Jerusalem, Jerusalem !
And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. – Acts of the Apostles 21:17 ASV
That’s it, really – the end of a THIRD MISSIONARY JOURNEY OF PAUL (and many other apostles and disciples of the risen Jesus Christ).
- THE END of a FIRST MISSION beginning back in A.D. 47 had been about fourteen years after his conversion before Christ.
- 1400 miles through CYPRESS and skirting GALATIA.
- Paul and Barnabas return to the church at Antioch, Syria to ‘report all that God had done.‘
- In ACTS 15, Peter, James, Paul and other leading men of the church meet to resolve issues of JEWS and GENTILES eating and worshiping together, after which apostles were SENT out to the churches.
- These apostles of a SECOND MISSION then departed from Jerusalem to SYRIA and GALATIA in A.D. 49,
- then crossing into Europe (THRACE, MACEDONIA, GREECE & ACHAIA);
- Paul returns to ASIA MINOR, establishing an important church in Ephesus.
- Paul returns to Antioch, via Jerusalem, having travelled a distance of 2800 miles
- A.D. 57
- Paul is about to give an account of his recent 5-year, 2700 mile THIRD MISSION to the church in Jerusalem.
Acts of the Apostles 21:
NOTE: Due to the seriousness of ongoing issues of the Church formally considering Paul's report from mostly Gentile Hellenist Roman cities, please consider the gravity of a more formal Scripture of the American Standard Version (revision of 19th c. English update of the A.D. 1611 King James Bible.) - RH
More People, More Problems
18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
And when he had saluted them, he rehearsed one by one the things which God had wrought among the Gentiles through his ministry.
Acts of the Apostles 21:19 ASV
Let us PAUSE here to consider what witness Paul has 'rehearsed' to this council of Jerusalem Elders.
It's been some seven or eight years since James and and the leaders of the CHURCH SENT this Apostle to the Gentiles with specific anointing and instruction.
The things which God hath wrought !
FIRST: defining a verb made archaic to Common Era ears
Wrought [121x in the ASV]
- Thus all the work that Solomon wrought for the house of Jehovah was finished. – 2 Chronicles 5:1a
- And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah; and he wrought that which was good and right and faithful before Jehovah his God. – 2 Chronicles 31:20
- And it came to pass, when all our enemies heard thereof, that all the nations that were about us feared, and were much cast down in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God. – Nehemiah 6:16
But he that *doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God.
Gospel of John 3:21 ASV [context John 3:19-21]
* ποιέω - is the SAME word Luke uses as 'rehearsed' om ACTS 21:19 - ..he rehearsed one by one the things which God had wrought among the Gentiles..
What hath God wrought, might Isr'l say
Author: Thomas Gibbons AD 1720-1785
Published in 4 hymnals
WROUGHT ! archaic to Common Era worship perhaps, but having a GRAVITY of TRUTH required of Paul to make his case for the Gentiles to cultural Jews.
And they, when they heard it, glorified God; and they said unto him,
Thou seest, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of them that have believed;
and they are all zealous for the law: and they have been informed concerning thee, that thou teachest all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
ACTS 29:20b-21 ASV
James tells Paul why he must address many new believers providing truth and evidence overturning false accusations against the Way made by zealous Judeans.
What is it therefore?
they will certainly hear that thou art come.
Thus saith the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. – Acts of the Apostles 21:11b ASV – prophesy through Agabus for the Apostle Paul
This leader of the Jerusalem church once an unbelieving Galilean Jew (biological half-brother of Jesus) suggests a plan for Paul to convince them.
Do therefore this that we say to thee:
- We have four men that have a vow on them;
- 24 these take, and purify thyself with them,
- and be at charges for them,
- that they may shave their heads:
These purification rites relate to Levitical Law & ALSO required completion of a VOW to the LORD.
and all shall know that there is no truth in the things whereof they have been informed concerning thee;
but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, keeping the law.
Clear PUBLIC evidence of TRUTH !
AND in true leadership form JAMES reminds of their decision already made earlier regarding GENTILE customs:
But as touching the Gentiles that have believed, we wrote, giving judgment that they should keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication.
Paul receives their advise humbly (even knowing somewhat of the outcome), as the Apostle has been counseled by the Holy Spirit.
26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them went into the temple, declaring the fulfilment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them.
ACTS of the Apostles – To Be Continued…
What God Hath Wrought 2
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