Acts 21:15-36

21:17 | Paul’s exploits on behalf of the gospel were well known, and his stature within the church was undoubtedly heightened when he arrived with a financial gift for them from the predominantly Gentile churches in Europe.

21:20 | Estimates are that as many as 50,000 Jews in Judea had converted to Christ while maintaining their zeal for all things Jewish. They were in the process of transitioning from Judaism to Christianity. Many of them continued to observe the law – not as a means of salvation but out of respect for God and their heritage.

21:21 | Some false teachers had crept in and spread lies among the churches, saying Paul was teaching that Jewish believers had to forsake Moses and the law completely. This falsehood became the context of many of Paul’s subsequent letters to the churches.

21:23-25 | There were four Jewish believers in the church who were ready to end their Nazirite vow. Paul was to accompany them to the temple, participate in the cleansing rituals with them, and pay their expenses for their haircuts and sacrificial offerings – an act of humility in order to keep the peace and show his support of the law (1 Cor. 9:19-23).

21:28 | Jewish tradition held that the giving of the Law of Moses on Mount Sinai took place around the same time as Pentecost was celebrated. So to say that Paul was against the Law of Moses was an especially serious charge at this time and would only increase the anger of the people toward him.

21:28-29 | Gentiles were allowed in the Court of the Gentiles on the temple mount, but not in the two inner courts, which were reserved for Jews alone. Archaeologists have discovered signs that were posted, warning Gentiles not to leave the Court of the Gentiles area.

21:30-31 | Luke uses graphic terms to describe how the riot started and proceeded. This was a full-scale mob, intent on killing Paul.

21:31-32 | A Roman fortress, called the Antonia Fortress, was located on the northwest corner of the temple mount. The soldiers in this garrison kept a close watch on temple activities, and it was such a disruption that they were there to prevent.

21:35-36 | Paul would have certainly died had the Roman soldiers not intervened. The Jews had taken Stephen outside the city to murder him, but they were so enraged against Paul that they were going to murder him in the city, just outside the temple gates.