A Plan for the Ages

Paul’s visit with the Jerusalem elders exposed a kind of rift between himself and elements of the Jerusalem congregation who were zealous for the law. James and the Jerusalem elders proposed that Paul heal the breach by paying for the sacrifices of four brothers who had made a vow and were ready to complete it. When Paul entered the temple Jews who were lying in wait accused Paul of defiling the temple and caused a riot. Instead of cementing ties between Paul and the Jerusalem church, the trip to the temple ended with Paul under arrest. The real story here is that God worked through an ill-conceived plan and put Paul in the way of fulfilling his God-given calling to bear Christ’s name before kings.