Lesson 2788

(Lesson 2788)(08-12-19) Acts 21:18-26
    “And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law. As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.”

    It is wise that we pay particularly close attention to what is being said in today’s quote, as well as these next few lessons that will reveal the author’s account of what transpired during Paul’s very revealing meeting with the church at Jerusalem.
    The conversations that occurred between Paul and the other apostles will help to confirm much of what our studies have already revealed. That being how the Jewish influence produced an erroneous version of the “gospel” that I believe would eventually become many of today’s isms, most importantly, Roman Catholicism.
    The fear of the Jews actually forced many of the true Christians in Jerusalem, (those who actually adhered to, and taught, the pure gospel of Jesus Christ), to separate themselves from those disciples who were incorporating much of the Law of Moses into the doctrine of Jesus Christ. In tomorrows lesson we will go into the details of what actually transpired between Paul and the “Christian” Jews at Jerusalem. ~