Глава двадцать первая

Acts 21:1–3. When we parted with them and sailed, we went straight to Kos, the next day to Rhodes and from there to Patara. And having found a ship going to Phenicia, they boarded it and sailed away. Having come in sight of Cyprus and leaving it on the left, we sailed to Syria, and landed in Tire; for here it was necessary to lay down the cargo from the ship. Luke uses a strong expression, saying “having parted with them” (those who have been separated from them “ts. - glor. - Ed.)”. And this is quite significant, because after being rejected they could not enter the sea. What does it mean: “they came straight away?” This means that all other places passed by without stopping at them. "Finding a ship going to Phenicia". Perhaps this ship had a stop here in Patara; and they, not finding a ship going to Caesarea, but having found a ship going to Phenicia, set off on it and left Cyprus and Syria aside, since the expression “leaving on the left” was added not without a purpose, but to show that they did not even think of approaching Syria. Acts 21:4–7. And having found the disciples, they stayed there for seven days. They, under the inspiration of the Spirit, told Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Having spent these days, we went out and went, and everyone with their wives and children saw us off, even out of the city; and on the shore, they knelt down and prayed. And, having said goodbye to each other, we entered the ship, and they returned home. We, having completed the voyage, arrived from Tire to Ptolemais, where, having greeted the brothers, we stayed with them for one day. If Paul was commanded by the Spirit, why did he resist? After all, the disciples spoke, knowing from the Spirit about the dangers that threatened him. Yes, they did not convince him “by the inspiration of the Spirit,” they did not directly predict the dangers ahead of him, but, sparing him, they simply said “not to go to Jerusalem.” Acts 21:8–9. And the next day Paul and we who were with him went out and came to Caesarea and, entering the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven deacons, remained with him. He had four maiden daughters who prophesied. Deacon Philip had daughters. But note that his daughters were maidens and prophetesses, and that they most of all achieved through piety that they were even worthy of the gift of prophecy. The writer would not have added that they were girls if it were not worth attention. Acts 21:10–11. While we were staying with them for many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came from Judea; and coming in to us, he took Paul's belt and, having tied his hands and feet, said: Thus says the Holy Spirit: The man whose this belt is will be bound by the Jews in Jerusalem and delivered into the hands of the pagans. This is the Agave who predicted the famine earlier. But the bitter thing is that “they will be handed over into the hands of the pagans.” Note: as soon as he heard that he had to endure many disasters, he began to hurry. Agabus did not say that they would bind Paul, so that they would not think that he was saying, having agreed in advance, no, he said: “the man whose belt this is.” Acts 21:12–14. When we heard this, both we and those there asked that he not go to Jerusalem. But Paul answered and said, What are you doing? Why are you crying and breaking my heart? I not only want to be a prisoner, but I am ready to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. When we could not persuade him, we calmed down, saying: “The will of the Lord be done!” The others wept, and Paul consoled them: and he who was not afraid of his own trials was grieved by their tears. I cry for you, he says, and not for the suffering that lies ahead of me, because for the sake of the Lord Jesus I am ready to die. When they could not convince him, they fell silent because they realized that this was the will of God. It should be noted that those who prevent someone from doing some noble deed should be stopped, even if they cry. And these tears touched Paul himself and weakened his strength. That's why he blames them. Acts 21:15–19. After these days, having prepared ourselves, we went to Jerusalem. Some students from Caesarea also walked with us, escorting us to a certain long-time student, Mnason Cyprianin, with whom we could live. Upon our arrival in Jerusalem, the brethren warmly received us. The next day Paul came with us to James; All the elders also came. Having greeted them, Paul told in detail what God had done among the pagans through his ministry. The word "prepared" means "having taken all necessary things for the journey." “The next day Paul came with us to James.” James was the bishop of Jerusalem; this is the brother of the Lord, a great man and worthy of wonder. Paul tells them what happened among the pagans, not out of vanity, but wanting to show God’s love for mankind. “His ministry,” that is, preaching the gospel teaching. Acts 21:20–23. Having heard it, they glorified God and said to him: You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealots of the law. And they have heard about you that you teach all the Jews who live among the pagans to deviate from Moses, saying that they should not circumcise their children and should not act according to the customs. So what? The people will surely gather; for they will hear that you have come. Do what we tell you. These thousands of Jews who believed are from those who shouted: “His blood be on us and on our children” (Matthew 27:25). However, the Lover of Mankind accepted many of them and their children and bestowed upon them innumerable