walk, or
to believe not to walk. We have the freedom, as I said to you earlier tonight, to walk by that
love and do our jobs lovingly, or we will go into slavery and will have to do them at the point
of a gun or a knife. It seems to me the freedom of will is much greater than the compulsion of
men and women who are possessed and controlled and make people do it.
I read everything I could since I taught the 20th chapter. But ever since I taught that thing, I’ve
been checking Bullinger, reading everything I could from Welch. What was Bullinger the head
of? The Trinitarian Society or something? I checked Luther, checked Calvin. They all
“whitewash” this stuff. Either they pass over it quickly saying nothing, or they work it around;
that it is the will of God for this to happen to him, and I just know that isn’t right. It’s very plain
in Acts 20:22 that God said to Paul He didn’t want him to go. It’s very plain in Chapter 21 that
the believers got the information from God, and they told him not to go.
Acts 21:5
“accomplished” – exartiōs - completed. Remember how we handled that in the Foundational
Class from Timothy? [II Timothy 3:17] The word accomplish is not deep enough; not in-depth
spiritual reality. When they had completely completed what they could do there, they departed.
“we departed” - Luke is with him
“went our way” - they headed toward ship
“they all brought us on our way” - they went with Paul
Their wives and children all came. They came out of the city toward where the boat was
docked and they kneeled down on the shore, and they prayed. Isn’t that something? Beautiful.
They said to Paul through the spirit, “Don’t go to Jerusalem,” and yet they loved him enough,
that even though he wanted to go to Jerusalem, they went with him to the boat. They brought
the cookies and the coffee and the Cracker Jacks or whatever else they had. And they went
down there and before they boarded, they kneeled down and they prayed together. I think that’s
beautiful.
Acts 21:6
“took ship” - embarked
“they returned home again” - they went back to their businesses and they went back home
Acts 21:7
“saluted” - Walter, do you have access to that word “saluted?” It’s a funny word, used
peculiarly. That’s where we need Aramaic. The Greek won’t fit here. I’m sure the Aramaic will
because I think the word “saluted” is a right word, but it’s not the right word for the Greek
word you’ve got there. That’s what bothered me, and I think Aramaic will back us up that this
word “saluted” here simply means “brought the blessing”; “God bless you.” They came to
Ptolemais, saluted the brethren; they blessed the brethren. That’s what I believe it says in the
original text. Aramaic, perhaps, could help us out in that.
“abode with them one day” - didn’t stay long – the reason is; because the boat didn’t stay long.
To stay on the boat, they’re gonna have to move out.
Acts 21:8
“that were of Paul’s company” – delete - It’s not in the critical Greek texts.
“day” - is in italics - it’s axiomatic
“Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven” - one of the seven originals - I think that
record is in Acts. [Acts 6:3-5] Remember where they chose men, they said “to serve tables”;
they keep busy serving the Word. Stephen served the Word and Philip served the Word.
Acts 21:9
“man” - “one” - Phillip
What did these virgins prophesy about? It doesn’t say but context would tell you, if you want to
know. If you don’t want to know, you argue about it. Well, I’ll bet they didn’t prophesy about
the weather in Emporia, Kansas. Paul’s headed toward Jerusalem. Trouble coming up; trouble
to the end that, if it wasn’t for the divine grace and mercy of God, God would have lost
everything.
Acts 21:10
“tarried there many days” – I’ve often really wondered how many days. You see, earlier here
they tarried seven days in one of these places; read that in verse 4. So, tarried “many days” in
my mind means more than at least seven.
“Agabus” - He’s mentioned in Acts 11:28
I’m amazed at the greatness of our God, and blessed by it. How, even when we do our best
many times against God’s will, God does His best to jerk us up; to get to us. But God being
spirit can only work through His believers. So here He had a prophet way down south. I think
some sixty miles or more from here, I forget the distance. He goes all the way up to Caesarea to
bring a message, trusting and believing that this man Paul won’t come down there and get
himself in the soup.
Acts 21:11
“Paul’s girdle” - and you know what that is. That’s that piece of cloth that they tied around
their midriff, just like a belt only it was wide. They tied it around so they could walk more
freely with their loose-flowing garments. Because men wore things like, at the Greek party,
sheets, dresses.
“shall” - I wonder why I put the “shall” in the “will” case because both of these, when I work
this, would be in the tense of “will.”
