Paul's “Turning Point on the Road to Rome”
Acts 21 Paul last visit to Jerusalem
- The charge: Paul teaching Jews living among the Gentiles apostasy from Moses.
- Vv.20 You see, brother, how many myriad of Jews have become believers, and they are all zealous for the Law. 21 They have been informed about you, that you teach all the Jews living among the Gentiles to apostatize from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children and not to follow the customs.
- The charges are true, according to Paul’s own letters;
- In Gal 5 Paul warns that to return to physical circumcision as a religious requirement is to “obligate oneself to keep the whole Law” (Gal. 5:3), cut yourself off from the grace of Messiah!
- Circumcision sign of the Abrahamic faith itself!
Council Verdict upheld
- Does not contradict or change the Jerusalem council's decision back in Acts 15:
- The issue some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Note: a salvation issue (contra Sabbattarians)!
- Circumcision + Law keeping = a package deal!
- Law keeping is not to be treated like some Buffett line.
- This explains why one of the most revered and prolific rabbis, Maimonides, warned Gentiles about this very thing!
He forbid Gentiles who created their own religious observances or imitated Jewish rituals such as observing a Sabbath or inventing new festivals. They must either fully convert to Judaism and follow all its commandments or remain as they are, following only their own basic moral laws.
- Historical NOTE as late as the 2nd century Justin Martyr reports that Jewish Christians who continued to keep Torah had no issues with Gentile Christians who did not keep Torah (Dialogue with Trypho 47-48)!
- But even though Paul goes along in keeping certain Torah commandments here, the Jews still want to kill him and continue accusing him.
Acts 24:5–6 (The accusation before Felix)
“We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him.”
- Context: The lawyer Tertullus, representing the high priest Ananias and some elders, accuses Paul before the Roman governor Felix.
- Torah-related accusation: “Tried to desecrate the temple” — this implies Paul violated purity laws, which would be a Torah offense.
- However, this is a false accusation (see Acts 21:27–29, where the misunderstanding began when Jews thought Paul had brought Gentiles into the temple).
Acts 24:12–13 (Paul’s defense)
“My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me.”
Acts 24:14-17
“I serve the God of our forefathers, believing everything written in the Law and the prophets…After some years, I came to bring gifts for the poor of my nation and to give offerings. While I was doing this they found me in the Temple, ritually purified, without any crowd or disturbance.”
Acts 25:8
“Paul said in his defense, ‘I have done nothing against the Law of the Jews, against the Temple, or against Caesar.”
Acts 28:17
“Three days later Paul invited the local Jewish leaders to come to see him. When they had assembled he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our forefathers, I was turned over to the Romans in Jerusalem as a prisoner.”
- Each of these statements should be read in light of 1 Corinthians 9:19-22.
- Paul explicitly says “I am not under the Law,” i.e., the Law of the Jews, but subject to the Law of Messiah.
- As a Christian, his newfound freedom in Messiah allows him to “become all things to all people.”
- In Acts, Paul speaks as that new covenant diplomat, like his Lord Messiah.
- Paul may at times keep Jewish Law when among Jews (e.g., taking vows, attending the Temple and synagogues; cf.Acts 21:20–26), to avoid unnecessary offense and perhaps to maintain his Jewish cred among his fellow Jews.
- Like AB says in his footnote to Acts 21:26
"This episode suggests that Paul’s understanding was more radical than James’, but Paul was willing to be diplomatic on this occasion."
- Again, this is in perfect harmony with his strategy outlined in 1 Corinthians 9:20 of becoming “like a Jew” to win Jews.
- It's of course true that all scripture is God breathed and for our instruction, which includes the OC Law of Moses, the prophets, and the writings.
- So we agree with Paul when he says in Rom 7.12, the Law is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good.
- But the question is whether or not Paul continued observing “the whole Law” once he converted to Christianity, i.e., once he became subject to the Law of Messiah and no longer "under the Law of Moses" as he himself confessed in 1Cor 9.20-21!
- The question is whether or not OC commandments like circumcision, the Sabbath, etc., were continued to be practiced and taught by the Christian Paul.