benefits. Acts 21:23–24. We have four people who have a vow. Having taken them, purify yourself with them, and bear the cost of the sacrifice for them, so that they shave your head, and everyone will know that what they have heard about you is unjust, but that you yourself continue to keep the law. There are many types of vows: some promised sacrifices, others promised money, others promised themselves, and others promised not to drink wine or cut their hair for a certain number of days. These men also belonged to the latter category. Hair was a symbol of death because, like the dead, it does not feel pain. “Having taken them, purify yourself with them, and bear the cost of the sacrifice for them.” That is, he says, imagine the sacrifices that, according to the law, must be made for them, in order to destroy all suspicion. Protect yourself, they say, with deeds, not words. “So that they shave their heads, and everyone will know that what they have heard about you is unfair.” It was customary for those who had made a vow, after purification, to shave their heads and in this form make offerings for themselves for seven days. Aquila and Priscilla did something similar, so that it would be clear that they cut their heads as worshipers of God. Acts 21:25. And we wrote about the pagans who believed, stipulating that they should not observe anything like that, but only keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from strangulation and from fornication. Just as we command the pagans, although we preach to the Jews, so do you help us, although you preach to the pagans. Don't be afraid, it's a matter of leniency. Acts 21:26. Then Paul, having taken those men and purified himself with them, entered the church the next day and declared the end of the days of purification, when an offering was to be made for each of them. Paul cut his hair and performed all the Jewish rituals, but not because he changed his mind (since this would be an act unclean from vice), but because love is lenient. “He announced the end of the days of purification,” that is, he himself announced that the purification was completed. Acts 21:27–29. When the seven days were over, the Asian Jews, seeing him in the church, outraged all the people and laid hands on him, shouting: Men of Israel! help: this man teaches everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place; Moreover, he brought the Greeks into the church and desecrated this holy place. For before that they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city and thought that Paul had brought him into the church. Notice God's dispensation: after some have become unconvinced, others, out of fear that the rest will not be dissuaded, attack Paul. Their restless nature is visible everywhere. Acts 21:30–34. The whole city began to move, and there was a crowd of people; and, seizing Paul, they dragged him out of the church, and immediately the doors were locked. When they wanted to kill him, news reached the commander of the regiment that all of Jerusalem was indignant. He immediately took the soldiers and centurions and rushed at them; When they saw the captain and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. Then the captain, approaching, took him and ordered him to be bound with two chains, and asked who he was and what he had done. Among the people, some shouted one thing, and others another. He, unable to find out anything true due to confusion, ordered him to be led to the fortress. They wanted to kill him and dragged him out of the church in order to commit murder with great fearlessness. Acts 21:35–38. When he was on the stairs, the soldiers had to carry him due to embarrassment from the people, for many people followed and shouted: death to him! At the entrance to the fortress, Paul said to the commander of a thousand: can I tell you something? And he said: do you know Greek? So, are you not the Egyptian who, just before these days, caused an indignation and led four thousand robbers into the desert? They say “death to him!” in relation to Roman custom, since it was the custom of the Jews to shout this phrase against the righteous, just as they shouted against the Lord: “Death to him” (Luke 23:18). “Aren’t you that Egyptian?” An Egyptian appeared, an innovator, a rebel, a seducer and a sorcerer. The devil flattered himself with the hope of taking advantage of this man and presenting both Christ and the apostles as participants in the crimes that were committed by the followers of this Egyptian. Acts 21:39. Paul said: I am a Jew, a Tarsian, a citizen of the well-known city of Cilicia; I ask you, let me speak to the people. We Christians are true Jews, as those who profess the true faith, because the name “Judas” means “confession.” Since the captain asked if he was the Egyptian, Paul first of all rejects this suspicion. And so that he does not think that he is a Jew by origin, he then declares his faith. So what? Didn't he recant? It won't happen! He was a Jew and a Christian. "Let me speak to the people." This is the strongest proof that he was not guilty of anything - he was so ready to defend himself and so wanted to speak to the Jewish people. Acts 21:40. When he allowed, Paul, standing on the stairs, gave a sign with his hand to the people; and when there was deep silence, he began to speak in Hebrew like this. The place itself - the stairs - helped him a lot - exactly what he said, standing high and being tied up. To see Paul bound by two chains speaking to the people - what could be equal to this spectacle? How was he not afraid, looking at such a crowd of excited people! You might be interested in: