MPV Commentary

Paul Reports the Events of His Third Missionary Journey

The apostle was deeply anxious about this visit to Jerusalem, due to numerous prophetic warnings of danger awaiting him and his expectation that many who had previously sought to harm him would be present at the feast.

17-19 The brethren received us warmly, but Paul's formal meeting with James and the elders was a more official affair. He reported in detail on God's work among the Gentiles through his ministry, countering the efforts of the Judaizing party to reduce Christianity to a Jewish sect.

20-25 They praised the Lord for what he had done, despite the fact that many in Jerusalem still clung to their Jewish heritage. Some accused Paul of teaching Jews living among the Gentiles to abandon Moses and their ancestral traditions. To address these concerns, four men who were under a vow accompanied Paul as he went through the purification rituals.

24-25 The Church at Jerusalem had already written to the Gentile churches, stating that they should not observe Jewish customs like circumcision or dietary laws. This decision was made in accordance with the famous council held in Jerusalem (Acts 15:19-29).

26-27 A group of Jews from Asia, likely from Ephesus, were still bitter about their previous defeat and recognized Trophimus as a fellow townsman.

28-30 They took Paul out of the temple, shutting the doors behind them to prevent defiling the holy place. News of the disturbance spread quickly to the fortress of Antonia, where the Roman commandant was stationed.

31 The chief captain ordered Paul to be bound with two chains and taken into custody.

32 Some shouted that he should be carried into the castle, while others cried out for him to be executed.

33-34 The commandant struggled to find a charge against Paul that would justify his actions to a Roman officer.

35-36 A mob demanded that Paul be removed from the scene, echoing the cries of those who had condemned Jesus (Luke 23:18; John 19:15).

37-40 Some accused Paul of being the Egyptian who had led a rebellion in the past. They recalled how he had caused an uproar and was now claiming to be a Roman citizen.

38 The narrative is also found in Josephus, although his account refers to a different period of the Jewish rebellion.

39 Paul stood on the stairs, bound with two chains, ready to defend himself before the people. The commandant sat nearby, maintaining order, while the crowd looked up at him from below.

40 A great silence fell over the crowd as they watched Paul speak in Hebrew, his words carried by the stillness of the moment.