Acts 21:18-26 And the day following Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present.… Our Lord has said, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35). It was of the very last importance that, in the early days of Christianity, there should be inward harmony and outward concord among the disciples of Jesus. Division would have been grave disaster, if not irreparable defeat. But with the strongest reasons for desiring unanimity and a complete understanding, we have to face - I. GREAT DELICACY OF POSITION AMONG CHRISTIAN BRETHREN, then as now. There is a great deal really contained in the simple statement, "Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present" (ver. 18). It was a meeting of two streams, differently composed. It was a meeting of those who believed in the Law with the addition of faith in Jesus Christ, and of those who believed in Jesus Christ with a high regard for the Law as a venerable but passing institution. Between these and those the Mosaic Law held a very different position, seriously affecting their views of doctrine, of religious activity, and of daily behavior. It required the utmost charity and forbearance on the part of both to maintain positively friendly relations. There must have been no little constraint, there was probably some discomfort in the opening interview. Thus is it now, and for a long time will be, between Christian disciples. Differences of social standing, of pecuniary position, of education and refinement, of ecclesiastical connection, of intellectual tendency (to liberalism on the one hand, or conservatism on the other), will interpose between Christian disciples and make their relations delicate, difficult, strained. II. THE RECONCILING ASPECT. Very wisely indeed Paul passed immediately from the introductory salutation to a full narration of "all that God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry" (ver. 19). This was striking the true note, - the note that brought peace and concord; "when they heard it, they glorified the Lord" (ver. 20). It is certain that if Paul had spoken in an argumentative strain they would not have been thus unanimous; but they all rejoiced to know that through his instrumentality - though he had worked with different weapons from those in their hands - men and women had been turned from dumb idols to serve the living God. This is the reconciling aspect in which to present our cause. However our distinctive views may differ from those of the men whom we meet in conference, or before whom we lay our case, if we can relate a true and simple story of souls converted, of lives transformed, of families or tribes or islands altogether changed and renewed "in the spirit of their mind," we go a long way - if not all the way - to convince those who hear that we are "disciples of Christ indeed;" they will glorify God in us. III. CONFORMITY AND NONCONFORMITY. It remains in doubt whether the expedient of James and of his friends was wise or unwise (vers. 20-24). Certainly it failed in its object. It is also in doubt whether Paul, with his views, was right in yielding to the wish of the elders (Ver. 26); certainly by doing so he endangered his life and lost his liberty without securing his end. But there are some certainties here. 1. That it is right to look at the question before us from our opponent's point of view. 2. That it is wise to conform as far as possible to our opponent's wishes. 3. That we should always be ready to offer or accept an honorable compromise (ver. 25). 4. That the utmost scrupulousness cannot prevent ill-natured or bigoted misunderstanding (ver. 21). 5. That nonconformity may be as honorable and advantageous as conformity (Romans 14:4-7). - C. Parallel Verses KJV: And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.WEB: The day following, Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present. |
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