Acts 21:12
“these things” - the daughters prophesying, the prophet coming down
“besought” - is a very interesting word here. It’s parakaleō; the basic root of “Paraclete”;
comforter. We tried to comfort him. “Besought” means we tried to comfort Paul. They, of that
place, tried to comfort him by saying, “Look Paul, you don’t really need to go over there and
deliver that offering. You don’t really need to go there. Stay here with us. We’ll take care of
you. We’ll give you a desk, you know, and a bed, let you work, get you a candle.” That’s that
word “besought.” Golly, I can just see this thing happen. It’s just so simple to me. Everybody
there said, “Look, Paul, don’t go. Don’t go. We’ll take care of you; we’ll see that the offering is
delivered; we’ll see that it’s taken care of. Don’t go.”
Acts 21:13
“break” – crush
Sincere? Boy, as sincere as sincerity can be sincere. Wrong? Dead wrong. That the great
Apostle Paul could be so dead wrong, is really something. But to me it’s fantastic, because he
had freedom of will and, boy I love freedom of the will. He still had eternal life; still was one of
the greatest men of all times, but he’s just getting his neck in the noose. He’s just getting closer
and closer and closer to bringing injury to himself, which in turn will bring injury to the
greatness of the Word, but God allows it because God’s given man freedom of will.
Acts 21:14
Then comes that great fourteenth verse that everybody uses to dig him out of the soup. All we
do is take the commas out and have a barrel of fun with it. Then it fits like a hand in a glove.
They really must have laid it on him, Agabus and the rest. “Paul, do the will of the Lord. The
Lord told you not to go. In Tyre you were taught not to go. The daughters of Philip told you.
Agabus told you. Paul, don’t go! Listen to the will of the Lord.” But he would not be
persuaded; so they ceased saying, “Do the will of the Lord.”
Acts 21:15
“carriages” - baggage - they got their sleeping bags together, put their tissues in and other
things; collected their items
Acts 21:16
“of” - from
“with them” – delete
“of Cyprus” – a Cypriote
“an old disciple” - not necessarily old in years; aged man, but old in the sense of being in the
early part of the ministry. I believe, for what it’s worth, that he perhaps was one who was with
the group on the original day of Pentecost; after Peter and those fellows preached, and about
three thousand souls were added. I believe, perhaps he was one of those. He was from the city
of Jerusalem, had gone up to Caesarea. He was from Cyprus (a Cypriot); “an early disciple.”
“with whom we should lodge” – when they got back to Jerusalem
Acts 21:17
“received” - dechomai-ed
They received him gladly because they were bringing offerings. And they said, “Oh, we’re
happy to see you; glad you’re back home.”
Mnason of Cyprus was where they had to stay. Earlier the Church received them in Jerusalem.
The Church did not receive Paul in Jerusalem. A man, Mnason, was where he had to lodge.
They did not put him up in the Holiday Inn; the Church didn’t. They didn’t get him a room at
the Best Western. He had to stay with an individual.
Acts 21:18
“the day following” – the following - how long after this, I do not know. Day is in italics; I
don’t know, but sometime shortly after Paul came to Jerusalem.
“Paul went in with us” - all of those who came to Jerusalem. That included Luke, Paul,
Mnason, and other of the disciples that accompanied him. To the best of my knowledge of the
Word, there was one believer with Paul from all those cities where the offerings had come
from.
“all the elders” - how many, I do not know, but James and all those heads of the work in
Jerusalem were present.
Acts 21:19
“declared particularly” - when I work this, I see in the depth of it that this was where each one
got up and told what had happened in their section. You brought an offering from a certain city
to the people; he got up and “declared particularly.” I do not believe Paul did all the talking.
Paul introduced Dan, Dan did the talking. Paul introduced Yvonne, he did the talking. That’s
the word “declared particularly.”
Acts 21:20
“Lord” – God
This “glorified God” is like “tongue in cheek.” They were thankful to God for what had
happened, BUT. God, I’ve gone through that a thousand times; different way, of course, but the
same principle. People say, “Hmmm, sure love what you teach, BUT, why aren’t you in the
church any longer, in a denomination?” It’s the same trip. “Gosh, we love what you do in The
Way Ministry, BUT, why don’t you support the outreach of the mission cause in Africa?”
