Acts - Week 69

Week 69 Acts 21 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 21:25 

25 “As for the Gentile believers, they should do what we already told them in a letter: They should abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.” 

The leaders of the church in Jerusalem wanted Paul to go into the temple area to satisfy the Jews and said the Gentiles should keep doing as had been instructed. This was a repeat of what was decided for the Gentiles in Acts 15. This plan seemed so reasonable to the church leaders but it would lead to difficulty for Paul. One wonders what he would have done if it were left up to him. 

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes received counsel that you later wondered if you should have followed it? Not all suggestions point in the right direction. 

RESPOND 

Talk with your disciple about how to receive suggestions from others. You should always be grateful for their concern, but this does not necessarily mean you need to follow their advice. 

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 21:26 

26 So Paul went to the Temple the next day with the other men. They had already started the purification ritual, so he publicly announced the date when their vows would end and sacrifices would be offered for each of them. 

The vow that is being referred to is apparently the Nazarite vow. This vow had to do with living a pure life and one’s hair was not to be cut during this time. Sacrifices were made at the end of the vow. The church leaders suggested Paul should pay for these men to have their heads ritually shaved. Apparently Paul was following through on these suggestions. 

REFLECT 

Would it not be interesting to have more details about what all was occurring in this passage? One is left just to read what is there without knowing more information. 

RESPOND 

As mentioned before, one may not be able to fully understand a passage. One principle that can be taken away from this passage, however, is that this vow was to indicate separation from some things and separation to God. Talk with your disciple about the need to be separated from the things of the world and separated to God. Read 1 John 2:15-17 in this regard. 

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 21:27-29 

27 The seven days were almost ended when some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul in the Temple and roused a mob against him. They grabbed him, 28 yelling, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who preaches against our people everywhere and tells everybody to disobey the Jewish laws. He speaks against the Temple—and even defiles this holy place by bringing in Gentiles.” 29 (For earlier that day they had seen him in the city with Trophimus, a Gentile from Ephesus, and they assumed Paul had taken him into the Temple.) 

No matter where Paul went there seemed to be unbelieving Jews who would track him down and make trouble. There is no indication Paul had Gentiles in the temple but these unbelievers assumed so because earlier they had seen him with Gentiles. Apparently they knew Trophimus. This reveals what can occur when one makes assumptions without knowing all the facts. 

REFLECT 

Does this help you to be cautious about criticizing someone before you know the facts? This could benefit so many if they would be slow to speak and not so quick to judge. 

RESPOND 

Read James 1:19-20 to see the rules to live by if you want to do what is right.  

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 21:30-32 

30 The whole city was rocked by these accusations, and a great riot followed. Paul was grabbed and dragged out of the Temple, and immediately the gates were closed behind him. 31 As they were trying to kill him, word reached the commander of the Roman regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 He immediately called out his soldiers and officers and ran down among the crowd. When the mob saw the commander and the troops coming, they stopped beating Paul. 

The Jews were so upset they wanted to kill Paul. On learning of this, the commander of the Roman regiment called out his soldiers to quell the riot. When the mob saw the Roman army coming they stopped beating Paul. At times the Romans were opposed to Paul; here they saved his life. Would Paul have opportunity to tell his story? Would the commander continue to protect him? 

REFLECT 

As you read the Scriptures some questions may arise in your mind. The best thing to do is keep reading.  

RESPOND 

Examine a passage where an explanation is found when one keeps reading. See Revelation 12:5-9 to see who the “dragon” is.  

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 21:33-36 

33 Then the commander arrested him and ordered him bound with two chains. He asked the crowd who he was and what he had done. 34 Some shouted one thing and some another. Since he couldn’t find out the truth in all the uproar and confusion, he ordered that Paul be taken to the fortress. 35 As Paul reached the stairs, the mob grew so violent the soldiers had to lift him to their shoulders to protect him. 36 And the crowd followed behind, shouting, “Kill him, kill him!” 

The commander thought Paul was another person and had him bound with two chains. Even when the crowd was asked who Paul was there were differing opinions. The decision was made to take Paul to a fortress. The soldiers lifted Paul to their shoulders to protect him. All this time the mob kept yelling “Kill him, kill him.” The crowd was uncertain who Paul was; they were only certain they wanted him killed. 

REFLECT 

Does this impress on you how a crowd can become quickly out of control? Try to prevent being caught up in such a mob.  

RESPOND 

Pray with your disciple asking God to protect you from being caught up in a riot when the people  do not know what they doing or even why they are opposed to someone. Sometimes all the mob wants to do is destroy regardless of the reason.