The sisters in the church in Jerusalem

Apostle Paul finally arrived in Jerusalem after many days of missionary work. His journey has been eventful and he had the opportunity to minister to both Jews and Gentiles. The power of God had been strongly manifested: the unbelievers believed the gospel of Jesus, the sick were healed, the dead were raised to life and the kingdom of God was preached to the nations. These feats were indeed marvelous and demonstrated the power of God. However, there were people who saw the ministry of Paul as a threat to Judaism and had plans to bring Paul down. Through the Holy Spirit, Paul was informed by the brothers and sisters in the churches he visited that imprisonment awaits him in Jerusalem but that did not deter Paul from going to Jerusalem.

When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters received us warmly. (Acts 21:17)

When Paul and his team arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters received them warmly (Acts 21:17). Like many of the churches Paul visited, the brothers and the sisters in the local churches were welcoming to Paul and his team. The sisters in the Jerusalem church might have heard of all the accusations against Paul. They had been informed that Paul had been teaching all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to the Jewish customs (Acts 21:21). Although the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem believed in the ministry of Paul, these allegations could have caused the church to be divided over the ministry of Paul. But, that wasn’t the case. The whole church with one accord welcomed the Apostle Paul not to condemn him over the allegations, but to find ways to make sure that the Jewish community doesn’t accuse Paul of abandoning the faith.

The sisters in the Jerusalem church might have prepared to host Paul and his team. They would have made background arrangements for accommodation, logistics and feeding. They were actively involved in welcoming Paul and his team. Luke describes the welcome as “warm”. It is important to understand that church growth thrives on variables such as unity within the members and between the different local churches. The sisters and the brothers of Jerusalem advised Paul to join four others who are undergoing the Jewish purification rites so as to prove to the people that Paul is not teaching others to turn away from the faith. The church made contingency plans to help Paul navigate the issues raised by the Jewish people.

First, we need to understand that Paul was aware of the challenges that awaited him in Jerusalem. Second, Paul was willing to even die if the need be. Yet, the church did all they can to help Paul navigate through this. The ministry of both the brothers and sisters were needed for this purpose.

Women are generally seen as emotional beings and most times excluded from certain “important conversations” in the church. As we navigate the challenges of the 21st century church, we should be intentional about engaging everyone and giving people the opportunity to contribute to the growth of the church. If possible, we should encourage discipleship training to equip both men and women to be able to contribute meaningfully in their respective ministries.