“thousands” - myriads – a figure of speech
Born again believers, but still zealous of the law. “Oh, we’re so thankful for what you did. We
just praise the Lord. We’re so thankful for the offering you brought back, but myriads of Jews,
who are also believers, but they are still zealous for the law. Now how are we going to keep
them happy? After all, they’re the old-timers. They’re the original adults. How are we going to
keep these adults happy? They’re all zealous for the law.”
You know, there’s not one “thank you” in here to Paul for bleeding his heart out among the
Gentiles and asking the Gentiles to take an offering for the saints in Jerusalem. You never saw
that, huh? Well, I did. It isn’t there.
They just took the money. “Happy to see you,” but never one “thank you.” The only thing they
said, “It’s great; Gentiles are getting saved by grace. That’s wonderful to have those fantastic
sinners saved, but you know, we’re saved too, up here. But we’re still zealous for the law.”
You see, it sounds so kosher, doesn’t it, in verse 20; “When they heard it, they glorified God.”
I appreciate that, which is true. True; they were thankful that those Gentile sinners, those dogs,
were getting saved by grace. They glorified God, but they turned right around in the same
breath and said, “Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe;
and they are all zealous of the law.” And then, of course, the great heart-breaking section
comes.
Romans 15:25-31:
verse 30 - “for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake and for” – “by our lord Jesus Christ and by”
verse 31 - “service” - the abundant sharing; the offering that he was bringing from all the
Gentiles
verse 31 - “may be accepted by the saints” - because, you see, it was dog money to those
zealous for the law. It was Gentile money, and Paul said, “You Gentiles got the blessing
because Israel rejected God. Therefore, to those people who believe back there in Jerusalem
who are hurting, we need to share with them. My prayer is that they will accept our love.”
That’s Acts; what he brought home in Acts 21:19.
Acts 21:21
“are informed” - were sedulously informed - which means that injurious reports have been
circulated about Paul previous to his arrival. No truth in it, but the reports had been made. And
these reports, which were fabricated, were brought to Jerusalem by the “Judaea-izers,” who had
caused no end of trouble for Paul in Ephesus and those other cities; always following him
around and wanting everybody circumcised. Today we want them baptized in water, immersed,
or done something. Today it’s the same trip, only a little different.
“after the customs” - by the customs
In Acts 6:14 they gave the same charge against Stephen; “contrary to the customs which Moses
delivered.” In Mark 14:58, they gave the same charge against Jesus Christ.
Acts 21:22
“What is it therefore?” - What are we gonna do about it?
“the multitude” – it’s Pentecost time, you know
“must needs come together” - “All the people are going to be coming together and they’ll know
you’re in town for they will hear that thou art come. They’ll know you’re here.”
Acts 21:23-24
“may know” - shall know
Nice thought. This really begins the sickening part. The elders have concluded that if Paul
would just do so and so in Jerusalem, he won’t get in the soup; won’t get in trouble. And yet,
you and I know from the Word, he not only carries out this thing to the hilt but gets in the worst
trouble it’s possible to get into, because Paul is now going to compromise his principle for the
sake of unity with the elders. The moment you compromise God’s Word, I don’t care how
sincere it looks, I don’t care if the elder has been an elder in the body for 950 billion years, it’s
still going to be wrong! Outside of The Way Ministry, I don’t know anybody who believes that
Paul compromised his principles for the sake of the unity. They were at him. These were men
that he respected, men whom he loved in Jerusalem, and because of his respect for them, he
allowed himself to get talked into this. I can see this, because Paul is so human.
It reminds me of that Old Testament prophet. [I Kings 13] The young prophet came and God
told the young prophet to go home another way. But the old prophet came and said, “Look,
God told me to tell you to come home with me.” God had told him not to stop and visit with
anybody. But an older prophet came and said, “You come home with me.” This young prophet
goes home with the older prophet and then he loses his own life; he dies because he disobeyed
the command of the Lord.
That’s what a lot of this reminds me of. He’s going to die anyway, Paul is. He might as well
have died holding up his principles and say, “I did not do what they said I’ve done. I have not
taught against the law of Moses. I have not broken any of that. What they say doesn’t make any
difference. I didn’t do it. I will die before I will compromise my principle.” But that’s hard to
do when you’re among friends whom you trust and whose opinions you value. And they come
to you and they get to you. They work on you and say, “Oh, I did my best to raise my
sponsorship; oh my goodness, I just wrote so many letters.” They get to you! And then men of
God get tricked. Kipling has a great line that I can identify with in this particular section here as
I work the Word:
“If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken, twisted by naves to make a trap for
fools; or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, and stoop to build them up with
worn out tools.”
