Paul is Warned That Chains Await in Jerusalem (Acts 21:1–14)
From Miletus, Paul and his companions set sail and came to the islands of Cos and then Patara (Acts 21:1).
Cos was a Greek island in the southeastern Aegean Sea, while Patara was an ancient Lycian city located on the southwest coast of modern-day Turkey.
From Patara, they found a ship sailing to Phoenicia and boarded it (Acts 21:2).
Phoenicia comprised parts of modern-day Lebanon, Syria, and Israel.
Passing by the island of Cyprus, they arrived at Tyre in Phoenicia (Acts 21:3), which is located in what is now modern-day Lebanon.
In Tyre, they found disciples who, through the Spirit, warned Paul not to go to Jerusalem (Acts 21:4–6).
This was a divine warning, but not a direct command—Paul still retained the freedom to choose his path.
When their stay ended, the disciples and their families accompanied Paul and his companions out of the city. Together, they prayed on the shore and bid farewell.
From Tyre, they sailed to Ptolemais, a city now known as Akko (or Acre) in northern Israel (Acts 21:7).
They greeted the brethren there and stayed with them one day.
Next, they came to Caesarea, where they stayed in the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven (Acts 21:8).
Philip had four unmarried daughters who prophesied (Acts 21:9).
During their stay, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea and delivered a prophecy: he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet with it, and declared that the Jews in Jerusalem would bind Paul and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles (Acts 21:10–11).
Upon hearing this, Paul’s companions and the local believers pleaded with him not to go to Jerusalem (Acts 21:12).
However, Paul would not be dissuaded. He declared that he was ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 21:13).
Seeing that he could not be persuaded, they ceased and said, “The will of the Lord be done” (Acts 21:14).
Paul Meets with James and the Elders in Jerusalem (Acts 21:15–26)
After these events, Paul and his company departed from Caesarea and traveled the remaining 70 miles to Jerusalem (Acts 21:15).
They were accompanied by some of the brethren and stayed with Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple (Acts 21:16).
Upon arrival in Jerusalem, Paul was warmly received by the brethren (Acts 21:17). This return occurred in A.D. 57.
The next day, Paul met with James and all the elders (Acts 21:18).
He reported in detail the things God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry (Acts 21:19).
When they heard it, they glorified God. However, they noted that many thousands of Jews had believed and were all zealous for the Law (Acts 21:20).
The elders addressed the concern that rumors were spreading, alleging that Paul taught Jews among the Gentiles to forsake Moses and not to circumcise their children or walk according to Jewish customs (Acts 21:21).
Because of this concern, they advised Paul to demonstrate his respect for the Law publicly (Acts 21:22–24).
There were four men who had taken a Nazarite vow.
Paul was instructed to join them, purify himself with them, and pay their expenses so they could shave their heads (Acts 21:24).
This act would show that the rumors were false and that Paul himself walked orderly and kept the Law.
At the same time, the elders reaffirmed the decision of the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15).
They reminded Paul that Gentile believers were not required to observe the Law (Acts 21:25).
Were the Jews Still Under the Law?
The Jews continued attempting to establish their own righteousness through the Law (Romans 10:3).
However, Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes (Romans 10:4).
He fulfilled the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17).
Christ is a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:6).
Since the priesthood changed, so also did the Law (Hebrews 7:12).
Christ did not come from the Levitical order (Hebrews 7:11), nor did He come according to a law based on fleshly commandments (Hebrews 7:16).
Believers are of His priestly order and are not under Law (Hebrews 3:1).
Christ’s Message in the Upper Room
Christ gave a new commandment to His disciples: that they love one another as He loved them (John 13:34).
This new commandment implies a new standard, and the Law cannot be added to (Galatians 3:15; Hebrews 7:12).
Christ also promised to send the Holy Spirit (John 14:16), who would not merely be with them but in them (John 14:17).
The disciples were told to wait in Jerusalem for this promise (Acts 1:4, 8).
The Spirit would guide them into all truth—not back to the Mosaic Law (John 16:13).
He would also remind them of Christ’s teachings (John 14:26).
Jesus told them He had more to reveal, but they were not yet ready (John 16:12).
This pointed forward to the dispensation of grace.
The Doctrine of the Apostles Is Not the Law
The early Church continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42).
If they had remained under the Law, there would have been no distinct apostolic doctrine.
Rather, they taught what Christ had revealed to them in the upper room.
The Holy Spirit Given to Both Jews and Gentiles
The Holy Spirit came upon the Gentiles just as He did upon the Jews (Acts 10:44–45).
Christ had promised the Spirit (John 14:26), and the disciples obeyed His instruction to wait for the Spirit’s coming (Acts 1:4).
The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4), visibly appearing and indwelling all believers (Acts 2:3).
He gave them the mental ability to speak in other tongues as He directed (Acts 2:4).
The Parable of the Fig Tree (Luke 13:6–9)
The fig tree represents the Jewish nation during Christ’s earthly ministry (Matthew 21:19; 24:32).
It symbolizes the opportunity that was given to Israel to bear fruit (Mark 13:28).
This parable does not refer to the 40-year period between Christ’s resurrection and the destruction of the Temple.
Israel was given a legitimate offer to share in Christ’s kingdom glories—not under the Law.
This offer expired one year after the resurrection, marked by Stephen’s martyrdom and the inclusion of Gentiles through Peter’s ministry (Acts 7:59; 10:44; 15:7).
Paul’s Rebuke and Encouragement to Grace Believers in Jerusalem
Grace believers are exhorted to move beyond the elementary teachings of Christ (Hebrews 6:1).
They should be mature enough to teach the basic doctrines (Hebrews 5:12), but many still need instruction in the fundamentals.
Such believers are only capable of digesting milk, not solid food, because they are unskilled in the word of righteousness (Hebrews 5:13).
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