Key People: Key People From The BibleSample

Saul/Paul

This chapter is a little controversial. It could be understood to be saying that the Holy Spirit is telling Paul not to go to Jerusalem, and that Paul participating in a Jewish ritual is not what God wanted. On the other hand, it could be seen as Paul being warned about what will happen, but he is not being told by God not to go. What is clear is the church in Jerusalem is now openly embracing Paul’s ministry to Gentiles while still wanting to appeal to Jews. Paul’s desire to connect himself to his Jewish heritage is misunderstood and leads to his arrest.

Paul was trying to convince Jews he was still one of them, but his attempt to build a bridge was rejected. Our best attempts at trying to help people can often be misunderstood. We may want to help someone turn away from an incorrect belief or activity, but it may not be accepted. We can’t control how people respond to what we do, but we can check our motives to make sure they are based on love and a genuine desire to encourage.