Paul Warned Not to Return To Jerusalem in Acts 21

The Context: "Don't Go Back To Jerusalem Paul"

Let's begin by looking at Acts 21:3. To put it in a bit of context, Paul is returning to Jerusalem after his last missionary journey to the gentile churches. And what's more, this last trip to Jerusalem seals his fate, and so begins his final journey to appeal to Augustus Caesar at Rome; where he was ultimately executed. This is the beginning of the end for Paul's ministry.

Acts 21: 3: When we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo. 4 And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.

Why was that ?

Why did the disciples warn Paul not to go up to Jerusalem?

Dropping down to verse 10 where Paul and his team are staying with the evangelist Philip, we see yet another warning not to go back to Jerusalem.

Acts 21:10 And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 When he had come to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.' " 12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place, pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, "What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." 14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lord be done."

So for the second time in a very short space of time, we see Paul being warned that going up to Jerusalem will mean certain danger.

Despite the Warnings, Paul Returns To Jerusalem For The Last Time

Moving on to verse 15:

Acts 21:15 And after those days we packed and went up to Jerusalem. 16 Also some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us and brought with them a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to lodge. 17 And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.

They knew that he was taking a huge risk coming back to Jerusalem, so it wasn't a simple question of "just pop in for a cup of tea". They knew that Paul's arrival in the city would be a heavy duty event.

Acts 21:19 When he had greeted them, he (Paul) told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law;

The Jews' Accusations of Paul

Now we reach a key verse in this story that is going to be pivotal for what we'll discuss here: Verse 21 of Acts 21:. This was reportedly the accusation that the Jews made against Paul.

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© www.pauls-post-crucifixion-temple-sacrifices.info March 2006.

In Galatians, does Paul really say the Torah law, given by God to Moses, was "done away"? Certainly in Acts even one small & predictable change to an "Old Testament" law about the circumcision of gentile proselytes caused massive turmoil in the predominantly Jewish first century church. Why then, isn't there any comparable tension recorded if most of the other Old Testament laws were "done away"?