And after this is all over with, Paul almost just has to begin anew in so many, many ways. And
even out of the midst of the prisons, literally, he’s going to have to declare the greatness of the
Word.
Acts 21:23
“vow” - I was talking to Walter about the vow. Where is that in Acts 18, Walter, where he did
that vow?
Acts 18:18 - Come on out here a minute. Let’s talk to the class about the depth of this:
And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took leave of the brethren,
and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head
in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
“vow” - This vow Walter and I were talking about back here. Walter, we talked about it being a
prayer.
Rev. Cummins - The word is euchē, which is a prayer or it suggests it could be translated a
wish or vow. It’s used in James 5:15 where it talks about the prayer of believing. It’s related to
the word normally that’s used as: “to pray.”
I told Walter that I felt this “vow” was where; he committed himself to God for a day of prayer.
That would be the vow. “I’m going to spend all day being quiet and in prayer.” That would be a
vow. That, I think is the usage back in Acts 18:18.
“shorn” - is not to shave the head; it is simply to give himself a butch; a short, flat top
Rev. Cummins - It’s used of shearing sheep in Acts 8:32.
Right; you don’t make a sheep bald. The word that I checked, Walter, and I suppose is the same
that you have is keiramenos, which means to poll the head.
Acts 21:24
He tells them to shave their heads.
“shave” —Xuresontai - an entirely different word, which means to shave it cleanly. You know,
put a razor to it and just shave everything off. What else did we talk about, Walter, regarding
this?
Rev. Cummins - The shaving of the head is more in line with the vow of the Nazarite in the Old
Testament; the termination of his vow. Where this shearing of the head, or just clipping it,
doesn’t really relate to any vow I know of specifically.
Not the Nazarite one. I think we’re going to maybe read that Nazarite one. The Nazarite vow
was a shaving of the head and then drinking no strong drink. Wasn’t John the Baptist a
Nazarite?
Rev. Cummins - I think so. They weren’t allowed to shave their head, or cut their hair until the
vow was over and then they would shave it.
That’s what these four men in verse 23, that they wanted Paul to go with, were going to do.
“that they may shave their heads” – you know; when it’s all over with
I don’t understand verse 24, fully as to how that would have satisfied the Mosaic Law, but the
ceremonies connected with this Nazarite vow, as you said, were in Numbers 6.
“be at charges” -“You, Paul, pay the expenses for the other four men and your own. You buy
the sacrifice. You give the donation to the priest; and then you buy the doves and the rest that
were involved in the sacrifices that had to be given.” According to Farrar, he made the
statement, if I recall correctly, that it was a real expression of the greatness of your commitment
as a Nazarite if you paid the fees for somebody else. So Paul’s going to have not only
somebody else; he’s going to be four times as good in the law of Moses. He’s going to take
care of four others, is what they said. That will really impress them.
“purify” - hagnizō - this is a very unique word – sanctify; set yourself apart with them and be at
charges. You pay the fees to the priest as well as for the doves. According to Josephus, the
Nazarites who were going through the purification in the temple area were like the
confessionals Roman Catholic church. They’re always off toward the side, along the wall. The
Nazarites were there, according to Josephus. This becomes sort of important later on when they
jump on Paul and almost kill him. Because this would give them good access to him and yet
not be able to kill him in the temple because they weren’t allowed to have any spilling of the
blood there, and it would’ve been a real problem.
Acts 21:25
“that they observe no such thing, save only” - delete
See how they’re trying to salve his conscience? - “As far as the Gentiles, we’ve already done
all this for the Gentiles.”
If I was going to have a chapter, I’d put it in right here in front of verse 26 because it certainly
doesn’t belong later on where it is. (Chapter 22) If they wanted one, they should’ve put it here
because now something else begins. They’ve really gotten to Paul. They’ve told Paul what he
ought to do. Paul’s going to carry it out. You see, this whole thing is just so devilish.
Acts 21:26
“the men” - those four
“purifying” – sanctifying
“signify” – declaring
“an offering” – the offering
Acts 21:27
They entered in, but before it was completely complete. They did this six days; then on the
seventh day before it was completely complete and they would shave their heads.
