Jewish Brethren At
Acts 21:17-29 reads,
21:17When
we had come to
21:26Then
Paul took the men, and the next day, purified himself and went with them into
the temple, declaring the fulfillment of the days of purification, until the
offering was offered for every one of them. 21:27When the seven days were almost completed,
the Jews from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the
multitude and laid hands on him, 21:28crying
out, "Men of
Jewish Believers In
Yah'shuah Continued To Observe Both Circumcision And The Law Of Moses
It should be noted from 21:20 that Jewish believers in
Jewish Believers In
It is noted in 21:21 that Jewish believers in
Was The Accusation Against
Paul True?
The important question - was this accusation true?
All evidence picked up so far suggests that the accusation wasn't true,
seeing that Paul himself, a Jew, observed the law of Moses. For Paul kept what
appears to have been a Nazirite vow or one similar to it, and also the
observance of one of Yahweh's feasts at
The Elders Among
Yah'shuah's Disciples In
21:24 clearly shows that the brothers at Jerusalem DID NOT believe the accusations against Paul, clearly noting that Paul walked according to the law of Moses. They therefore understood that those accusations were false accusations against Paul. They therefore advised Paul to act in a manner consistent with Paul's law abiding behaviour, advising him to partake of a Nazirite vow under the provisions of the law of Moses. For, when other Jews would observe him doing so, they would indeed conclude that the accusations against him were false, seeing that they would have observed him keeping the law of Moses.
Paul Walked According To
The Law Of Moses
21:26 shows that Paul indeed abided by the advice he was given. This advice
was fully consistent with Paul's earlier behaviour with respect to his vow at
Cenchreae, as recorded in 18:18. Paul wasn't therefore partaking of this vow
simply to please his
Based On Paul's Conduct The
Accusations Against Him Appeared To Be False
It therefore appears that the accusations against Paul that he taught Jews living among Gentiles to forsake circumcision and the law of Moses were false accusations! Nevertheless, the accusations against Paul persisted.
Why?
Was Paul Being Accused Of
Being A Hypocrite?
Was it that his accusers weren't satisfied that he personally walked according to the law? Was it that his accusers maintained that even though Paul personally walked according to the law, he still taught Jews living among Gentiles to forsake circumcision and the law of Moses? In other words, were Paul's accusers accusing him of inconsistent behaviour, doing one thing but teaching everyone else to do the opposite? Were they accusing Paul of being a hypocrite?
The Nature Of The
Accusations Against Paul
21:28-29 illustrates the nature of the accusations against Paul. For Paul's opponents FALSELY accused him of doing what he hadn't done - bringing Greeks into the temple, and thereby defiling it on account of the Greeks not being circumcised. Just because they had seen a Greek in his company in Jerusalem they falsely assumed that he had also taken that Greek into the temple! Nevertheless, his accusers also contended that Paul taught ALL MEN EVERYWHERE against the people of Israel, against the law of Moses and against Yahweh's house at his designated location of Jerusalem.
What was the truth of this additional accusation, quite separate from the false one of bringing in a Greek person into the temple, to defile it?
Paul Was Well Versed In The
Provisions Of The Law Of Moses
Acts 23:1-6 reads,
23:1Paul,
looking steadfastly at the council, said, "Brothers, I have lived before
God in all good conscience until this day."
23:2The
high priest, Ananias, commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the
mouth.
23:3Then
Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you
sit to judge me according to the law, and command me to be struck contrary to
the law?"
23:4Those
who stood by said, "Do you malign God’s high priest?"
23:5Paul
said, "I didn’t know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is
written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’" 23:6But when Paul perceived that the one part
were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Men
and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and
resurrection of the dead I am being judged!"
Paul's comments before the council clearly show that he was well versed in the provisions of the law, and understood his rights according to the law. By applying the legal rights in his favour he was implicitly saying that he abided by the law, and asked those of the council to likewise abide by the law.
Paul Asserted That He
Believed All Things According To The Law And Written In The Prophets
Acts 24:1-21 reads,
24:1After
five days, the high priest, Ananias, came down with certain elders and an
orator, one Tertullus. They informed the governor against Paul. 24:2When he was called, Tertullus began to
accuse him, saying, "Seeing that by you we enjoy much peace, and that
excellent measures are coming to this nation, 24:3we
accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all
thankfulness. 24:4But, that I don’t
delay you, I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words. 24:5For we have found this man to be a plague,
an instigator of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a
ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 24:6He
even tried to profane the temple. We arrested him. *24:724:8 By examining him yourself you may
ascertain all these things of which we accuse him."
