Were the Disciples Guilty of Hypocrisy?

[staysharp]

Were the Disciples caving under political pressure? Was Paul being deceitful? Why would he agree to keep the law when he had been teaching against it?

Acts 21
17When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brethren received and welcomed us gladly.

18On the next day Paul went in with us to [see] James, and all the elders of the church were present [also].

19After saluting them, Paul gave a detailed account of the things God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

20And upon hearing it, they adored and exalted and praised and thanked God. And they said to [Paul], You see, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, and all of them are enthusiastic upholders of the [Mosaic] Law.

21Now they have been informed about you that you continually teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn back from and forsake Moses, advising them not to circumcise their children or pay any attention to the observance of the [Mosaic] customs.

22What then [is best that] should be done? A multitude will come together, for they will surely hear that you have arrived.

23Therefore do just what we tell you. With us are four men who have taken a vow upon themselves.

24Take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses [for the temple offering], so that they may have their heads shaved. Thus everybody will know that there is no truth in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself walk in observance of the Law.

25But with regard to the Gentiles who have believed (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Christ), we have sent them a letter with our decision that they should keep themselves free from anything that has been sacrificed to idols and from [tasting] blood and [eating the meat of animals] which have been strangled and from all impurity and sexual immorality.

26Then Paul took the [four] men with him and the following day [he went through the rites of] purifying himself along with them. And they entered the temple to give notice when the days of purification (the ending of each vow) would be fulfilled and the usual offering could be presented on behalf of each of them.

27When the seven days were drawing to a close, some of the Jews from [the province of] Asia, who had caught sight of Paul in the temple, incited all the rabble and laid hands on him,