Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Acts Chapter 21
Metaphysically Interpreting Acts 21:1-16
21:1And when it came to pass that were parted from them and had set sail, we came with a straight course unto Cos, and the next day unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara: 21:2and having found a ship crossing over unto Phoenicia, we went aboard, and set sail. 21:3And when we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed unto Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unlade her burden. 21:4And having found the disciples, we tarried there seven days: and these said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not set foot in Jerusalem. 21:5And when it came to pass that we had accomplished the days, we departed and went on our journey; and they all, with wives and children, brought us on our way till we were out of the city: and kneeling down on the beach, we prayed, and bade each other farewell; 21:6and we went on board the ship, but they returned home again.
21:7And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais; and we saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. 21:8And on the morrow we departed, and came unto Caesarea: and entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we abode with him. 21:9Now this man had four virgin daughters, who prophesied. 21:10And as we tarried there some days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 21:11And coming to us, and taking Paul's girdle, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, Thus saith the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. 21:12And when we heard these things, both we and they of that place besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 21:13Then Paul answered, What do ye, weeping and breaking my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 21:14And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
21:15And after these days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem. 21:16And there went with us also certain of the disciples from Caesarea, bringing with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.
Sunday, January 10, 1914: Acts 21:3-12
SILENT PRAYER: I am not afraid of opposition.
There is always a central truth in every lesson, which is the gist of the whole text, and when we have it, and appropriate the teaching, we have the key. The central truth of today's lesson is the going to Jerusalem at all hazards. Jerusalem is the center of the spiritual consciousness, the very acme of high perception. It requires more than ordinary courage for the apostle of Jesus Christ, the I Am, to go up to Jerusalem. We sometimes call it making “high statements.” We know that we shall have to prove our words and that old states of consciousness both within and without will rise up in arms against us.
But the apostle who is desirous of fulfilling the highest possibility of his being does not quail at these opposing forces. He knows that courage and boldness in a good cause bring their reward. The Word of Truth spoken from the highest mount of spiritual perception never fails to command attention, and in due time brings forth good fruit, although the speaker may meet with ridicule and condemnation from those who do not see the deep conviction of right and powerful motive from within.
Paul represents the Word of Truth going into all parts of the consciousness proclaiming the I Am doctrine of Jesus the Christ. The spiritual center (Jerusalem) is under the dominance of the Jews who cling to the Mosaic law and make a great religious outcry against the new kingdom which the I Am of Christ proposes to set up. We are not to let the old religious convictions and teachings deter us from proclaiming in their ears that which we know to be true. Jesus Christ is King of the Jews (our religious ideas), and this Paul, with his True Words, must go without fear of results into the most holy parts and there plant the seeds of the new church, or new state of consciousness.
It may seem for the time being that our words have borne no fruit, but that on the other hand we have been put in prison by these narrow-minded Jews. But if we are faithful to the God who is Spirit, we shall be swiftly delivered from them.
If we turn to material law in our extremity, the fruit of our words will be slow in coming to ripeness. This seems to be the lesson we are to learn in the appeal of Paul to Caesar. In for extremity he claimed his Roman citizenship and asked the protection of man-made law. It was granted and he was put in chains and sent to Rome. Had he adhered to spiritual ways and sung songs of praise, and given thanks to God for his speedy deliverance, he would doubtless have received the same divine help that he and Silas did on a former notable occasion.
Yet the True Word finally bore its fruit and the trip to Jerusalem and imprisonment in Rome brought forth abundantly in after years. So every word of Truth we speak will surely make itself manifest, and that manifestation will be swift or slow, according to our loyalty to spiritual ways under every trial.
– UNITY magazine.
October 23, 1921: Acts 21:1-17
What is the consequence when we establish in consciousness a clear conception of Truth? We see only the goal of attainment, and are not to be deterred by the little hindrances of the mortal.
