The Return to Jerusalem (Acts 21:17-23:23) was at the feast of Pentecost when it was crowded with strangers from all parts of the world. Paul had been warned not to come back to this city (Acts 21:10-14) and it might have been possible for him to have remained away, passing the last years of his life in high honor and peace as the Great Apostle and Head of the Gentile churches. But he seems to have felt it incumbent upon him to return to Jerusalem and testify for his faith (Acts 21:14), and to carry alms (Acts 24:17). Paul was now about sixty years of age and for more than ten years had been engaged in the most arduous missionary labors, enduring stonings, beatings, and contumelies of all kinds, for the sake of preaching Jesus Christ. More than twenty years had elapsed since his conversion; and before his well-known three missionary journeys he had been actively engaged in the work which he loved so well. In his body he must have borne the marks of these incessant labors, but his spirit was as fresh and undaunted as ever. Whatever awaited him in Jerusalem he was ready for it.
The Meeting with James and the Elders of the Church (Acts 21:17-25) seems to have been a pleasant one. Paul told his story of the wonders wrought in the Gentile world, and God was glorified, but there seems to have been a certain constraint upon the company. Paul was well known everywhere as an exponent of that liberty in Christ by which the Gentiles when they became Christians were not obliged to become Jews and obey the laws of Moses. We find the elders, while freely admitting the binding nature of the decision of the Jerusalem Council upon this matter, advising him to show the many thousands of Jews who believed and kept the law, that he himself still held to the observance of the law. Hence the urgency with which they requested him to purify himself in the temple, with certain men who had a vow, so that the Jews might see that he was not a renegade. The consequences of this advice soon became evident.
The Temple Riot and Paul's Imprisonment (Acts 21:26-39).—When the days of purification for his companions were almost completed some Jews of Asia saw him and at once raised a great tumult. It is a wonder that he was not seen and recognized earlier. Doubtless the Asian Jews had been restrained in their own cities from wreaking their hatred upon Paul to the full, by the strong arm of the Roman magistrate. At once a great outcry was raised and Paul would have fared badly if he had not been rescued by the Roman soldiers, to be imprisoned by them.
The Speech of Paul to the Rioters (Acts 21:40-22:23).—He requested that he be permitted to speak to this angry crowd of fanatic Jews, who were howling for his life. What would he say? What defense could he make? Listen to him! He is telling the story of his life and conversion, on the way to Damascus. He is glorifying Jesus and urging them to believe in Him. There is not one word about the indignities that have been heaped upon himself. This personal testimony in this city where Paul had been the chief persecutor was wonderful. But as the Jews had demanded the life of Christ, when he was upon earth and testified to His mission, so now they demanded the life of Paul.
Before the Jewish Council (Acts 22:24-23:10).—Paul, rescued from the clutches of the mob, would have been scourged by the Romans had he not declared himself a Roman. On the morrow, taken before the Sanhedrin, and seeing no hope of any justice being done him, he sets one party of it over against the other by declaring that he was a Pharisee and "of the hope of the resurrection of the dead I am called in question." So great was the dissension that arose over this matter that Paul was faring badly when he was rescued by the chief captain and his soldiers.
Paul Comforted by God (Acts 23:10).—Paul must have been quite worn out with the tumults and mobs of the last two days. The encouragement of God speaking to him and telling him to be of good cheer, and that as he had testified of Him in Jerusalem, he must also bear witness in Rome, put a new heart in him. It had been Paul's great desire to visit Rome and preach Christ in that city (Rome 1:11-15; Acts 19:21).
Conspiracy of Jewish Fanatics (Acts 23:10-30).—The mad hatred of the Jews against Paul is shown by more than forty men binding themselves under a curse to kill him. The astonishing thing about this conspiracy is that the conspirators showed what they proposed to do to the chief priests and elders and asked their aid to bring Paul down for another examination that they might kill him. The plot was brought to naught by Paul's nephew, who heard of it and told Paul. This information was at once given to the chief captain, who determined to send Paul away that night to the Roman governor at Cæsarea. It was a large escort, 200 legionaries, 200 light armed troops, skirmishers, and 70 cavalry, which was sent out with Paul. This great company of soldiers showed the immanent danger in which Paul stood at this time.
PAUL AT CÆSAREA
Scripture, Acts 23:33-27:1
Paul now comes under Roman jurisdiction and remains for two years (Acts 24:27) a prisoner in Cæsarea. He is not kept in close confinement and his friends are allowed to see him (Acts 24:23). Who came to see him of these friends and what they talked about Luke does not tell us. Our attention seems to be purposely directed to the defense which Paul made of his faith and work before the Roman governors, Felix and Festus, and the Jewish King Agrippa II. As Pilate had seen no just cause why Christ should be condemned to death, so Felix and Festus, when Paul had testified of his faith in Christ before them, saw no reason why he should suffer the death penalty.