Reporting to the elders (v 17-19)

“After we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters received us gladly.” The group arrived in Jerusalem before the Feast of Pentecost. This verse shows that they were warmly welcomed by the believers in Jerusalem. “And the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. After he had greeted them, he began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.” (1) “The following day” likely refers to two days before the Feast of Pentecost. Paul, along with his companions, visited James, the leader of the Jerusalem church. (2) By this time (around AD 57), the twelve apostles were no longer in Jerusalem, as they had been engaged in travel ministry in other regions. The Jerusalem church had undergone a generational transition and was now led by James (the brother of Jesus) and the elders. (3) Paul’s visit was anticipated, as evidenced by the fact that all the leaders of the Jerusalem church had gathered. It had been nearly five years since Paul last met James, the previous meeting occurring in Acts 18:22 (at the end of second missionary journey). (4) Paul testified about the events of his third missionary journey, which can be summarized in three key points: (a) Many Gentiles were saved. (b) It was the work of God. (c) Paul was used as an instrument in accomplishing this work.

Offering

At this point, Paul presented the offering collected from the Gentile churches. In Acts 24:17, Paul states: “Now after several years I came to bring charitable gifts to my nation and to present offerings.” Although Luke does not explicitly mention the offering, it was a matter of great significance to Paul. He refers to the importance of Gentile believers contributing to the impoverished mother church in several of his letters (ref. Rom.15:25-28; 1 Cor.16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8:13-14; 9:12-13; Gal. 2:10, etc.). Luke does not mention the offering because he had a different purpose for writing. The perspective (big picture) Luke sought to convey is summarized in two points: (1) Jerusalem (the Jews) rejected the gospel. (2) The Gentiles accepted the gospel. These two truths gradually become evident during Paul’s stay in Jerusalem. Today, we live in a time when the Jewish people are increasingly accepting the gospel. Let us pray to see the big picture regarding our own lives and the unfolding of God’s plan.