The apostle now passes on to that city which had so large a part in his affections, or at least the saints there, little as it might be conceived by those who saw in him only the apostle of the uncircumcision. “And after these days we took up (or made ready) our baggage, and went up to Jerusalem” (Acts 21:15). “Our carriages” would convey a mistaken impression to ears familiar with modern English only. It is possible that at the time of our Authorized Version, the word was used in a double sense, as has been suggested; not only as now for the vehicle which carries, but also for what was carried in it. The Old Testament likewise contains the word in its old meaning, which of course is found in profane writers of that day also. “And there went with us also (certain) disciples from Caesarea, bringing one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge” (vs. 16). An “old” disciple is certainly not exact, and may not even be true, ἀρχαίω expressing not his age as a man, but his discipleship from the beginning. It is interesting thus to find incidentally that Cyprus had been blest of God, not only through the visits of Paul and Barnabas, but even before.
“And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly; and the day following Paul went in with us unto James, and all the elders were present; and when he had saluted them, he explained one by one the things which God wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry; and when they heard it, they glorified God” (Acts 21:17-20). Here we see in full vigor the love and honor which reigned among the saints. Not that there were not trials and special trials in those days: it could not be otherwise. In this world no difference of a religious character could compare for depth with that which severed Jews from Gentiles. God Himself under the law had maintained the separation to the full, as our Lord did up to the cross. This closed the old to introduce the new—the order of grace and of the new creation in Christ which the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven carried out in power and joy and intelligence. Thenceforward Christ becomes all, and indeed He is worthy, as He is all; so is He in all; and the distinction of Jew and Greek, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, bond and free, vanish in Him before God. Yet is there nothing which Christians find so difficult to apprehend and enjoy and practice as Christianity. Nevertheless the Spirit given to every Christian is not a spirit of fear nor of bondage, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind, with Christ before our eyes. The path may be difficult, but as it is true, so is it the exercise of love; and it is all a question of appreciating Christ, and of applying the truth in a spirit of grace. As the law was given by Moses, grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. We have only to believe, not to fear man, any more than to pursue our own thoughts!
The word of God is now revealed as a full answer to Christ, and by the Spirit will be found to solve every difficulty in detail. In no place, however, were the difficulties greater than in Jerusalem, the natural focus of extreme Jewish feeling. Thither the apostle had come, animated by strong feelings of love and pity for his nation, as he himself explains in Acts 24:17. “Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.” This was hardly his proper calling, though the love which led to it always wrought powerfully in his heart, as we know from Galatians 2 and other scriptures.
But there was another reason which made it critical for the apostle. His assigned province was toward the Gentiles (compare Gal. 2:7-9); and certainly the Holy Spirit had given many warnings through prophets along the road. No man, no apostle even, is strong, save in dependence on the Lord; as he said himself, “When I am weak, then am I strong.” For Christ’s “strength is made perfect in weakness.” And Paul above all could say, “Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” But it is instructive to see that Antioch proved a dangerous place for Peter, as Jerusalem did even for Paul. The Lord wrought effectually in Peter, yet it was mainly and conspicuously for the apostleship of the circumcision. He wrought by Paul also assuredly with the Gentiles, if He ever wrought mightily by man on the earth.
But we anticipate. The arrival of Paul and his party in Jerusalem received a hearty welcome from the brethren. It would appear that James’ house was the known place for any special gathering of elders at any rate; as we heard of a meeting for prayer at the house of Mary, mother of John Mark (Acts 12). “The following day accordingly Paul went in with us,” it is said, “unto James”, and all the elders were present,” There must have been very many groups of Christian Jews in Jerusalem, where their numbers were now to be counted by thousands. Large buildings, appropriated to the assembly, were as yet, it would seem, unknown. The present occasion however was not for the meeting of the assembly; only the elders were present. They no doubt came from those many groups, and their meeting together as elders would powerfully contribute to keep up order and unity, without in the least degree superseding, while truth governed in a spirit of grace, the responsibility of the assembly. We can readily understand that James’ house was a suited place for such to meet. The verse does not give us the impression of an assemblage on this occasion only, though it was very likely that the news of Paul coming and come might account for “all the elders” being present at this time. There are constant wants which would call for the meeting of the elders ordinarily; but this occasion of course had the extraordinary element of Paul’s presence.
“And when he had saluted them, he explained one by one the things which God wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.” There was perfect openness on his part. No effort to put prominently forward what God had wrought among the Jews or in the synagogues. He spread before them particularly what had been given him to do among the nations. Doubtless this was intended of the Lord to enlarge their hearts. They were accustomed in Jerusalem to see or hear but little of their Gentile brethren. The apostle put it forward carefully; and when they heard it, they glorified “God” —for this appears to be the true reading, rather than “the Lord.”