[49] Acts 20:24. "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God." Acts 21:13. "Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to 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." [50] Gal. ii. 2. "I went up by revelation." [51] In Acts 12:1, King Herod is indeed spoken of as having "stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the Church, and he killed," it is said, "James, the brother of John, with the sword." Then comes the story of Peter's imprisonment and liberation. But the cause of these inflictions had nothing to do with religion: the proof is--nor can there be a more conclusive one--to no such cause are they attributed. [52] Acts 21:23, 24. "We have four men, say the Apostles and Elders, we have four men which have a vow on them:--Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them." CHAPTER X. _Paul disbelieved continued.--His Fourth Jerusalem Visit continued. His Arrival and Reception. Accused by all the Disciples of the Apostles, he commences an exculpatory Oath in the Temple. Dragged out by them--rescued by a Roman Commander--sent in Custody to Rome._ SECTION 1. AT JERUSALEM, PAUL IS RECEIVED BY THE ELDERS AND JAMES, BUT BY NO OTHER APOSTLE. Spite of the opposing Holy Ghost,--spite of the Apostles, and their prophet,--there he is at Jerusalem. Now comes an incident--or say, rather, a relation--which is altogether curious. At "Jerusalem," says the history, "the brethren received us gladly," Acts 21:17. The brethren? what brethren? the brethren, by whom Agabus, with his stage-trick, had been sent some sixty or seventy miles' journey, in the endeavour to keep him at a distance? the thousands of Jews thereupon immediately mentioned? those Jews, who, though believers in Jesus, are not the "less zealous of the law," and enraged at Saul for those breaches of it, with which he is charged? That, by such of them, if any, by whom--by the appearance he made, with his suite, it had happened to be more or less overawed,--that by these, an appearance of gladness was assumed, seems credible enough: look for those, by whom he could have been received with real gladness--they will not, it should seem, be very easy to be found.