17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. 19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry (Acts 21:17-19).
One of the reasons that Paul traveled to Jerusalem was to update the leaders of the church on the progress of the Gospel among the Gentiles. Paul went to James who was the leader of the church of Jerusalem. James was the Lord’s brother, not the apostle James (he had already been martyred by this time). James receives Paul gladly. However, there may have been another primary reason that Paul went to visit Jerusalem. As successful as Paul was in preaching to the Gentiles, he wanted to preach to his own people in an effort to save them. Remember that Paul, prior to his conversion, was a devout Jew and he wanted very much for his own people to be saved. We learn later in this chapter that Paul is rejected and beaten by the people, and yet again arrested. Through all of this, Paul remained true to the Gospel.
One of the reasons that Paul traveled to Jerusalem was to update the leaders of the church on the progress of the Gospel among the Gentiles. Paul went to James who was the leader of the church of Jerusalem. James was the Lord’s brother, not the apostle James (he had already been martyred by this time). James receives Paul gladly. However, there may have been another primary reason that Paul went to visit Jerusalem. As successful as Paul was in preaching to the Gentiles, he wanted to preach to his own people in an effort to save them. Remember that Paul, prior to his conversion, was a devout Jew and he wanted very much for his own people to be saved. We learn later in this chapter that Paul is rejected and beaten by the people, and yet again arrested. Through all of this, Paul remained true to the Gospel.
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