Chapter 38—Paul a Prisoner
This chapter is based on
Acts 21:17-40
;
22
;
23:1-35
.
When we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the
elders were present.”
On this occasion, Paul and his companions formally presented to
the leaders of the work at Jerusalem the contributions forwarded by
the Gentile churches for the support of the poor among their Jewish
brethren. The gathering of these contributions had cost the apostle
and his fellow workers much time, anxious thought, and wearisome
labor. The sum, which far exceeded the expectations of the elders at
Jerusalem, represented many sacrifices and even severe privations on
the part of the Gentile believers.
These freewill offerings betokened the loyalty of the Gentile con-
verts to the organized work of God throughout the world and should
have been received by all with grateful acknowledgment, yet it was
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apparent to Paul and his companions that even among those before
whom they now stood were some who were unable to appreciate the
spirit of brotherly love that had prompted the gifts.
In the earlier years of the gospel work among the Gentiles some
of the leading brethren at Jerusalem, clinging to former prejudices
and habits of thought, had not co-operated heartily with Paul and his
associates. In their anxiety to preserve a few meaningless forms and
ceremonies, they had lost sight of the blessing that would come to
them and to the cause they loved, through an effort to unite in one
all parts of the Lord’s work. Although desirous of safeguarding the
best interests of the Christian church, they had failed to keep step
with the advancing providences of God, and in their human wisdom
attempted to throw about workers many unnecessary restrictions. Thus
there arose a group of men who were unacquainted personally with
the changing circumstances and peculiar needs met by laborers in
distant fields, yet who insisted that they had the authority to direct their
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