What does the path through Cos, Rhodes, Phoenicia, Cyprus, and coming to Caesarea symbolize? Each of these places symbolizes certain pleasant phases of consciousness in man who is seeking the highest; but they are not, strictly speaking, on the spiritual plane. Cos means summit; Rhodes, roses; Phoenicia, land of palm trees; Cyprus, fairness; Caesarea, dominant world power.
What does Agabus symbolize? Agabus symbolizes that in us which perceives the different forces working in the soul, at what point of contact these forces are liable to clash, and the evident outcome. This is known in man's consciousness as the power of prophecy.
What opposing force in Jerusalem, the religious consciousness, would hinder the word, presented by Paul, from doing its work? Fixed traditional religious thoughts, the Jews, follow the letter of the law, rather than the living Truth, which seeks to unite in spiritual harmony both Jews and Gentiles.
Can the living word be killed? No. Paul's words of Truth were bound for a time, but they have filled the whole world. So it is with the living words of Truth now being sown in our consciousness.
November 15, 1936: Acts 21:12-13
What does the city of Jerusalem represent? The faculty of love in consciousness, and also the “place of peace.” As Jerusalem often was and still continues to be a center of turmoil and strife, so the heart of man often is a stranger to the peace that under divine law is his for the claiming.
Metaphysically Interpreting Acts 21:17-26
21:17And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 21:18And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. 21:19And when he had saluted them, he rehearsed one by one the things which God had wrought among the Gentiles through his ministry. 21:20And they, when they heard it, glorified God; and they said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of them that have believed; and they are all zealous for the law: 21:21and they have been informed concerning thee, that thou teachest all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children neither to walk after the customs. 21:22What is it therefore? They will certainly hear that thou art come. 21:23Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men that have a vow on them; 21:24these take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges for them, that they may shave their heads: and all shall know that there is no truth in the things whereof they have been informed concerning thee; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, keeping the law. 21:25But as touching the Gentiles that have believed, we wrote, giving judgment that they should keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication. 21:26Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them went into the temple, declaring the fulfilment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them.
February 28, 1915: Acts 21:13-19
The eternal years of God are hers;
But error, wounded, writhes in pain,
And dies amid her worshipers.”
When we have once gotten a clear concept of the Absolute Truth, we are willing to face the fiercest foes and endure the greatest hardships, if by so doing we think we are carrying forward the will of God. Cold reasoners have regarded with astonishment and incredulity the sacrifices and hardships which the Christians in all ages have gladly undertaken that the gospel of Jesus Christ might be established in the minds of the people. They have called it religious insanity, fanatical zeal for the unknown and mysterious, etc. Yet those intoxicated of God have carved deep upon the tablets of history and the hearts of men their heroism and their doctrines. Jesus was crucified like a felon, and his few followers scattered, yet when the civilized world viewed with alarm the widening power of Napoleon, he said there was one, namely Jesus Christ, who without fighting a battle had conquered every nation.
This conviction in the mind that the Truth of God, which has been so clearly discerned, must win in the end, becomes a fact so palpable that all minor considerations are submerged. When a proposition based upon principle, even in the common affairs of life, gets possession of man's mind, he will sacrifice to the limit in order to demonstrate it. Elias Howe was for twenty years a martyr to his idea of a sewing machine before he made one that would actually sew, and Goodyear for a lifetime sacrificed himself and his family that we might enjoy the adaptability of rubber as we have it today.
When these truths of minor importance take such firm hold on men's minds, why should we marvel at the zeal which possesses the soul to demonstrate the Truth of all truths, the adoption of God-Mind to every need of humanity?
This is the idea which has seized Paul, and he is determined to reconcile Jew and Gentile. This is the object of his journey to Jerusalem. In applying this to our individual consciousness we find that there is a separation between our religious thoughts and our worldly thoughts. The Jews represent the religious thoughts, and the Gentiles the worldly thoughts. We have built up a Sunday religion and thrown around it a wall of sacredness. In it are rites and ceremonies and sacrifices according to a standard fixed by some sect, whose teaching about God we have accepted as true. Then the bread Truth of the Holy Spirit enters the mind and begins to break down this wall of separation between the religious thoughts and the worldly thoughts. It perceives that the principles involved in the Fatherhood of God must go to the uttermost parts of the mind and body and unify them in the Spirit.
