Paul Arrested in the Temple

From its focus on humility and love, Acts 21 turns to hostility and lies. What a stark contrast between the spirit of Paul and the spirit of the Jewish crowd in verses 27-36. The charges sounded like what Stephen's accusers said about him before stoning him to death. And the accusations are ironic given that Paul was actually undergoing a purification ritual in order to enter the temple. Paul did teach, however, that the Messiah is the fulfillment of the law and the temple—not in a way to denigrate them, but in a way to reveal their true glory as Christ himself taught.