After telling someone at work about Eutychus falling asleep and out of a window to his death in Acts 20, I noticed a really interesting point about this story that I didn't mention in my previous post. In the Message translation Acts 20:7 reads, "Our plan was to leave first thing in the morning, but Paul talked on, way past midnight."
This could mean one of two things. Either Paul talked all day long, from morning until after midnight or these men had an early morning ahead of them. Either way it wasn't a good recipe for Eutychus who may have created a new biblical lesson of never falling asleep in church (or during a message)!
Acts 21 (Read it here)
Paul's speech to the Ephesians elders was filled with teary eyes, good and painful memories, encouragement and a look-ahead to the future when Paul would arrive in Jerusalem.
After leaving from Miletus, Paul makes a few stops on his way to Tyre (you can see the route he took here). The believers in Tyre tried to convince Paul that suffering was ahead for him in Jerusalem and that he shouldn't go. (v. 4) Paul already knew this, but I bet it was difficult to have this continually in the forefront of his thoughts.
In a really cool gesture, the whole church in Tyre came to see Paul off. They prayed with him. (vs. 5-6) They, too, knew that this may be the last time they see him.
After hanging out with more church folk in Ptolemais (v. 7), they went to Caesarea to visit Philip (v. 8, the same guy who taught and baptized the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8). Luke was also impressed enough with Philip's single daughters to mention that they all had the gift of prophecy. (v. 9) We all know that a fully devoted woman after God's heart is a crazy attractive attribute, right. Can't blame Luke for looking, lol!
In verse 10 we hear from Agabus again (he was last mentioned in Acts 11:28 as being the one who predicted a coming famine upon the Roman famine, that later occurred).
Wanna see what he looks like?
This picture makes me giggle. He's holding a church and looking completely unexcited:)
Back to the story. Agabus not only reminds Paul of his impending suffering (again) but also gives him what we pastors like to call a practical illustration. Agabus shackled his feet and hands to Paul's belt (which probably looked like this). This was to show what position he would be in if he were to continue on to Jerusalem; fastened to the belts of Jews who hate him. (vs. 10-11)
Everyone who heard this begged Paul not to go. (v. 12) Paul wanted it all to stop! He was going to go no matter what anybody said. It was his calling and he was willing to follow that call, even if it led to death. (v. 14)
Paul left for Jerusalem. (v. 15) More believers decided to accompany him and Luke. (v. 16) The Christ-followers in Jerusalem met him at the port when he arrived and welcomed him warmly. (v. 17)
The whole leadership of the church in Jerusalem got together and met with Paul (James, the brother of Jesus, being the bishop). They wanted to know all the things God had done through his three missionary journeys. (vs. 18-19) They were all stoked! (v. 20)
But...
There's a growing problem. Many Jews have also come to faith in Christ, however, they all continue to follow the law of the Old Testament (or of Moses) very strictly. This is why there was so much controversy over the issue of circumcising Gentile converts.
Word had gotten back to the Jews in Jerusalem that Paul had been teaching Gentiles to ignore the ritual of circumcision (In fact, Paul, the Jerusalem church and all of the apostles agreed to this, right? They even reference this in verse 25!). I wonder why James is making it sound like Paul was the mastermind behind this. Now Paul probably did teach the Gentiles to ignore other Jewish customs, as well. (v. 21)
Both Christian and non-Christian Jews hated Paul.
James tells Paul that they have decided a way to disprove the rumors that he doesn't observe Jewish customs. Go with four guys to the temple to assist in their purification ceremony. (vs. 23-24)
Paul goes the next day to the temple and is part of the ceremony, telling onlookers when their heads would be shaved and when the appropriate sacrifices would be offered. (v. 26) This all was supposed to take place seven days after this announcement. But Jews from the province of Asia (or more specifically, Ephesus) formed a mob, grabbed him and instantly tried to get other Jews to oppose him, as well.
Paul was accused of defaming Jews, teaching others not to follow Jewish laws and by bring Gentiles into the temple (v. 28, only Jews were allowed into the temple). They accused Paul of taking Trophimus (the "foster child" Paul supported), a Gentile, into the temple even though no one actually saw it happen! (v. 29)
These accusations were very serious and were taken very seriously. The city was rocked with a great riot in response. Paul was dragged out of the temple and the mob began to beat him mercilessly. (vs. 30, 32) The only reason they didn't succeed in killing him right then and there was because someone alerted the Roman authorities of it. (Remember, it was illegal for any Roman occupied nation to execute anyone. It would've been a double-whammy since Paul was actually a Roman citizen!)
The Roman commander had Paul arrested for "starting the riot" and had him bound with two chains.
Agabus' prophecy had come true.
What follows reminds me of Jesus' trial before Pilate so much. Like Pilate, this Roman commander asks who he is and what's their charge against him. (v. 33) But since no specific charges could be determined from the crowd (which reminds me of the statements given in the accusations toward Jesus in Mark 14:55-56), Paul was ordered to be taken to the fortress (or soldiers' barracks to be under direct custody of the Roman military; Jesus was, too).
This is what Agabus meant when he predicted that Paul would be lead by Jews to be handed over to Gentiles. (v. 34)
The soldiers had to literally lift Paul above the crowd because the mob wanted to kill him. (v. 35) And just like they had done for Jesus in Luke 23:21, they shouted for his death! (v. 36)
It was a good thing that Paul spoke to the commander in charge because the information they had on Paul was completely bogus. They actually thought he was an Egyptian insurrectionist! (v. 37-38) Many scholars think the Roman commander was referring to Theudas from Acts 5:33-36, in which Gamaliel mentioned to the high council. However, if he is, his facts are WAY off! Gamaliel says that not only did Theudas have 400 (not 4,000 followers), but oh yeah, THEUDAS WAS ALREADY KILLED!!
Paul told them his identity and was granted permission to address the angry mob on the steps of the fortress. Everyone was silent. (vs. 39-40)
And he said...
Questions
1.) Paul is constantly reminded of his future suffering in Jerusalem. How would you deal with that? Would that make you more bold or would you be constantly thinking twice about it? Does that make you respect Paul's loyalty and drive even more?
2.) Imagine what Paul could've been thinking during this process. He has taken so much time and energy to preach and debate with countless Jews about the gospel. He gets constantly fed up with their stubborn attitudes but he always persisted in reaching them. However, they returned his literally blood, sweat and tears with wild accusations and persistently requests for his death. In one word or phrase how would you describe Paul's conflicted feelings towards Jews in this chapter?
3.) Are you not friggin' psyched to find out what Paul said to these people?
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