27 “When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.” (Acts 21:27–29)
Following the Jerusalem church elders instructions (Acts 21:22-24), the Apostle Paul, and the four Nazarites, had almost completed their seven day purification ritual. It was at this time that certain Asian Jews, seeing Paul and the other four began to stir up the crowd. This means that they began to cause confusion and consternation. In other words, these Jews were seeking to create anxiety and worry among the people.
Having seized Paul, they continually shouted and screamed, ““Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”
The Asian Jews accused Paul of teaching against the Jewish people, the Mosaic Law, and the Jewish Temple. They also assumed that the four Jews with him were Gentiles and accused Paul of defiling the temple. Additionally, they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they presumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.
Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “Placards on the low wall separating the courtyard of the Gentiles from the Israelite women sharply warned uncircumcised males not to proceed beyond that point to enter the areas nearer to the temple building itself. Paul’s accusers, Jews from Asia, assumed and alleged without proof that he (Paul) brought an Ephesian Gentile colleague into a forbidden area of the temple precinct.”
In spite of these misleading and false accusations, the inflammatory charges have their desired effect. We will examine what were the results of these accusations when next we meet. WE will see that God the Father was already working His providential will in Paul’s life in order for him to eventually reach the city of Rome.
To this day, the Jews hold the temple area in high respect. However, Jesus proclaimed that God can be worshipped anywhere (John 4:21). The only qualification is that worship of God is to be done in spirit and in truth. Respectively, this means with one’s sincere thinking, emotions and will along with biblical truth.
Soli deo Gloria!
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