Chapter 37—Paul’s Last Journey to Jerusalem
This chapter is based on
Acts 20:4-38
;
21:1-16
.
Paul greatly desired to reach Jerusalem before the Passover as he
would thus have an opportunity to meet those who should come from
all parts of the world to attend the feast. Ever he cherished the hope
that in some way he might be instrumental in removing the prejudice
of his unbelieving countrymen, so that they might be led to accept the
precious light of the gospel. He also desired to meet the church at
Jerusalem and bear to them the gifts sent by the Gentile churches to
the poor brethren in Judea. And by this visit he hoped to bring about a
firmer union between the Jewish and the Gentile converts to the faith.
Having completed his work at Corinth, he determined to sail di-
rectly for one of the ports on the coast of Palestine. All the arrange-
ments had been made, and he was about to step on board the ship,
when he was told of a plot laid by the Jews to take his life. In the past
these opposers of the faith had been foiled in all their efforts to put an
[390]
end to the apostle’s work.
The success attending the preaching of the gospel aroused the
anger of the Jews anew. From every quarter were coming accounts
of the spread of the new doctrine by which Jews were released from
the observance of the rites of the ceremonial law and Gentiles were
admitted to equal privileges with the Jews as children of Abraham.
Paul, in his preaching at Corinth, presented the same arguments which
he urged so forcibly in his epistles. His emphatic statement, “There is
neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision” (
Colossians
3:11
), was regarded by his enemies as daring blasphemy, and they
determined that his voice should be silenced.
Upon receiving warning of the plot, Paul decided to go around
by way of Macedonia. His plan to reach Jerusalem in time for the
Passover services had to be given up, but he hoped to be there at
Pentecost.
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