Acts 21:21

“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.”

This verse is part of a narrative in the book of Acts that describes Paul’s visit to Jerusalem after his missionary journeys. In this particular section, Paul has returned to Jerusalem and is reporting to the elders of the church about his ministry among the Gentiles. There were certain Jewish Christians in Jerusalem who were concerned about Paul’s teaching and the impact it might have on the Jewish believers.

Let’s break down the verse to gain a deeper understanding:

“And they are informed of thee”: The “they” mentioned here refers to the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. They had received information or reports about Paul and his teaching.

“That thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses”: The Jewish Christians in Jerusalem were informed that Paul was teaching the Jewish believers living among the Gentiles to abandon or forsake the customs and traditions associated with Moses, which could refer to aspects of the Jewish law or ceremonial practices.

“Saying that they ought not to circumcise their children”: The specific issue mentioned here is circumcision, a central practice in Judaism. The report claimed that Paul was teaching the Jewish believers not to circumcise their children, which was a significant aspect of Jewish identity and obedience to the law.

“Neither to walk after the customs”: The customs mentioned here refer to the various traditions and observances of the Jewish people. The report suggested that Paul was discouraging Jewish believers from following these customs.

It’s essential to note that this verse reflects the concerns and rumors that were circulating about Paul’s teaching. The verse does not present Paul’s actual words or beliefs, but rather the accusations made against him. Paul himself was a Jew and had a deep respect for the Jewish law and customs. However, he also emphasized the salvation through faith in Jesus Christ rather than strict adherence to the law for justification.

In subsequent verses, we see that the Jerusalem church wanted to dispel these rumors and asked Paul to perform a purification ritual to demonstrate his commitment to the law (Acts 21:23-26). While Paul agreed to do so in order to maintain unity, it’s crucial to understand that his teaching emphasized salvation by grace through faith rather than by works of the law.

Overall, Acts 21:21 sheds light on the concerns and misunderstandings surrounding Paul’s ministry among the Gentiles, particularly with regard to the Jewish law and customs. It serves as a reminder that navigating the tension between faith in Christ and adherence to cultural and religious practices can be challenging, but unity and love among believers should be a priority.