Acts 21:17-26

Paul was warmly welcomed by the believers in Jerusalem, and then went to see James. This is presumably James the brother of Jesus who wrote the letter bearing his name. Paul gave them a report of his work among the Gentiles.

They then explain to Paul why he is mistrusted by many. Paul had indeed taught the Gentiles that they did not need to be circumcised, and this greatly angered zealous Jews. However, Paul was not against the Law as such. We need to realise that because of their cultural situation, the Jews would only see the matter from their perspective, they would not appreciate how things looked from a Gentile perspective. Paul was able to see things from both sides. In order to demonstrate the truth of the matter, it was suggested that Paul join in with some purification rites, and he agreed to this.

It is worth remembering what an important debate had taken place in Acts 15, and the vehemence with which Paul argues in letters such as Galatians and Romans. Yet he was still happy to go along with the suggestion here. Why? Because he had a clear view of what the argument was about. The Law was only a problem when it was seen as essential to salvation, Paul had nothing against the Law as such. When we get involved in disputes, we may well start off being correct about the central matter, but then we lose sight of the kernel of the matter, and problems arise because of side issues. We can learn a lot from the way Paul handled things. He knew what was really important, and what it was OK to compromise about.

Acts 21:7-16

They continued on there way, stopping at Philip's house. He had four daughters who prophesied. So female prophets clearly existed in the New Testament church. After a while another prophet, Agabus, came. Earlier (Acts 11:28) had accurately predicted a famine.

Agabus gave a prophetic illustration of what would happen to Paul in Jerusalem. The people took this as a reason for Paul not to go to Jerusalem. As in the earlier part of the chapter, Paul saw things differently. He was quite prepared to suffer for Christ.

We learn something again about prophecy here. Prophecy is not fortune telling, not is it "ear tickling". When God speaks He speaks for a reason, and it is usually our response that He is interested in. Through Jonah He told the Ninevites that destruction was coming, but He did this in order to give them an opportunity to repent. We are so easily interested in what is going to happen, the condition of our hearts is much more important.

So Paul and his companions went on their way.

Acts 21:1-6

Paul set sail and eventually arrived a Tyre. Paul spent time with the disciples at Tyre. We then come to an interesting incident. It says that "through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go to Jerusalem". Presumably they believed that God was telling them that Paul should not go. How can the Spirit have been telling them something that was apparently wrong? We are not told the reason in the Bible, but I think the most likely reason is this. The Spirit gave them insight into what was going to happen, the disciples then took this as an indication that Paul should not go. Similarly, Peter urged Jesus not to go to the cross. This is a warning about the use of prophecy. There are a number of key things to bear in mind:

1. Words of prophecy NEVER have greater authority than the Bible, or to put it another way "rhema" words do not have authority over the "logos" word. (In fact way too much is often made of the distinction between the two.)

2. When someone gives us a word we have responsibility to assess that word.

3. When someone gives us a word the responsibility to act or not to act on that word rests with us.

Paul knew that he had to go to Jerusalem, because the Spirit had told him so (Acts 20:22). Never feel pressured by "words" from God. We all have personal relationship with the Lord through the Spirit, and while He may well use other people to help direct us, He will also communicate directly with us.

So Paul set off on his way.

Exodus 20:18-26

The people were terrified and stayed at a distance. Hebrews 12:18-24 contrasts the new covenant with the old one. Both are awesome and holy, but one drives people away, the other draws people in. The old covenant highlights are failings, the new covenant highlights what Jesus has achieved for us and what the Holy Spirit will do in us.

The people wanted Moses to speak to them, not God Himself. Clearly they had seen something that was tangible and real, but they were afraid to receive it, and so wanted Moses to act as an intermediary.

Moses reassured the people that God's only wish was to keep them from sinning, they needed to realise the seriousness of things.

Since God Himself had spoken to them, they must not make any idols or gods. As humans we have a terrible tendency to seek advice or support from anything else but God. We need to be on our guard against this tendency within ourselves.

Then Moses was instructed to make an altar, but was to use only undressed stones. Any attempt my men to make an image of God is defilement.

"When I cause my name to be honoured I will come to you and bless you". God was now on the side of the people.

Exodus 20:1-17

God spoke these words to Moses and gave him the Ten Commandments, perhaps the most well known part of the Bible. These ten commandments form the basis for the life of Israel, and for Christians today. Indeed they form a basis for any society, even non-Christian ones, and when a society deviates from them collapse and decay are quick to follow.

Even the essence of the first five is relevant to all societies. Any society which makes an idol of anything will eventually destroy itself. Nazi Germany made an idol of Hitler and we know the destruction that that brought. Communist Russia made an idol of communism, in fact note the proliferation of idols of human form in communist societies. In the West the idolisation of money leads to sin of all sorts.

The misuse of the name of the Lord always leads to destruction. Many atrocities have been carried out in the name of God, but eventually the guilty are brought to trial.

The Sabbath is also relevant. Man needs a day of rest, societies need times of rest. The relentless drive to squeeze the last ounce of efficiency or profit out of something is always a mistake, with a, eventual cost far greater than any small efficiency savings.

Anyone is wise to pay heed to these laws.

A society that honours its families, especially the parents will be a strong society.

Violence and theft are hallmarks of dysfunctional societies, as are ones where corruption is rife. And adultery is destructive, regardless of what so called wise people might say, as is a society riven with envy.

Exodus 19:10-25

The people had to consecrate themselves because the Lord was going to meet with them, but there were limits to how close they could get to the Lord. If they transgressed these limits they would die.

So Moses consecrated the people. They also abstained from sex, this is because the emissions would make them unclean (Lev 15:18).

When the Lord appeared it was preceded by thunder and lightening, and a loud trumpet blast. Note that these are similar to signs associated with the return of Christ (Matt 24:27; 1 Thes 4:16). The mountain was covered with smoke and the trumpet blast got increasingly louder. Then Moses spoke to God.

The first thing God says to Moses is the importance of being consecrated, otherwise the people would die. Only Aaron was allowed to come up to the Mountain.

One clear message from all of this is that it is God who decides who can approach Him, and how they can approach Him. People sometimes complain about Christ being the only way to God, but that is what God has decided and who are we to argue?

Exodus 19:1-9

They now arrived at Sinai. After having been rescued, God was now going to make a covenant with them and give them His Laws.

God speaks to Moses and gives him the message he is to pass on to the people. God first reminds them how He set them free from Egypt, bringing them out on "eagles wings". He did this to "bring them to himself". We end up in captivity when we stray from God. He rescues us so that we can be with Him. All of God's working in your life is designed to bring you closer to Himself.

The covenant is given in verses 5 and 6. This covenant is subservient to the Abrahamic covenant, and its actual purpose was to illustrate their need for Christ (see Jeremiah 31, Galatians, Hebrews, Romans). This covenant depended upon the people obeying the Law. If they fully kept His covenant then they would be His special possession. Note also that they would be a kingdom of priests. Ie they were to be a kingdom of people who could bring others close to God. The travesty is that the priests ended up keeping people away from God (Matt 23:15).

All the people agreed to do what the Lord said. As we know, they never actually did. We need to realise that this is still true today. Merely agreeing to do God's will is not enough, for we will inevitably fail at some point. We need to be changed from the inside out.