“the Jews which were of Asia” – from Asia Minor area – the ones that had been following him
around
Acts 21:28
“This is the man” - in verse 21 it said: “informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews”
“against the People, and the law” - against Israel, against the Jews, against the law
“this place” - the temple - see, they’re lying like crazy
“Greeks” - Lamsa translates “Greeks” as “Aramæans” and I think Lamsa is right
Here is the explanation:
Acts 21:29
“Trophimus” - was an Aramæan who was from the city of Ephesus.
“they supposed” - he never did bring him in the temple; he was an Aramæan; Gentile origin
Acts 21:30
“drew him” - they grabbed him and they forcibly dragged him out of the temple
Boy, those fellows must’ve really lied like crazy and got all the people really stirred up; fear;
breaking the law of Moses; contaminating the temple. I’ve done my best historically to check
why these people could be brought into such a frenzy in such a short period of time. The best I
know that precipitated all of this, and how the Adversary had worked before Paul ever got
there: they laid the machinery so that Paul listened to what those elders said. The Adversary
had the trap: he’d just snap it and catch him.
The emperor, Claudius, had set up a fantastic contingency of soldiers in the Tower of Antonia.
The Tower of Antonia is located right next to the temple area. Under the rulership of Claudius,
who became angry at the priests, and a few others, he had the golden robes of the high priests
brought to the Tower of Antonia. And the Jews “raised so much hell” with him and they caused
so much trouble, that finally Claudius returned those robes to the high priest. And under a man
by the name of Cumanus, a Roman soldier deliberately went into the temple area defying the
Jews and he insulted them by indecent exposure. Also, one of the soldiers went in and
confiscated one of the scrolls and burned it. Because the Jews became very irritated and violent
over this, Cumanus had a real fight, and according to the record, which is not known how
many, but someplace between ten and twenty thousand Jews were killed. Cumanus was
released and a man by the name of Felix was a procurator when Paul got there. Just seven
weeks before Paul came they had a tremendous uproar because an Egyptian, posing as the
Messiah, had gathered around him some thirty thousand Jewish adherents of whom he had said
that they would break down the walls of the city. And so, about four thousand of them had been
killed. The rest had split out but they never caught the leader, the guy who was the one from
Egypt. The whole city was just a bunch of nerves; full of fear because of every wrong thing that
had been done. Not a one had been caused by Paul, but the Adversary had all the machinery
set; all the balls on the pool table. He had all those balls on that table; that the next shot would
just get the cue ball down the wrong hole; had it all fixed.
Into the midst of this comes this Paul, whom God told “Don’t go.” When he gets there the head
believers; the top brass, say to him, “Look Paul, news has preceded you. The only way we can
convince these Jews that you have never taught against the Mosaic Law...” Which he didn’t; if
there was a Jewish believer who was zealous for the law, there is no criticism by Paul in any of
his teaching regarding it.
I Corinthians 9:20-23
When he was then with the Jews he wasn’t raising hell about their legalism. You know, if they
wanted to walk barefooted over the window sills it wouldn’t have made any difference to him.
Romans 9:1-5
vs. 1 - “in the Holy Ghost” – with pneuma hagion
vs. 3 – “could” – used to
Paul had Timothy circumcised. It’s like I’ve said so many times; if you were born again, and
you really believed you ought to be water baptized, I would water baptize you. If you really
believed you ought to be water baptized three ways, you know; three times under, three times
up, I’d do it. The big thing was to move the Word. Paul knew that Christ was the end of the
law, but what good does it do you if you don’t know it? My telling you is not going to convince
you, until you accept the greatness of the Word yourself. These Jews were born-again, but they
were still zealous for the law. Paul never criticized them if they wanted to get circumcised. But
he said, “Look, don’t lay that on the Gentiles.” That’s what they reminded him of; they said,
“Look, we wrote letters: abstain from idols, from blood, strangled, fornication.” I wrote these
words and put down the following scriptures. I’ll give them to you because I’m sorry for going
so late but boy, this is it, kids. I’ve got to teach it while it’s in my heart.
“Mere forms are not destructive unless one depends on them for salvation.”
I think it blew the minds of some of the Way people Saturday, or whenever I was in Indiana,
and I walked into that chapel. Somebody made a statement and I said that don’t bother me any.
I said I could walk into this place and teach the Word of God. You can have all those statues all
over the place and it wouldn’t bother me one bit. You know why I’m getting rid of them?
