Page 101 - acts_study_book3

PAUL TAKES A JEWISH VOW

Act 21:26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered
the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, At which time an offering
should be made for each one of them.

Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself (passive voice) with them entered
(having entered) into the temple, to signify (give public testimony) the accomplishment of the
days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

Paul swallows their hypocrisy. He will now do something he teaches against in the book of
Romans. He is about to “sin that grace may abound.” He will take a Jewish vow in order to
preach grace to the Jews. Paul goes through the purification rights of the temple, something
that was totally abolished at the cross. Paul knows this and has even taught it (Colossians 2:16-
17).

This purification rite is when Paul enters the temple, stands before the leaders, and vows to
abstain from a number of items for thirty days. Vows could include abstinence from certain
foods, shaving, sex, etc.. This vow is described in numbers 6:1-21 as the Nazirite vow.

21:26 offering, prosphora (pros-for-ah); a bringing to, setting before, presenting,
sacrificing, a gift, the act of offering, or the thing offered. The word includes giving
kindness and bestowing benefit. Paul engaged in the purification ceremony. It was not
necessary for his salvation, but was an act of devotion to God. Paul’s principle was being
all things to all men in order to win them.

Act 21:27 Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the
temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him,

And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him
in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid (epibal-lo: threw themselves, attacked), hands
on him,

When the week was almost ended, all hell breaks loose. Paul has stood publicly each day in the
temple with four church elders and made this vow before the multitudes. Each day he
announces he will not eat certain foods and that he is shaving his head, etc..

Just before the seventh day, certain man in the multitude recognize Paul and begin a riot. Asian
Jews in Jerusalem for Pentecost recognize Paul from Ephesus. They see him make the vow and
begin to stir up a riot against him. They throw themselves at Paul, attacking him and then cry
out to the people for help.
Act 21:28 crying out, "Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere
against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the
temple and has defiled this holy place."