We’re about to see Paul’s discipline from God for compromising on the grace of God, and going in to the Temple and making a vow. Remember, Paul started by getting out of the geographical will of God, then as a result he got out of the operational will of God.

Acts 21:27-28

27 When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him,

28 crying out, "Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place."

That word “stir up” is from the Greek SUGCHEO, which means to throw an assembly in to disorder and confusion. What is it these self-righteous legalistic believers are doing? They are starting a riot!

Acts 21:29-31

29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. (Which Paul had NOT done! – rarely is a riot concerned about the facts!)

30 Then all the city was provoked, and the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut.

“Provoked” means stirred up in violent emotion, or to be caused to riot. This is the result when legalistic people become emotional and arrogant. Keep in mind that these are not unbelievers rioting and trying to kill Paul – they are Christians! Paul could have easily been killed by these emotional legalistic believers. But as long as he’s alive, God has a plan for his life.

Now look who actually comes to Paul’s rescue:

31 While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.

32 At once he took along some soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

The Romans represented law and order. The Jews had failed to maintain law and order, and were therefore still under Roman rule. Look how this UNbelieving Roman ruler handles the situation:

Acts 21:33-36

33 Then the commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; and he began asking who he was and what he had done.

34 But among the crowd some were shouting one thing and some another, and when he could not find out the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.

Legalism and ignorance and rejection of the grace of God have ruined the Jerusalem church. Think of their hypocrisy – they were hungry and starving, and Paul brought them a large financial gift because he cared for them. But instead of recognizing the grace of God in that gift, they sought to impose their legalistic views on Paul.

Of course, Paul had good intentions in trying to help the Jerusalem church. But good intentions cannot save you when you compromise on the principles of the Word of God.

Look at the total confusion that legalistic religion brings on:

35 When he got to the stairs, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob;

36 for the multitude of the people kept following them, shouting, "Away with him!"

There’s also no record of the Jerusalem church offering any prayers or any help for Paul while he was imprisoned in Jerusalem. Other churches helped him.

It will take Paul a couple of years to get his head back on straight, and recover from the influence of religion and legalism. But, as you know, while he’s here he will write some of the greatest epistles in the New Testament. In one of them, we see Paul’s appraisal of his situation:

Philippians 3:13-14

13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,

14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

If Paul can make a colossal mistake like this, WE ALL CAN! But learn the lesson from Paul that even when we totally mess up, and compromise on the Word of God that we have learned, and misrepresent the character and nature of God, that God can still make everything turn out for the ultimate good. If Paul wasn’t in prison, we wouldn’t have this passage in Philippians! So have that same attitude that Paul had – forget what lies behind, and reach forward to what God has in store for you.