In this process the Truth, represented by Paul, meets with opposing thoughts from many directions. Jerusalem is the citadel of crystallized thoughts about religious matters, and the Truth must enter into it and speak the word that frees. The many warnings Paul received of obstacles to be overcome did opt deter him from going right forward. When we see danger and allow it to terrify us, we are not yet equal to the highest spiritual outpouring of power. When we are warned of danger, and are not deterred nor fearful, but take advantage of the warning to be wary, then we are sure to win. It was once reported to Napoleon that one of his officers turned pale when ordered to a dangerous duty. “That officer,” replied Napoleon, “is one of the bravest in the whole army; he sees most clearly the danger, but will do his duty in spite of it.” Paul was of this type. He said, “What mean ye to weep and break my heart, for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
– UNITY magazine.
Metaphysically Interpreting Acts 21:27-36
21:27And when the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the multitude and laid hands on him, 21:28crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place; and moreover he brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath defiled this holy place. 21:29For they had before seen with him in the city Trophimus the Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple. 21:30And all the city was moved, and the people ran together; and they laid hold on Paul, and dragged him out of the temple: and straightway the doors were shut. 21:31And as they were seeking to kill him, tidings came up to the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 21:32And forthwith he took soldiers and centurions, and ran down upon them: and they, when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, left off beating Paul. 21:33Then the chief captain came near, and laid hold on him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and inquired who he was, and what he had done. 21:34And some shouted one thing, some another, among the crowd: and when he could not know the certainty for the uproar, he commanded him to be brought into the castle. 21:35And when he came upon the stairs, so it was that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the crowd; 21:36for the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, Away with him.
Metaphysically Interpreting Acts 21:37-40
21:37And as Paul was about to be brought into the castle, he saith unto the chief captain, May I say something unto thee? And he said, Dost thou know Greek?21:38Art thou not then the Egyptian, who before these days stirred up to sedition and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins? 21:39But Paul said, I am a Jew, of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and I beseech thee, give me leave to speak unto the people. 21:40And when he had given him leave, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with the hand unto the people; and when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, saying,
October 1, 1933: Acts 21:39
Paul claimed to be a Jew, What does the Jew represent? The Jew represents one who has broken away from the bondage of materiality (Egypt) and is on the way to spiritual consciousness (the Promised Land).
October 6, 1946: Acts 21:39
With what should we habitually identify ourselves? With our ideal self or the self that is instinct with Truth. We may identify ourselves with what we are willing to acknowledge ourselves to be now, but our highest claim of identity is with that which we wish to be or to become.
What symbology do we find in Paul's affirmation “I am a Jew”? In this statement we see an acknowledgment that faith is essentially a spiritual, not a material, faculty; that its rightful function is to transform material existence into a higher and more enduring quality of life. Abraham (faith) immigrated into Canaan (lowland). He was not a native of that region.
What meaning is apparent in the words “I am a Jew, of Tarsus in Cilicia”? A city represents an aggregation of thoughts. Paul identified himself with his city as well as with his nation. Tarsus (“tranquillity,” “pleasantness”) represents a group of thoughts of an intellectual character in our consciousness, a group that blends with the more deeply inspirational phase of understanding that is spiritual.
Sunday, November 6, 1921: Acts 21:27-40
What does Jerusalem represent in consciousness? The meaning of Jerusalem is, “He shall have peace.”
As represented in this lesson, what state of consciousness is dominant in Jerusalem? Jerusalem is here shown to be controlled by religious bigotry, intolerance, and destructiveness. People represent thoughts and the religious people of Jerusalem were determined to stamp out any idea not in harmony with their orthodoxy.
