Bible Question:
Hi to all, Acts 21:20-24 "On hearing it, they praised God; but they also said to him, "You see, brother, how many tens of thousands of believers there are among the Judeans, and they are all zealots for the Torah. Now what they have been told about you is that you are teaching all the Jews living among the Goyim to apostatize from Moshe, telling them not to have b'rit-milah for their sons and not to follow the traditions. "What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. So do what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow. Take them with you, be purified with them, and pay the expenses connected with having their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that there is nothing to these rumours which they have heard bout you; but that, on the contrary, you yourself stay in line and keep the Torah." Just wondering on the views out there on this verse. It just seems to contradict Sha'ul as historic Christianity has portrayed him. I personally believe that he was a torah-observant Pharisee, otherwise these things mentioned here would not be rumours. Also, it seems that he was not the only one, "tens of thousands of believers there are among the Judeans, and they are all zealots for the Torah." In Y'shua HaMashiach, Talmid (Num 6:24-26) |
Bible Answer: Hello TYHM, Paul was wrong to take part in this action. The works of the Law were of no consequence to him, except to witness to fellow Jews (1 Cor 9:19-23). He even chastized Peter--not for eating with Gentiles but turning them astray (Gal 2:11-14). Paul taught that the Law's purpose was to bring us to Christ (Gal 3:19-29). Why would he continue to live under it if that was the case? It makes no sense. The rumors abounded because of the Judaizers who attacked Paul as he preached the gospel. These people wanted to destroy the work he was doing any way possible--even by inventing lies about something he cared nothing about. Steve |