TEXT: Acts 21:15-26

SUBJECT: Acts 26

This morning, we'll continue our study of Acts, looking for the Lord Jesus, and praying God will open our souls to his grace and glory.

THE STORY

The story takes place in Jerusalem. Paul is there for a couple of reasons. One is to bring a love offering he collected from the churches to relieve the poor saints in Judea. Years before, the Apostles urged him to "Remember the poor". He was eager to do this, and now--at long last--he's able to do it.

The other thing he's doing is reporting on his missionary work. He doesn't have to do this; his calling is directly from the Lord and not subject to any man's approval. But still, it's a good thing to do. The elders and members of the church are interested in what God is up to in the Gentile world. And Paul is happy to tell them.

When he finishes, James and his co-elders

You notice, they don't glorify Paul or praise him as though he had done it himself. The Gentile outreach was done through Paul--but not by Him. It was the Jesus Christ saving sinners in Ephesus; it was Jesus Christ building His church in Greece; it was Jesus Christ casting out devils in Philippi; it was Jesus Christ raising the dead in Troas; and so on.

glory in the Lord".

The elders are thankful for what Paul is doing. But the Church is a not so happy. They've heard rumors; they've been told he is

Is the charge true? No it isn't. The best way to refute it is to do something distinctly Jewish for everyone to see.

Four men in the church provide the opportunity. They are Jews, of course, who have taken the Nazarite Vow. A Nazarite is a man who devotes himself to God in a special way. During this time, he drinks no wine, eats no grapes or raisins, and stays away from dead bodies and Barber Shops!

After seven days, he shaves his head. On the next day he goes to the Temple and offers five sacrifices: Two sheep, a ram, a grain offering and a drink offering.

Paul joins the men in the vow, picks up their expenses, and goes into the Temple to present Himself to he Lord.

That's the story.

THE MESSAGE

Now what does it mean?

A good lesson from the story is: You should believe rumors. The Church was tying itself up in knots over nothing. Mark Twain once quipped,

That's a good lesson. Here's another: You've got to let people explain themselves. What may look bad or sound bad often isn't. Only "A fool answers a matter before he hears it" says the Proverb. Another one says, "The first one to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him".

Paul was innocent on all counts. He never once told a Jew to become a Gentile. In fact, he did the opposite,

He even went further than that, circumcising Timothy who was only half-Jewish!

A lot of trouble could have been prevented if only the believing Jews had obeyed the Bible!

These are good lessons. We need to learn them over and over again But neither explains the story. But this does:

This is an important topic and often confusing. So let's take it slowly.

In the first place, what is the conscience? It is your sense of right and wrong. Speaking of the Gentiles who don't have the Law, Romans 2:15 says,

In other words, when you help a little old lady across the street, you feel good about yourself. When you push her in front of a speeding bus, you feel guilty. Even if no one catches you. Why? Because you have a conscience--a sense of right and wrong.

In the second place, you ought to always obey your conscience. If you think something is right, you ought to do it. If you think it's wrong, you ought to avoid it. Romans 14:23 says,

In the third place, when it comes to choosing right and wrong, the Bible is sufficient (i.e., it doesn't have to be supplemented by the opinions of men). I John 3:4 says,

In other words, if God does not forbid something, it is not sinful. Even if good people think it is.

In the fourth place, not everyone's conscience is equally enlightened by God's Word. Romans 14:1-2 provides a good example,

The Roman Church is made up of saved people; they all believe in Christ; they all want to obey His Word. But some of the people understand the Word differently than others. Some think the dietary laws of the Old Covenant are still in effect. Others know better. The former are called "the weak"; the latter are called "the strong".

They are not weak or strong Christians in terms of faith or holiness, but in knowledge. Both are sincere, but only some of them know the truth when it comes to "eating meats".

In the fifth place, you must respect the conscience of other believers--even when it's misguided. This doesn't mean you can't shine some light on his error; it doesn't mean you can't pray for him; but it does mean you cannot pressure him to believe or to do what he thinks is wrong. I Corinthians 8 is a wonderful test case. The subject is "Eating meats sacrificed to idols" (which was a big problem at the time--for both Jews and Gentiles).

Let's go through it:

One more thing has to be said: To "offend" (as the KJV puts it) or to "make my brother stumble" (in the NKJV) does not mean "to make mad". If you don't like my choices--too bad! I'm not bound to follow your preferences. But if my choices hurt you by causing you to do what I do--and to violate your conscience thereby, then I'm bound to respect it. Not because my choice is wrong, but because it's not consistent with love.

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This is exactly what Paul is doing in Jerusalem. The New Covenant made Temple worship, sacrifices, and vows unnecessary.

Yet, for the sake of peace and edification, he performed them at a considerable expense to himself. It wasn't easy for a poor man to but ten lambs, five rams, grain and drink offerings.

But pay it he did. Because he loved the Church more than himself.

Do you?

We all have preferences. And some of them are very dear to us. If, for the sake of peace and unity, you had to give up some of them, would you do it?

It's easy to say, "Why, of course I would!" But have you done it in the past? Abstract preferences are easy to give up; it's so easy to sing,

"All for Jesus, I surrender".

But real likes and dislikes are tremendously hard to give up. But, at times, we have to give them up. Love demands it. The example of Paul demands. But, most of all, the example of our Lord Jesus demands it.

If Jesus Christ "emptied himself" for your salvation, can't you give up a few things--if need be--for the happiness and growth of His Church?

You ought to. God make you "Doers of the Word and not hearers only". For Christ's sake. Amen.