# Day 345

# Paul Enters the Temple

Acts 21:15–27

Luke continues:

“We were warmly welcomed in Jerusalem. Paul visited James and the elders. He told them of God’s work with the Gentiles. They praised God for this. Then James said, ‘Paul, there are thousands of Jewish believers here. They all love Moses’ law. But they think you teach Jews to throw out the law.’ This wasn’t true. Paul only taught all people to trust God’s grace.

“ ‘These people will soon know you’re here,’ James continued. ‘So please do this: Four men are going to take a vow in the temple. Go with them and pay their fees. Then everyone will know that you care for Moses’ law.’ Paul knew the Jews could keep the law if they wanted to. And the Gentiles didn’t need to keep the law. Either way, God wants people to believe in Jesus. James and the elders in Jerusalem knew this, too.

So Paul and the men entered the temple. Paul didn’t do this to please God. He just wanted people to stop lying about him. But there in the temple were men who had harassed Paul in Asia. They spied their old enemy. ‘Here’s our chance to get Paul,’ they plotted.”

Questions: What did the Jewish believers think Paul taught? What did Paul really teach?