Acts 21:15

Acts 21:15 says, And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.  Paul and his group took up their carriages and came to Jerusalem.  Paul traveled by whatever means was available to spread the gospel, and so should we.  Verse sixteen adds, There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.  Certain of the disciples of Caesarea went with them, and there was with them an old disciple named Mnason, with whom they were to lodge. Even though they tried to talk Paul out of going, they were now there with him.  Sometimes, we may only be able to support God's workers with prayer, but sometimes we may be able to go with them.  Verse seventeen continues, And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.  When they got to Jerusalem, the brethren received them gladly.  Verse eighteen concludes, And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.  The following day, Paul went with them to see James, and all the elders were present. Paul was not attempting to slip into Jerusalem nor was he ignoring those Christians and their leaders who were already at work there.  We need to always be bold in our work for the Lord and we need to always work with our fellow Christians.  Though we must be bold, we must never be boastful.  Paul did not come into Jerusalem as though he were better than other Christians.  He went to them and reported what things God had wrought by his ministry among the Gentiles. Notice he did not say let me tell you what I have done, but instead what God had done through him.  If we ever take the emphasis off what God has done and put it on what we have done, then the glory goes to us.  There are times today when preachers or evangelists, while seeming to give God the glory, seem to somehow keep the emphasis on themselves.  Paul did not go boasting about what he had done, but about what God was doing in the world around him through his ministry.   Verse nineteen states, And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.  Paul saluted the elders and told them what particular things God had achieved among the Gentiles by his ministry.  Paul told the elders of his work with the Gentiles.  This was what had the Jews so upset to start with.  Still, even with all the warnings of trouble awaiting him in Jerusalem, he stayed true to his call.  We can never be successful in doing God's will if we try to placate the world.  If we attempt to appease the world, then before long, there will be no difference between the Christian and the lost people of the world.  Instead of turning the world upside down for Christ, we will turn the gospel into a powerless belief.  Verse twenty adds, And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:  We are told when they heard what had been accomplished through Paul's ministry, they glorified God.  Whenever we hear people being saved, we should always glorify God, no matter who they are.  Verse twenty-one continues, And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. The elders glorified God and added a qualifier.  They asked Paul to look at the many thousands of Jews who believed and they were zealous of the Law.  They were upset that Paul taught that circumcision was no longer required.  We are told the Law was given to point us to God and to show us our inability to be saved by the Law. Christ came to set us free from the Law by His giving Himself in our place.  Circumcision was a sign identifying a person as one of God's chosen people, but the new sign was the cross of Christ.  The elders at Jerusalem had already said that circumcision was unnecessary (Acts15:10) and was a burdensome yoke, but some Jewish Christians were still unwilling to accept this.  Since there were thousands of them, the elders were worried about how they would receive Paul.  The elders then stated that Paul had taught that circumcision was unnecessary, though they themselves had agreed with the truth.  If Christians today start to add requirements for salvation more than believing that Jesus Christ died for our sins and salvation comes only through belief in Him, we need to stand firm against that teaching.  It does not matter how many thousands of professing Christians say otherwise.  The elders should have been working to correct the Jewish Christians belief instead of attempting to make Paul more acceptable to them.  An example today is that some people teach that you must be baptized to be saved, and this leads to infant baptism to ensure their salvation.  We cannot support this belief just because thousands or millions of people believe it.  Baptism is a sign of obedience to Christ after salvation, but it in no way is a requirement of salvation.  We must follow what the Bible teaches if we are going to be a follower of Christ and work to correct errors people attempt to add as a requirement for salvation.