Acts:21:17-22 17And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers gladly welcomed us. 18And on the following day, Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19After greeting them, he reported one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20And when they heard, they glorified God, and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law. 21And they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. 22What then is to be done? They all will hear that you have arrived.
It has been a few years since Paul visited Jerusalem. It was the first time for others in the delegation. As the group neared the city, they must have been filled with mixed emotions: excitement to see the place where Jesus walked, died, and rose again, but also trepidation knowing what lay ahead for Paul as prophesied by several people on their journey. The reception they received from the brothers (inclusive of all the leaders and believers) was welcoming and must have been a relief that only genuine Christian fellowship can bring.
The delegation met with James, the half-brother of Jesus and son of Mary and Joseph. James had become the defacto leader of the church in Jerusalem, possibly because the other apostles had gone out in mission. This was now several decades after Jesus’ ascension. The church had grown in Jerusalem but also faced a lot of opposition from the Jewish leaders. Other elders were present. These would have represented the other leaders, some of whom would have been part of the council mentioned in chapter 15. Paul gave a detailed report of his travels. The proof of the effectiveness of his mission was right before them all with the Jew and Gentile converts who were with Paul. Further proof was evident in the offering they brought with them. God had used Paul in great ways, but Paul gave God the credit for it all.
James and the elders gave their own report of how thousands had come to believe. The church was growing despite persecution. The initial reception Paul received was muted by what the elders said next. They seemed to be still stuck in the trap of legalism. The many thousands of Jewish believers had heard rumors about what Paul taught in his travels and misinterpreted it. Some of the Jews who opposed Paul during his travels had spread the word, which had reached Jerusalem. They thought Paul was teaching people to abandon Moses, which was a reference to the Torah and all its regulations. Abandon (apostasian) is a strong word that means to apostasize or forsake teachings and turn to false doctrine. These Jews were trapped by the requirement to circumcise baby boys and other customs.
The elders’ question in verse 22 implies that they were more afraid of these legalistic Jewish Christians than having an openness to God’s movement among the Gentiles. They could have also simply been concerned about Paul’s safety. In either case, their response suggests a foreboding and fear of what might happen, as well as little trust in God’s purpose and plan.