- You might have noticed that my opponent did not deal in his opening with any of Paul's own words like 1Cor 9:21 that explicitly deal with these issues.
- Or others like 2Cor 3 where Paul goes on to describe the 10 commandments, i.e., "engraved in letters on stone," as "the ministry of death," and "condemnation"!
- And how the Law of Moses as a whole now stands as a "fleeting glory," meaning it "was glorious."
2Cor 3:10 For indeed, what had been glorious, now has no glory because of the tremendously greater glory of what replaced it.
3:11 For if what was made ineffective came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which endures!
Diplomacy of Jesus & Paul https://jesuskingdomgospel.com/the-diplomacy-of-jesus-and-paul/
- 1Cor 11:1 Paul commnds "you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ." What I term the Diplomacy of both Paul and Jesus:
- Jesus in Mat 17.24-27 orders his Apostles to pay the Torah-mandated Temple Tax. His reasoning:
“So that we don’t offend them,” that is Torah-observant Jews!
- Similarly in Acts 16 Paul circumcised Timothy, "the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer.....because of the Jews who were in those places."
- In other words not because Paul was preaching and practicing circumcision.
- But even "if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised—as some say I do—why am I still being persecuted?" Paul asks in Gal 5.11.
- Another example of Paul's diplomacy is in Acts 18:18 where Paul takes a Nazirite vow in order to placate Torah-observant Jews yet, they still tried to kill him!
No “Two-Track Christianity”
- Although the curtain of the history of the early church comes down as split, i.e., Jewish Christians Vs Gentile Christians, should not be that way TODAY!
https://jesuskingdomgospel.com/the-anti-grace-of-john-1/
Addendum: Paul & Gentile Food Laws
- The Jerusalem council created its own set of NC laws for Gentiles when it concluded that we should not be circumcised and required to obey the Law of Moses, Acts 15:19
"Therefore [says James speaking for the whole church] I conclude that we should not cause extra difficulty for those among the Gentiles who are turning to God."
- And almost 10 years later James ratified this same conclusion.
- I like this paraphrase from God's Word Translation at Acts 21:25a
"[To clarify this matter,] we have written non-Jewish believers a letter with our decision.
But Paul never cites or enforces the Gentile food laws in his letters—despite knowing them (cf. Galatians 2:1–10). Instead, he:
14 "I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself."
- And again in v. 20b “Everything is indeed clean”
- Paul warned about this new type of Christian "knowledge" (gnosis) in 1Cor 8; 10 that clearly goes beyond the council, who aimed to preserve Jewish-Gentile unity through minimal Torah observance.
1Cor 8.1
Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
1Cor 8:7
However, not all have this knowledge for some, being accustomed [throughout their lives thinking of idols as real and living], still eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and because their conscience is weak, it is defiled (i.e., they feel guilty, ashamed).
1Cor 8:9
Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
1Cor 8:10
For example, suppose someone with a weak conscience sees you, who have this knowledge, eating in a pagan temple.
1 Corinthians 10:23–27 Paul allows believers to “eat whatever is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake” and even to eat at a pagan’s house without inquiry.
1 Corinthians 10:28–29 He only restricts eating when someone points out the food’s pagan connection, for the other’s conscience, not one’s own.
Titus 1:15 “To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled… nothing is pure.”
1 Timothy 4:3–5
Paul condemns false teachers who “forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods which God created to be eaten with thanksgiving.”
- “Everything created by God is good, and no food should be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving”.
- This is a categorical statement that transcends the Jerusalem restrictions.
Colossians 2:16–17, 20–23
Paul warns Gentile believers not to submit to “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch” regulations:
- “These are just human commands and doctrines... of no value”.
- His instruction dissolves all ceremonial food distinctions and shows a complete break from the letter of Mosaic and Apostolic dietary laws.
- Therefore, if you're a strong Christian who has grasped this new type of Christian "knowledge" (gnosis), you should put up with the weak Christian so as not to please yourself. Rom 15.1
- With the goal that eventually all Christians must come to be like-minded in Christ Jesus.
- So that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our lord Jesus Christ.
Rom 15.5-6
For the church is one body in the one Spirit, just as we all have been called to the
one glorious hope for the future.
