Paul plotted against for teaching liberty in the Spirit of Christ and freedom from the letter of the law.

Acts 21:20b-22

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
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“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.” Acts 21: 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 [Acts21:17-20a], 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 Christ and Son of God was considered to be blaspheme 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 [and not by the laws of Judaism] would chase the Believing Jewish people away from Jesus. The chief concern of the Believing Jewish people was that Paul was teaching against circumcision [and other such customs] which was leading the Jewish people 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. Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise so circumcision is no longer necessary. 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, “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

“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.” Isaiah 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 beast 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 Christian 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 in 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.

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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