24:9The
Jews also joined in the attack, affirming that these things were so. 24:10When the governor had beckoned to him to
speak, Paul answered, "Because I know that you have been a judge of this
nation for many years, I cheerfully make my defense, 24:11seeing that you can recognize that it is
not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem. 24:12In the temple they didn’t find me
disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the synagogues, or in
the city. 24:13Nor can they prove to
you the things whereof they now accuse me. 24:14But
this I confess to you, that after the Way, which they call a sect, so I serve
the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law,
and which are written in the prophets; 24:15having
hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a
resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. 24:16Herein I also practice always having a
conscience void of offense toward God and men. 24:17Now
after some years, I came to bring gifts to the needy to my nation, and
offerings; 24:18amid which certain
Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, with no crowd, nor yet with
tumult. 24:19They ought to have been
here before you, and to make accusation, if they had anything against me. 24:20Or else let these men themselves say what
injustice they found in me when I stood before the council, 24:21unless it is for this one thing that I
cried standing among them, ‘Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being
judged before you today!’"
The Weakness Of The Case
Against Paul Before Felix The Governor
The weakness of the case of Paul's accusers should be noted. They had one false accusation against him - that of attempting to profane the temple. They also had NO EVIDENCE for the serious charge they brought against him of teaching all men everywhere to forsake circumcision and the law of Moses. In other words, if they had evidence to support their accusation they would have had a strong case. But they had no evidence. Therefore, even if their accusations against Paul were true, Paul would still have been acquitted of their charges, for they lacked the necessary evidence!
It therefore appears, from the perspective of ascertaining truth, rather than just following legal process, that this is not the end of the matter. Evidence of Paul's teachings must be sought in order to determine what he really taught, whether he indeed taught Jews to forsake circumcision and the law of Moses, speaking against Israel, the law of Moses and the temple of Yahweh.
Paul Reaffirmed His Personal
Practices Without Addressing The Charges Brought Against Him
Paul's words in 24:14 should be clearly noted. Paul said that he served the Mighty One of his fathers, "believing ALL THINGS which are ACCORDING TO THE LAW, and which are WRITTEN IN THE PROPHETS"! Seeing that he believed all things in the law and the prophets, and so served the Mighty One, there is absolutely no doubt as to what he PERSONALLY did. He abided by all things in the law and all things written in the prophets. Nevertheless, he did not address the issue put to him, of whether or not he taught all men everywhere against Israelites, against the law of Moses and against the temple of Yahweh! In other words, Paul's response did not address whether or not he taught Jews living among Gentiles to forsake circumcision and the law of Moses!
Paul Affirmed That The
Accusations Against Him Were False
Acts 25:6-8 reads,
25:6When
he had stayed among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea, and on the
next day he sat on the judgment seat, and commanded Paul to be brought. 25:7When he had come, the Jews who had come
down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing against him many and grievous charges
which they could not prove, 25:8while
he said in his defense, "Neither against the law of the Jews, nor
against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all."
It should again be noted that Paul affirmed that he had not sinned against the law of the Jews. This implies that he, being a Jew, upheld it - TOTALLY! He therefore implied that any accusation to the effect that he taught Jews to forsake circumcision and the law of Moses was FALSE!
Paul Believed In The
Prophecies Concerning Yah'shuah Contained In The Law Of Moses And The Prophets
Acts 26:19-23 reads,
26:19"Therefore,
King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 26:20but declared first to them of Damascus, at
Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles,
that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance. 26:21For this reason the Jews seized me in the
temple, and tried to kill me. 26:22Having
therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand to this day testifying
both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses did
say should come, 26:23how the
Christ must suffer, and how he first by the resurrection of the dead should
proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles."
Paul again affirmed that he spoke nothing except the prophecies on Christ contained in the prophets and in the law of Moses! Paul upheld the prophecies on Christ in both the law of Moses and the prophets!
