Act 21:21, 26 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 21. And they are informed of thee . Reports respecting the conduct of Paul would be likely to be in circulation among all at Jerusalem. His remarkable conversion; his distinguished zeal; his success among the Gentiles, would make his conduct a subject of special interest. Evil-minded men among the Jews, who came up to Jerusalem from different places where he had been, would be likely to represent him as the decided enemy of the laws of Moses, and these reports would be likely to reach the ears of the Jewish converts. The reports, as they gained ground, would be greatly magnified, until suspicion might be excited among the Christians at Jerusalem, that he was, as he was reputed to be, the settled foe of the Jewish rites and customs. That thou teachest all the Jews , etc. From all the evidence which we have of his conduct, this report was incorrect and slanderous. The truth appears to have been, that he did not enjoin the observance of those laws on the Gentile converts; that the effect of his ministry on them was to lead them to suppose that their observance was not necessary--contrary to the doctrines of the Judaizing teachers, and that he argued with the Jews themselves, where it could be done, against the obligation of those laws and customs, since the Messiah had come. They depended on that observance for justification and salvation. This Paul strenuously opposed, and this he defended at length in the epistles which he wrote. See the epistles to the Romans, the Galatians, and the Hebrews. Yet these facts might be easily misunderstood and perverted, so as to give rise to the slanderous report, that he was everywhere the enemy of Moses and the law. Which are among the Gentiles . Who live in heathen countries. The Jews were extensively scattered, and settled in all the large towns and cities of the Roman empire. To forsake Moses . The law and authority of Moses. That is, to regard his laws as no longer binding. To walk after the customs . To observe the institutions of the Mosaic ritual. . The word customs denotes the rites of the Mosaic economy --the offering of sacrifices, incense, the oblations, anointings, festivals, etc., which the law of Moses prescribed. (*) "informed of thee" "concerning" (a) "circumcise"

Acts 21:21

Verse 21. And they are informed of thee. Reports respecting the conduct of Paul would be likely to be in circulation among all at Jerusalem. His remarkable conversion; his distinguished zeal; his success among the Gentiles, would make his conduct a subject of special interest. Evil-minded men among the Jews, who came up to Jerusalem from different places where he had been, would be likely to represent him as the decided enemy of the laws of Moses, and these reports would be likely to reach the ears of the Jewish converts. The reports, as they gained ground, would be greatly magnified, until suspicion might be excited among the Christians at Jerusalem, that he was, as he was reputed to be, the settled foe of the Jewish rites and customs.

That thou teachest all the Jews, etc. From all the evidence which we have of his conduct, this report was incorrect and slanderous. The truth appears to have been, that he did not enjoin the observance of those laws on the Gentile converts; that the effect of his ministry on them was to lead them to suppose that their observance was not necessary--contrary to the doctrines of the Judaizing teachers, Acts 15 and that he argued with the Jews themselves, where it could be done, against the obligation of those laws and customs, since the Messiah had come. They depended on that observance for justification and salvation. This Paul strenuously opposed, and this he defended at length in the epistles which he wrote. See the epistles to the Romans, the Galatians, and the Hebrews. Yet these facts might be easily misunderstood and perverted, so as to give rise to the slanderous report, that he was everywhere the enemy of Moses and the law.

Which are among the Gentiles. Who live in heathen countries. The Jews were extensively scattered, and settled in all the large towns and cities of the Roman empire.

To forsake Moses. The law and authority of Moses. That is, to regard his laws as no longer binding.

To walk after the customs. To observe the institutions of the Mosaic ritual. Acts 6:14. The word customs denotes the rites of the Mosaic economy --the offering of sacrifices, incense, the oblations, anointings, festivals, etc., which the law of Moses prescribed.

(*) "informed of thee" "concerning" (a) "circumcise" Gal 5:3

Acts 21:26

Verse 26. Then Paul took the men. Took them to himself; united with them in observing the ceremonies connected with their vow. To transactions like this he refers in 1Cor 9:20, "And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under under the law." Thus, it has always been found necessary in propagating the gospel among the heathen, not to offend them needlessly, but to conform to their innocent customs in regard to dress, language, modes of travelling, sitting, eating, etc. Paul did nothing more than this. He violated none of the dictates of honesty and truth.

Purifying himself with them. Observing the ceremonies connected with the rite of purification. Acts 21:24. This means evidently that he entered on the ceremonies of the separation according to the law of the Nazarite.

To signify. Greek, Signifying or making known. That is, he announced to the priests in the temple his purpose of observing this vow with the four men, according to the law respecting the Nazarite. It was proper that such an announcement should be made beforehand, in order that the priests might know that all the ceremonies required had been observed.

The accomplishment, etc. The fulfilling; the completion. That is, he announced to them his purpose to observe all the days, and all the rites of purification required in the law, in order that an offering might be properly made. It does not mean that the days had been accomplished, but that it was his intention to observe them, so that it would be proper to offer the usual sacrifice. Paul had not, indeed, engaged with them in the beginning of their vow of separation; but he might come in with hearty intention to share with them. It cannot be objected that he meant to impose on the priests, and to make them believe that he had observed the whole vow with them; for it appears from their own writings, (Bereshith Rabba 90, and Koheleth Rabba 7,) that in those instances where the Nazarites had not sufficient property to enable them to meet the whole expense of the offerings, other persons, who possessed more, might become sharers of it, and thus be made parties to the vow. See Jahn's Archeology, & 396. This circumstance will vindicate Paul from any intention to take an improper advantage, or to impose on the priests or the Jews. All that he announced was, his intention to share with the four men in the offering which they were required to make; to divide the expenses with them: and thus to show his approval of the thing, and his accordance with the law which made such a vow proper, as he had before done in a voluntary manner, when it would not be pretended that it was for double-dealing, or imposition, Acts 18:18.

Until that an offering, etc. The sacrifices required of all those who had observed this vow. Acts 21:24; Nu 6:13. It is a complete vindication of Paul in this case, that he did no more here than he had done in a voluntary manner, Acts 18:18, and as appears then in a secret manner, showing that he was still in the practice of observing this rite of the Mosaic institution. Nor can it be proved that Paul ever, in any way, or at any time, spoke against the vow of the Nazarite, or that a vow of a similar kind in spirit would be improper for a Christian in any circumstances.

(a) "entered into the temple" Acts 24:18 (b) "accomplishment" Nu 6:13