Because I don’t want them to bother you. I’m so far above statues bothering me it isn’t even
worth me thinking about. You could fill the whole place with statues; it wouldn’t bother me
one bit. You know why; because it’s the Word that liveth and abideth forever, not statues. The
only reason I think we ought to get rid of them is because it will bother your head, number one,
and secondly it gives me more room. The confessionals, maybe some of you need them, but
they still take up too much room. They even got one in there for the hard of hearing; they got a
telephone from one side to the other. This place would bother some people for being so bare
but if you have renewed mind and the greatness of the love of God and the greatness of His
Word living, you can bring in more of the statues, it doesn’t bother me, it’s the Word.
Remember what I taught you in Acts from Paul at Athens? I want to tell you, they don’t have
all the gods at that place we bought. They didn’t put one up there to the unknown one. They’ve
got the rest.
See, it didn’t bother Paul’s mind. It didn’t bother him at all. As long as they got born again,
because he knew that they were still zealous for the law. He knew they had eternal life, and the
only way you can ever move is then to grow people up. And you do that by teaching the Word,
not by arguing with them. That Paul’s a real paradox to people. They never understood him,
because they didn’t understand the Word. Paul says in another place that if you get yourself
circumcised, you’ve fallen from grace. He turned right around, took old Timothy out and
circumcised him. What a mixture that old Paul was. They didn’t understand revelation. They
didn’t understand any of that stuff. And they didn’t understand the greatness of the man’s soul
and the revelation he had. They didn’t understand Paul at all. They captured him in the temple.
Oh, I was going to tell you the scripture, wasn’t I?
“Mere forms are not destructive unless one depends on them for salvation.”
Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-9; Colossians 1:20; 2:14-17
Acts 21:31
“they went about to kill him” - I want to tell you, somebody had really stirred up some people.
They not only drug him out, but they went about to kill him. They closed the temple doors
because they didn’t want him killed inside the temple. That would contaminate the place. All
the city moved. They drew him out, and went about to kill him.
“chief captain of the band” - that man’s name was Lysias, according to history
Acts 21:32
“soldiers” - these were that garrison of soldiers - according to history a thousand of them were
present at the time of these feasts and this was in the Tower of Antonia.
“centurions” - a centurion would be the head or captain of hundreds- he took a number of them.
I don’t know how many.
“ran down unto them” - they really moved those footboys out
“they left beating of Paul.” - They were whopping the “H” out of him. I thought the elders said
nothing was going to happen to him. Well, if nothing’s happening to him, then pray tell me
what’s happening here?
Acts 21:33
The chief captain coming near is in the essence of; where the soldiers had to bombard them. Hit
‘em with what you’ve got in your hand; knocked the Jews apart to get to Paul. That’s the
essence. That’s the only way he could come near to him. You see, they were going to kill him
and if they’d have killed him out there nobody would’ve gotten blamed because if a hundred
people whop him over the head with a ball bat, who’s going to be guilty? They’re not going to
blame anybody. He’s dead; can’t blame the whole city. So the chief captain and the soldiers
just pressed right in there.
“demanded who he was” – what’s his name
But see, the mob was there. They were just foaming at the gills.
Acts 21:34
“some cried one thing...” - sounds like Ephesus, Demetrius
“when he” - Lysias, the chief.
“tumult” – trouble
“castle” – barracks
The reason they carried him was first of all they beat the “H” out of him, but because:
Acts 21:35
“borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people” - they literally picked him up and ran him
through the soldiers to get him up there. That’s how close he got to being killed.
God had told him not to go. He went; believed what the elders said; went through all the
protocol of getting delivered; shaven head and the rest of the stuff, and almost lost his life. Had
he lost it then; would have been something. You talk about the grace of God and the love of
God. Here God has to use a bunch of unbelievers who had more sense than the religious
people, the Jews. Did you ever think about that; had to use a bunch of unbelievers to save the
life of Paul? One would think that the elders would have been down there standing next to Paul
and saying, “Look, it’s not true what you’re saying.” They didn’t fight for Paul at all.
Boy, when you’re a man of God, you just can’t trust any other man or woman so-called of God
to stand with you when the going gets tough. They’re there when it’s easy. They’re there to
receive the offerings you give when you bleed out your heart for them, but boy, when it comes
to standing with you when the times are tough; you just don’t know who’s going to do it.