Paul Did Not Address The
Accusation Against Him
Nevertheless, it should be noted that Paul did not address the issue of whether Israelites should forsake circumcision and the law of Moses, which is really the accusation against him. In other words, there is a DISTINCTION between believing prophecies in the law of Moses and the prophets, which Paul did, and doing the law of Moses and the prophets, which Paul's accusers charged that Paul taught Jews not to do! The issue is not whether Paul taught BELIEF in the prophecies concerning Yah'shuah the Christ. That he taught, and that he acknowledged that he taught. The issue is whether Paul taught Israelites to forsake the WORKS of the law of Moses and the prophets. This is what his accusers say he taught, and this is what Paul did not address in his defence! In other words, in his defence, Paul skilfully avoided addressing the charge against him, and turned the issue into another matter, talking about belief in prophecies contained in the law and the prophets, rather than the continuing applicability of the law of Moses!
Was Paul A Hypocrite
Personally Observing Circumcision And The Law Of Moses While Teaching
Israelites To Forsake These?
It is therefore asked - where did Paul stand on the issue that he did not address, that of the continuing applicability of the law of Moses and circumcision upon Israelites? Did Paul teach the Jews that the works of circumcision and the law of Moses ceased to apply, with the only thing continuing in application being belief in the prophecies concerning Yah'shuah contained in the law of Moses and the prophets? The issue is not what Paul personally did, for that has been established. He personally lived according to the law of Moses. The issue is what he taught his fellow Israelites, whether he taught them to forsake observing circumcision and the law of Moses, contrary to his own personal practice! In other words, was Paul a hypocrite to live according to circumcision and the law of Moses while teaching his Israelite brethren to forsake these?
Paul Apparently Observed
The Day Of Atonement
Acts 27:9-12 reads,
27:9When
much time was spent, and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast had
now already gone by, Paul admonished them, 27:10and
said to them, "Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and
much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives." 27:11But the centurion gave more heed to the
master and to the owner of the ship than to those things which were spoken by
Paul. 27:12Because the haven was
not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to put to sea from there,
if by any means they could reach Phoenix, and winter there, which is a port of
Crete, looking northeast and southeast.
Which is the Fast that occurs just before winter? Isn't it the Day of Atonement - contained in the law of Moses? Doesn't the writer of Acts in his reference to the Fast under the law of Moses indicate that their company abided by this Fast, seeing that they had Jews among their company? Doesn't this imply that Paul continued to observe the law of Moses?
Paul Faithfully Preached
Yah'shuah As The Christ From Both The Law Of Moses And The Prophets
Acts 28:23-24 reads,
28:23When
they had appointed him a day, they came to him into his lodging in great
number. He explained to them, testifying about the kingdom of God, and
persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the
prophets, from morning until evening. 28:24Some
believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.
It is again noted that the bases for Paul's teachings of the gospel were the law of Moses and the prophets. He upheld the prophecies concerning Yah'shuah in both the law of Moses and the prophets, believing ALL SUCH THINGS written therein, even as he testified in 24:14!
Paul was initially a persecutor of Yah'shuah's disciples, arresting them and casting them into prison. Yah'shuah personally called him into his service at a time when Paul was on another mission to arrest more of Yah'shuah's disciples.
Paul taught Yah'shuah's disciples in Antioch, mainly non-Israelites. While at Antioch he was both a prophet and a teacher. The Holy Spirit specifically called him for apostolic duty and he became an apostle.
Paul taught both Israelites and non-Israelites that justification before the Mighty One comes through faith in Yah'shuah and not through the law of Moses. He opposed those who attempted to impose circumcision and the law of Moses upon non-Israelites, those who argued that practising circumcision and the law of Moses was essential for salvation.
In time Paul came to be accused of teaching Israelites to forsake both circumcision and the law of Moses. During this time when these accusations were rife it is clearly established that Paul personally lived according to the provisions of the law of Moses. The accusation against him wasn't that he had forsaken circumcision and the law of Moses for himself, but that he taught other Israelites to forsake them even while he abided by them. In other words, Paul was accused of being a hypocrite, telling people to do one thing while he himself did the opposite thing.
In his several defences when so accused before the authorities Paul did not really address the accusation against him. He instead showed that he believed in and taught the prophecies contained in both the law of Moses and the prophets that prove that Yah'shuah was indeed Yahweh's Messiah. He therefore skilfully dodged the accusation against him and turned the proceedings into a different matter, one of affirming and proving that Scripture prophesied of Yah'shuah as Yahweh's Messiah. The issue of whether Paul taught his fellow Israelites to forsake circumcision and the law of Moses was therefore not addressed in his trials before the authorities. This is the issue that remains to be addressed. And to do so Paul's teachings must indeed be examined to ascertain whether or not he taught his fellow Israelites to forsake circumcision and the law of Moses.
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