What does Paul represent in this lesson? Paul represents the fearless word of Truth in its attempt to break down a crystallized and non-progressing spirituality.
What is the significance of “the seven days were about completed,” referring to Paul’s seven days purification, mentioned in a previous chapter? There are seven movements of mind in all creative processes on the material plane. The Jews had ordinances for each day, which were the outer representations of the inward creative word.
What are these seven processes or states of mind according to Genesis? The first is the affirmation of light, or intelligence: “And God said, Let there be light, and there was light.” The second is faith: “And God made the firmament,” and called it “heaven.” The third is visibility, the work of the imagination. The fourth day is will and understanding: “to divide the light from the darkness.” The fifth day is the recognition of law and order. The sixth day is the movement in which man affirms himself to be the image and likeness of God. The seventh day is the rest in the consciousness that all is good the spiritual realization of completion.
How does the Truth defend itself? The Truth does not fight, nor seek to destroy its enemies; it uses the word of Truth to harmonize the turmoil that has been aroused in Jerusalem, the city of peace within everyone.
Sunday, November 15, 1925: Acts 21:27-39
What is the metaphysical meaning of Paul’s being charged with bringing Greeks into the temple? Only Jews were allowed in the inner courts of the temple at Jerusalem. Metaphysicians find a parallel to this rule of the Jews that Gentiles should not be admitted to the inner courts of the temple. Until they are firmly grounded in Truth, they must guard against letting their spiritual thoughts and their material thoughts mix, because the material thoughts do not understand the symbols of the spiritual. When, however, the Gentiles (material thoughts) are spiritually quickened and their minds are disciplined, they pass from material consciousness to “spiritual consciousness.” They are then virtually Israelites; that is, they understand the reality of being.
How do we account for the Jews’ violent opposition to the teachings of Paul? Paul's vehement presentation of Truth aroused the antagonism of the Jews. Metaphysicians who are unusually enthusiastic in proclaiming Truth often experience what is called chemicalization, in both mind and body. The old established states of consciousness resist the new ideas, and there ensues in consciousness a clashing that might be termed a riot.
Did the Jews have a broad understanding of God's impartiality and love? The Jews were taught that they were the chosen people and that all other races were heathen. Paul sought to show the Jews, by argument, a more generous interpretation of the law. He did not take into consideration the dogmatism and the intolerance of religious partisans. The Jews had accepted their religious tenets on faith and their minds had crystallized around certain religious dogmas. To argue with those who are thus bound religiously, creates antagonism and anger. History shows that the so-called heretic seldom has been allowed to argue his cause; his destruction has been forthwith demanded by religious fanatics.
How shall we best overcome the bigotry and the intolerance of established religious beliefs, in others and in ourselves? Those who have been religiously trained to condemn as evil and error the religious teachings of sects, other than the one to which they are joined, have built a wall of separation between what the Scriptures term the Jew and the Gentile. The religious and the secular, the good and the bad, are unchangeably stamped in their minds. To overcome these fixed ideas, one must realize the truth that God is the God of both the saint and the sinner, that the same life and the same substance enter into both the good and the evil. The difference in results is merely a difference in the use of the attributes of Spirit. Love is the great leveler and unifier. Love overcomes the world. Jesus represents the universal love that mingles with the good and the bad, and raises to its standard everything that it touches. “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” When the Spirit of the loving Father is active within us, we do not fight for Truth, neither do we appeal to Caesar to save us from our enemies.
Sunday, November 15, 1931: Acts 21:27-39
What is the metaphysical meaning of Paul’s being charged with bringing Greeks into the temple? Only Jews were allowed in the inner courts of the Temple at Jerusalem. Metaphysicians find a parallel to this rule of the Jews that Gentiles should not be admitted to the inner courts of the temple. Jews represent understanding of spiritual Truth. Gentiles represent intellectual concepts of Truth. These do not harmonize, and a separation, represented by the two courts in the temple, is found necessary. When, however, the Gentiles (intellectual thoughts) are spiritually quickened and disciplined, they pass to spiritual consciousness. They are then virtually Israelites; that is, they understand the reality of Being.