Nobody stood with Paul, just nobody. They just let him get torn up. Had those elders and those
people, who were all believers, really stood, they’d have walked in there and they’d have
socked a few people in the teeth and said, “Look, that’s our man of God. He’s out there holding
forth the truth to the Gentiles like we are to the Jews; same gospel, same Word. Let him alone.”
But they didn’t have the guts to do it; saved their own lousy hide. That’s why Jerusalem went
down the drain after this; didn’t stand.
Like the Indiana parents meeting; when it was all over with, some of the parents said, “Oh, I
wish we’d have gotten up and spoke. Too damn late. They didn’t have the guts to stand up in
that meeting and tell that bastard sitting on the front, “Keep your damn mouth shut.” They
didn’t have the guts They let me sit there and take all the crap. And these are wonderful adults,
but like Acts; no guts. He in essence said, “Where am I getting all the money? How am I
pocketing it? I believe a thing.” He said I was the finest con-artist he knew. And there sat all of
my adults, whose daughters and sons have been won to the ministry and their lives saved by
this Word. They, themselves have sat through the classes. But nobody stood up and looked that
man straight in the eye and said, “Why in the hell don’t you take the class?” Nobody had the
guts. It reminded me of the days when I was in the Church. They didn’t have any guts either.
These are Way people I’m talking about.
Paul’s people should have stood for Paul. Paul bled his heart out; brought them an offering,
took care of the poor, had respect for the leadership. But when it came right down to it, you
know what they did to Paul? Let him burn; let them kill him. That’s why this scripture makes
me sick. Sure Paul was wrong, but so what? He was still the greatest man of God living at that
time. They didn’t have the abundance of the revelation in Jerusalem. James didn’t have it, nor
anybody else. Paul had it. But they didn’t stand with him. Bunch of junk. Sure, that’s why it
makes me sick.
Acts 21:36
“Away with him” - that’s what they cried about Stephen. That’s what they cried about the Lord
Jesus Christ, remember? “Away with him” Paul; away with Paul. I’d have sacrificed all the
elders of Jerusalem for Paul any day. Paul was a man. Sure, he made a mistake, but dang it, he
stood! He didn’t run out when the going got tough in Ephesus. He wasn’t afraid to stand. Sure,
he made a mistake but so what; he still had the abundance of the revelation. He was still the
man that had the greatness of God’s Word.
Acts 21:37
“castle” - barracks
“Canst thou speak Greek?” – that’s what got Lysias’ attention – was the education of Paul. Paul
was not a nincompoop; an uneducated fellow. The thing that got to the chief captain was that
this old boy knew Greek. It blew his mind.
Acts 21:38
Lysias thought they had captured that Egyptian that had led the troops, of which four thousand
had been killed but they didn’t capture the leader. Now Lysias thought they had the leader; that
Egyptian leader of these thirty thousand men. But he knew that Egyptian couldn’t speak much
Greek, and there was old Paul, laying it on him in Greek. It blew his mind.
Acts 21:39
“a citizen of no mean city” - it means a citizen of a very influential city
“suffer” – allow
Let me speak to them. If I’d have been Paul, I’d have said, “Hey, get me behind locked doors.
Don’t let them to me. Set up the guard.” Not Paul. They had just whopped the “H” out of him,
rushed him up the steps to get away from them, and he turns to the chief captain and says, “Let
me talk to them.” Boy, oh boy. You talk about a man having courage? Even if he’s dead wrong,
he’s got more than most people have who’d be dead right. He’s got guts.
Acts 21:40
“license” - permission
“stood on the stairs” - being guarded by the unbelievers
“was made a great silence” - the reason it became silent is because he spoke unto them in
Aramaic. He spoke to them in Estrangelo Aramaic.
“Hebrew” - it’s called “Hebrew” here - it’s Aramaic - in the language of the common people
which they understood. The people knew that he couldn’t be that Egyptian. They knew that he
couldn’t be that Greek guy from Ephesus. He had to be a Jew in background.
Acts 22:1
And then we get “men and brethren and fathers.” He starts just like Stephen did and a few
others.
“defence” - is interesting because it’s the word “apologia” - from which we get the word
apologetics, which means to apologize. Now, here we get his defense, his apology,
Paul never had to defend his position on the Word until he gets in trouble. Being off of the will
of God, or outside of the will, at least for a moment, he had to apologize. We call it Apologetics
in Theology; apologize for being a Christian. Well, maybe sometime we’ll get to the apology.
See what he did with it. That’s all there is, folks. That’s all I’m going to do.