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Acts 21

40 verses

TL;DR

Paul journeys to Jerusalem, faces prophetic warnings and Jewish opposition, then is arrested and defends himself before the authorities.

Summary

Paul and his companions travel from Coos to Rhodes, Patara, and eventually to Cyprus, Tyre, and Caesarea. They spend several days in each place, encountering disciples who counsel Paul against going to Jerusalem. While in Caesarea, the prophet Agabus predicts that Paul’s “girdle” will be bound in Jerusalem, and Paul’s companions urge him to stay. Undeterred, Paul resolves to go to Jerusalem for the sake of the Lord’s name. Upon arrival, he meets with James and the elders, and he participates in a purification ritual. A mob accuses him of bringing Greeks into the temple and defiling it; the crowd tries to kill him, but soldiers intervene. Paul is taken to the castle, where he has a chance to speak to the chief captain and the crowd in Hebrew.

Outline
  1. Paul’s travel and prophetic counsel
  2. Arrival in Jerusalem, purification and confrontation
  3. Arrest, intervention, and Paul’s defense
Themes
Divine guidance and human obedienceConflict between Jewish law and Gentile inclusionPersecution of early Christians
Keywords
JerusalemPaulAgabusgirdlepurificationcircumcisionGentilesTemplearrestchief captain
People
PaulAgabusPhilipJamesMnasonTrophimuschief captain
Places
CoosRhodesPataraPheniciaCyprusSyriaTyrePtolemaisCaesareaJerusalemTemplecastle
Things
Paul’s girdlechainspurification ritualthe templethe crowd
Key Verses
  • Acts 21:4: Discernment given to Paul not to go to Jerusalem.
  • Acts 21:11: Agabus’s prophecy about Paul’s girdle being bound.
  • Acts 21:20-22: Accusations that Paul teaches Jews to abandon the law.
  • Acts 21:27-28: The mob’s attempt to kill Paul in the temple.
  • Acts 21:32-35: Intervention by soldiers to prevent the mob’s violence.
  • Acts 21:38-40: Paul’s opportunity to address the crowd in Hebrew.
Questions
  • What does the prophetic warning about the girdle signify for Paul's mission?
  • How does Paul’s decision to proceed to Jerusalem reflect his commitment to the gospel?
  • In what ways does the conflict over Jewish law illustrate the broader struggle within early Christianity?
  • What can we learn from Paul’s defense before the chief captain?
  • How do the actions of the soldiers influence the outcome of the mob’s violence?
Sentiment

mixed
The passage contains both divine guidance and human opposition, leading to a balanced emotional tone.