Paul Arrives at Jerusalem—-Removing Contentions of Poisoned Minds

Acts 21:15-26

• Staying with Mnason, one of the early Christians.
• Praising God for Paul’s Holy Spirit filled ministry that led multitudes to Jesus Christ.
• Paul plotted against for teaching liberty in the Spirit and freedom from the letter of the law.
• Appeasing established guidelines and rules to be all things to all people.
• Followers of Jesus Christ are given liberty in the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Staying with Mnason, one of the early Christians.
“After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem. Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus and one of the early disciples.” Acts 21:15-16

“After this…” refers to the tearful farewell given to Paul in Caesarea, as described in the post on Acts 21:7-14. Some of the Believers in Caesarea went with Paul and his companions to Jerusalem, and they stayed in the home of Mnason, who was from Cyprus. Mnason was one of the early disciples, before Paul was born-again and while he was still persecuting the way of Jesus Christ.

Today, there are some of us still alive who are considered to be “early Christians” compared to the new culture that exists today. We are those belonging to the generation of the “Baby Boomers”, myself being a 1959 “Baby Boomer”. We are those who still remember when the Gospel of Jesus Christ had relatively strong roots in America, and we remember the prohibition against the spread of the testimony of Jesus Christ existing at the same time. In fact, the peace and love movement of the 60^s [of the “hippies”] began replacing the peace and love of God that comes through Jesus Christ. At the same time that multitudes of “hippies” were flocking to events such as “Woodstock” all across the nation, there were protests through the likes of Martin Luther King Jr. and others.

The United Nations was established in 1945, immediately after WW2, and brought the government of the beast with it, as described in Daniel 8:1-14. The new generations are predominant in the culture of today, which is global. They overwhelmingly live by the atheistic entity that gives them what to speak, do, think, and feel. In a sense, we early Christians are staying in the House of Mnason, with Paul and his companions.

Praising God for Paul’s Holy Spirit filled ministry that led multitudes to Jesus Christ.
“And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord.” Acts 21:17-20a

The “we” in this verse includes Luke, Timothy, and Silas and the “brethren” were the Apostles of Jesus, such as James and Peter. The next day, Paul would go with Luke, Silas, and Timothy to greet James and all the elders of the way of Jesus Christ.

In the presence of James and the other leaders of the body of Jesus Christ Paul described in detail how God had worked among the Gentiles in the name of Jesus Christ. This would include his ministry in Cyprus, Antioch in Pisidia, Antioch in Syria, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, etc. All through the regions of Galatia, Asia, Phrygia, Macedonia, Greece, etc. Paul was bringing Jesus Christ to the non-Jewish Gentiles. The map below shows the area that Paul covered. The Holy Spirit was moving the testimony of Jesus Christ westward, which eventually reached the United States and all of the Americas.

The map below is like a mustard seed compared to the enormous global impact of Paul’s ministry to the non-Jewish Gentiles. All through his ministry, Paul followed the doors that the Holy Spirit opened to him and walked away from the doors that were shut. As followers of Jesus Christ, we cannot share His Gospel to hardened hearts but must always be prepared to plant the Gospel seed in good soil. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32

James and the elders of the way of Jesus Christ glorified the Lord when hearing how the Holy Spirit was drawing people to Jesus Christ through the ministry of Paul. As followers of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit rejoices in us when people come to Jesus. Mary was pregnant with Jesus when she approached Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist, and this is what happened, “And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” Luke 1:41

Paul plotted against for teaching liberty in the Spirit of Christ and freedom from the letter of the law.
“And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. 20b-22

While James, and all the elders of the Way of Jesus Christ, rejoiced at hearing of the Gentiles coming to God through Jesus Christ [Acts 21:17-20a], they had their ministry to the hardcore Jewish people in Jerusalem. Many Jewish people believed Jesus was the Christ and Son of God but still embraced the laws of the Old Testament. Even then, that simple confession that Jesus was the Son of God was blaspheming and could be punishable by death [according to Jewish laws].

The leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ were concerned that Paul’s teaching of living for God by faith in Jesus would chase the Believing Jewish people away from Jesus. The chief concern was that Paul was teaching against circumcision [and other such customs] which was leading the Jewish children away from the laws of Moses. That is exactly what Paul was doing because circumcision and other such customs were not necessary after Jesus Christ fulfilled the promise that God made to Abraham. The covenant God made with Abraham through circumcision is stated as this, “And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly… This is My covenant which you will keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you will be circumcised; and you will be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you Genesis 17:2, 10-11

Circumcision was given as a sign of the promise that God made to Abraham about his descendants being as numerous as the stars in the sky. Today, every person who lives for God through Jesus Christ are Abraham’s seed, or offspring, “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:29 [Paul’s words through the Holy Spirit].