How do we account for the Jews’ violent opposition to the teachings of Paul? Paul's vehement presentation of Truth aroused the antagonism of the Jews. Metaphysicians who are unusually enthusiastic in proclaiming Truth often experience what is called chemicalization, in both mind and body. The old established states of consciousness resist the new ideas, and there ensues in consciousness a clashing that might be termed a riot.
Did the Jews have a broad understanding of God's impartiality and love? The Jews were taught that they were the chosen people and that all other races were heathen. Paul sought to show the Jews, by argument, a more generous interpretation of the law. The Jews had accepted their religious tenets on faith and their minds had crystallized around certain religious dogmas. To argue with those who are thus bound religiously creates antagonism and anger. History shows that the so-called heretic seldom has been allowed to argue his cause; his destruction forthwith has been demanded by religious fanatics.
How shall we best overcome the bigotry and intolerance of established religious beliefs in others and in ourselves? Those who condemn as evil and erroneous the religious teachings of sects other than the one to which they are joined have built a wall of separation between what the Scriptures term the Jew and the Gentile. The religious and the secular, the good and the bad, are unchangeably stamped in their minds. To overcome these fixed ideas, one must realize the truth that God is the God of both the saint and the sinner, that the same life and the same substance enter into both the good and the evil. The difference in results is merely a difference in the uses of the attributes of Spirit.
What is the great leveler an unifier? Love is the great leveler and unifier. Love overcomes the world. Jesus represents the universal love that mingles with the good and the bad, and raises to its standard everything that it touches. “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” When the Spirit of the loving Father is active within us, we neither fight for Truth, nor appeal to Caesar to save us from our enemies.
November 15, 1936: Acts 21:27-34
What is the chief hindrance to our acceptance of Truth? Our fixed religious beliefs (the Jews) assume the role of Truth in our minds, so that we are prone to think that we already possess it.
The “Jews from Asia” charged Paul with teaching “all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place” (the Temple). Interpret this charge metaphysically. The Jews from Asia represent man’s inmost and most tenaciously held religious convictions. The “people” are symbols of our thoughts, either original or gleaned from random outside sources. The law is another name for the worldly authority that we acknowledge as the guide of our actions.
In this lesson what does Paul represent? Paul represents the all-encompassing truth of the Holy, Spirit as it enters the mind to dissipate ignorance and superstition.
Does the truth of the Holy Spirit introduce into man’s body consciousness (the “temple”) any foreign element? The work of Truth is not to introduce a foreign element (Trophimus) into the body consciousness, but to spiritualize that consciousness through love and peace.
How is Truth shut out of the body consciousness? The sense man shuts Truth out of his body consciousness by refusing to see that desire may be made a spiritual force.
In this lesson what is represented by the “chief captain of the band”? This Roman officer represents man's will to know the Truth and bring order out of the chaos of his undisciplined thoughts.
Metaphysically, what were the two chains with which the chief captain commanded Paul to be bound? The first is the chain of identity. Through the I AM man identifies himself with what he thinks is true of him, but which is often true only in appearance. The sense man therefore cherishes mistaken identity. The second chain is that of past action or experience (what man has done). Both these things bind man to temporal things.
October 3, 1909: Acts 21:27-39
According to the history recorded in Acts, Paul and his companions had gone to Jerusalem bearing the gifts from the Gentile churches to the mother church. Although Paul had become a Christian he maintained that he was a Jew and was entitled to certain privileges, which he argued were allowed to Gentiles by the Jewish law. He taught that the forms of the law, such as circumcision, could not save one, not even a Jew, but only faith in the Lord Jesus. To the Jews this doctrine seemed to do away with the very foundation of the Jewish church and its end would be the loss of their prestige as the “elect” of God. As result of his open advocacy of these doctrines Paul was odious to the orthodox Jews and they were watching an opportunity to openly accuse him of heresy, or some infringement of the Jewish ritual.
