NT 9: Paul in Jerusalem

"And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut."

In Paul's final trip to Jerusalem, he went to the temple, bringing a Gentile inside and teaching that the Gospel replaced the Law of Moses.

Chaos ensued. Paul was arrested and received some pardon because he was a Roman citizen.

The things that Paul had been working for--unity in the Church and acceptance of Gentiles into the Church did not come to fruition. That would have been so frustrating, to have your efforts being met with less than favorable results.

Luke wrote the book of Acts as a continuation of his account of Jesus' life. The apostles were continuing the work of Jesus, preaching his Gospel and the good news of his life and resurrection. Paul sought to unify the Church in this Gospel, and he had met with challenge after challenge.

And now, in Jerusalem, he was taken out of the temple and made a prisoner.
In class, we discussed the symbolic nature of Luke's use of the temple doors. Picture the huge doors closing Paul out of the temple. Here was an apostle of God, and he was shut out.

The unity he had hoped for--not here in Jerusalem.
The gospel he had preached--not accepted amongst the Jews.

I mean, Paul was a failure, right?!
Walked right into a trap at Jerusalem, wasn't accepted, wasn't really listened to, and became imprisoned. Even Paul.

Paul knew what would happen in Jerusalem as Agabus prophesied of the events that would take place. Do you know what he said when he heard?
He said, "What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."

Paul was willing to experience failure, imprisonment, and death for this Gospel.
He had more faith than fear, and that's why he went to Jerusalem.

He knew that because of Christ he could do all things.