Read the text here: Acts 21:1-36.
Paul is on his way back to Jerusalem, hoping to reach the city before the Pentecost festival. It is a farewell tour, and he visits churches in Tyre and Caesarea that he did not found. These were churches founded by missionaries coming out of the original persecution in Jerusalem. He receives a warm reception in Tyre with the community warning him not to continue on his trip to Jerusalem. Paul will not be deterred, and the congregation follows him to the beach in a prayerful farewell.
The tension mounts as he meets with the church in Caesarea, and the prophet Agabus makes a public prophecy concerning Paul’s fate. Once again, the writer of Acts mentions particular women in the story, but does not give the women speaking parts. Paul is staying at the house of Philip who has four unmarried daughters who are prophetesses. The four women are silent, but the visiting prophet Agabus predicts Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem.
Once in Jerusalem, Paul visits James in a slightly confusing meeting. Rumors abound concerning Paul’s teaching with respect to Jews and the law. James appears to inform Paul of the letter he has previously sent to the churches concerning Gentiles (Acts 15:22-29). In James’ account there is no mention of Paul’s involvement in the conversations surrounding the conference that ultimately led to the writing of the letter. Could this lack indicate a continued mistrust of Paul by the Jerusalem church?
James directs Paul to present himself as an observant Jew by participating in a ritual of purification. And not only purification for himself, but Paul must also pay for the ritual costs for four others individuals. Paul agrees and begins the seven day purification ritual. He will not complete it, however, for the conflict with the Asian Jews in Jerusalem now comes to the forefront. The conflict within the church between Jewish Christians and Paul as a minister to Gentile Christians will have to be set aside. Paul is grabbed by an angry mob, and then rescued/arrested by Roman soldiers. The end of the story has begun.