Anyone could enter the outer court of the Gentiles in the great Temple, but the enclosures separated from this by the “middle wall of partition,” was sacred to Jews alone and no Gentile could enter under pain of death. Some Jews from the region of Ephesus, who evidently knew Paul, saw him in the inner court and claimed that he had brought a Gentile with him. They set up the cry described in verse 28 and dragged Paul down into the Court of the Gentiles, where they tried to kill him, and where he was rescued by the Roman soldiers. The chief Captain took him to be a certain Egyptian who had a short time before this gathered a large body of discontented Jews on Mount Olivet, proclaiming himself the Messiah, and that the walls of Jerusalem would fall at his word. Josephus mentions him and that he was driven into the wilderness by Felix.
The Roman soldiers were preparing to torture Paul with a view of making him confess. While they were binding him, he quietly asked the officer if it were lawful for them to scourge a Roman citizen uncondemned. The preparations were immediately stopped, the commander was called, and learning that Paul was a free born Roman citizen, he stayed the proceedings pending further inquiries. The claim of Roman citizenship was instantly allowed. There was no fear of imposture in such a case; the assertion, if false, was punishable with death.
All this represents the tenacity of religious ideas and how hard it is to get free from the church to which one has become a convert. Paul believed that he could show the Jews by argument that he was right in his broader interpretation of the law. Here is where he was not wise. Religious partisans do not argue, they dogmatize. What they have been taught is their authority and they are not open to reason or logic. Hence, to argue with one bound mentally in some religious sect creates antagonism and anger, and history proves that the heretic was never allowed to argue his case; his destruction was instantly demanded.
The blind zeal that imagines it must defend the Truth has killed in the most barbarous ways unnumbered thousands of innocent people, and the destruction still goes on even among those who claim the freedom of modern enlightenment and civilization. When religious zealots scare their students and patients by telling them that all other cults who practice spiritual healing are “hypnotists” and “mesmerists,” and their literature “gross error,” and that it must be burned at once, we are forced to conclude that the “generation of Jews,” which Jesus mentioned, has not passed away. Although Paul might be here in our midst preaching the universality of the Law, he would again be cast out of the temple and the cry “kill him” be set up by religious bigots, and the attempt to destroy him be as violent in mental dynamics as it was in physical on that day in Jerusalem.
– UNITY magazine.
November 18, 1928: Acts 21:37-40
Our lesson relates that Paul had been arrested by the Romans. For what cause was Paul placed under arrest? According to preceding chapters Paul had gone up to Jerusalem proclaiming his conversion to Christianity and had been seen in the sacred precincts of the temple in company with some Greeks; this was contrary to the Jewish law. The Jews were trying to kill him and the Roman soldiers had come to his rescue, but had placed him under arrest.
Does the proclamation of Truth always stir up opposition? We should use divine judgment in telling other persons Truth, because more or less opposition is encountered in telling the more inward experiences of those who become spiritually awakened.
Had Paul told of any spiritual experience? Yes. Paul told in a public address that the Lord had appeared to him on his way to Damascus, that a blinding light had shone round about him, and that a voice out of the invisible had talked to him and had told him that it was Jesus of Nazareth speaking.
June 4, 1939: Acts 21:40
What is the significance of the statement that the chief captain of the band gave foul leave to speak to the people? The Roman officer symbolizes intellect, which to the outer man is vested with power and authority. Paul represents the word of the Truth. The man who is under the control of the intellect accepts as true only what the intellect approves.
What metaphysical significance is found in the statement that Paul spoke to the multitude “when there was made a great silence”? In the confusion of his crowding undisciplined thoughts man cannot hear the word of Truth in his own heart. When he stills the hubbub of random thoughts floating through his mind, he hears the voice of Truth speaking within him in the language of his religious or better instincts.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 12-27-2013