As Paul was being told how he was hurting the faith the Jewish people had in Jesus, I’m sure he was thinking that their faith was weak in the liberty given by the Spirit of Christ. Paul wrote this, “Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things…So then each of us will give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.” Romans 14:1, 12-13 This is written of our Lord Jesus, “A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth.” Isaih 42:3

Circumcision was being used by the Jewish non-believers to mark those who were faithful to God through the laws of Judaism from those who were “blasphemously” faithful to God through Jesus Christ. Those who had the mark of circumcision was approved by the Jewish culture and those who didn’t were not approved. As we know by reading Paul’s letters, he continued to teach faith in God [apart from the law] through Jesus Christ to the Gentiles [and whatever Jewish person who would listen]. Paul considered himself to be the Apostle to the Gentiles because the Jewish people continuously rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is said of our Lord Jesus, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:11-13

We live for God through Jesus Christ while today’s culture lives for their god through the entity that gives them what to speak, do, think, and feel. Today’s culture seeks to put the way of Jesus Christ into extinction by killing the Gospel of Jesus and fighting against the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The leaders of the Chrisitan Church, such as James, Peter, and the other elders were concerned for Paul’s welfare while being in Jerusalem. They knew the unBelieving Jewish people were intent on killing Paul for teaching, “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.” Romans 3:21-22 They knew the Jewish people, who rejected Jesus Christ to live by the laws of Judaism, would assemble to plot against Paul.

Appeasing established guidelines and rules to be all things to all people.
“Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law.” Acts 21:23-24

In Jerusalem, the leaders of the way of Jesus Christ [which included Peter and James] had specific guidelines that they wanted Paul to follow while in Jerusalem. This was done for the benefit of the Jewish people who acknowledged Jesus as the Christ and Son of God but held to the laws of Moses. To agree that forgiveness of sin came through Jesus Christ and not the laws of Judaism was blasphemy and could be punished by death [according to Jewish laws]. Today, that would be like we who abide by the rules of those who govern and live for this atheistic culture [such as at work, at school, etc.] but acknowledges Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Paul explains what it means to appease today’s unbelieving culture while acknowledging Jesus as Lord and Savior. This has to do with the effort to win some to Jesus Christ, as quoted, “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.” 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

In today’s world, there is an entity that governs through people’s thoughts, feelings, words, and behaviors. That beast expects people to deny God, to turn away from Jesus Christ, and to fight against the presence of the Holy Spirit. As followers of Jesus Christ, we will never appease and try to be all things to all people if it means denying Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The entity that gives people what to speak and do gives life to the image of the beast to speak and live through people everywhere. Today’s culture despises any attempt to bring Jesus close to them as they are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they are given to say and do. That is why Christians and the Gospel of Jesus Christ are driven into extinction and out of today’s social network.

Followers of Jesus Christ are given liberty in the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
“But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.” Acts 21:25

The leaders over the Church of Jesus Christ made it clear that born-again Believers had no need to be brought under the bondage of the laws of Judaism. They live in the liberty of the Holy Spirit and have been set free from the written laws of Judaism. The four guidelines were given to the Christians in Antioch at Syria, written in Jerusalem by the elders of the way of Christ [including such as Peter and James]. Paul and Barnabas went from Antioch to Jerusalem to discuss the matter of circumcision and the four guidelines were given in response to whether the born-again Gentiles should follow the laws and customs of Judaism. These guidelines apply to us today. This is found in the posts on Acts 14:26 through Acts 15:35.

The four guidelines are listed below;

• Abstain from things polluted by idols. The worship of idols was a regular, routine, and common practice within the Roman Empire. In Acts 14:8-20, the Gentiles saw Paul and Barnabas as being the gods of Zeus and Hermes. This type of reverence for false gods is a distraction from reverence for the Living God. Today, we are not to serve the false god of the entity that gives people what to think, feel, say, and do. This atheistic entity distracts from God by replacing the conscience and spirit while oppressing the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is being exterminated by this idol worship.
  
• Abstain from blood. The Gentiles had a practice, as common within the Roman Empire, to use blood mixed with flour and vegetables, etc. in their food preparation. This is like the “black puddings” of more modern times. As followers of Jesus Christ, mixing blood with food is like mixing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the teachings of today’s atheistic culture. This amounts to practicing humanism, which is the fig leaf worn by those who serve the entity that gives them what to think, feel, say, and do. They are preaching a different Jesus than the Gospel we are taught by the word of God, and people are putting up with it by accepting it. “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!” 2 Corinthians 11:3-4
  
• Abstain from things strangled. A law and custom of the Jewish people was to bleed an animal completely before eating or sacrificing it. An artery would be sliced and the blood allowed to flow out of the animal. By strangling an animal, the blood does not drain properly. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are not to strangle belief in the Living God, not to strangle forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and not to strangle the presence of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus gave His life on the Cross, His blood was poured out as His heart was pierced from the side. The flow of His blood is applied to our heart for to atone for sin, reconcile to God, and live in the presence of the Holy Spirit. We are not to strangle the message of the Cross.
  
• Abstain from sexual immorality. Sexual immorality was rampant within the Roman Empire and among the Gentiles. Much of this came from serving false gods that required sexual intercourse as part of worship ceremonies. The focus on the pleasures of the flesh was a distraction from the Living God, Jesus Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Today, the false god with power over physiology; feelings and thoughts, uses physical sexuality and sensuality to enliven the passions of the flesh. By focusing thoughts and feelings on carnal pursuits people are distracted from living in the presence of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ. By focusing on the flesh, people become willing to live by the atheistic entity that gives them what to feel, think, say, and do. This entity gives life to the image of the beast to speak and live through people as they are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they are given to say and do.

“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.” Acts 21:26

As we see in the next post on Acts 21:27-29, Paul being in the Temple was enough to cause the Jewish people to want to beat Paul to death. We can appease today’s culture by being “…subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men…” Titus 3:1-2 but when they see us in the temple of God they are riled up. Our body is the temple of God, which we dedicate as the home of the Holy Spirit. Today’s culture considers the body as being the possession of the one that governs through people’s words, actions, thoughts, and feelings.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11