Was Paul a Nazarite?

17 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, 21 and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. 22 What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24 take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. 25 But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.” 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them. Acts 21:17-26 (ESV)

Many Jews took the Nazarite vow at some point in their life.  The minimum amount of time was 30 days and the maximum was for life although we only know of four who did that.

Scripture mentions three Nazarites for life: Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist, to which Christian tradition adds the name of James the Just, ‘the brother of the Lord,’ who presided over the Church at Jerusalem when Paul joined in the Nazarite-offering. In this respect it is noteworthy that, among those who urged upon Paul to ‘be at charges’ with the four Christian Nazarites, James himself is not specially mentioned. [Edersheim, A. (2003). The Temple, its ministry and services as they were at the time of Jesus Christ. (375). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.]

At this point in time, the early church is about twenty years after the cross or sometime in the early 50’s A.D.  Why would Paul participate in something so Jewish twenty years after the cross?

For some reason, probably in the midst of his work at Corinth, Paul himself took on the Nazarite vow. This could only be terminated by his going up to Jerusalem to offer up his hair, which until then was to be left uncut. But it seems to have been allowable for persons at a distance to cut their hair, which was to be brought up to Jerusalem, where the ceremony was completed. This Paul did at Cenchrea just before setting out on his voyage into Syria (Acts 18:18).
In our text-verse, Paul took on the Nazarite vow again at the Feast of Pentecost. One commentator writes: “The ceremonies involved took a longer time than Paul had at his disposal, but the law permitted a man to share the vow if he could find companions who had gone through the prescribed ceremonies, and who permitted him to join their company. This permission was commonly granted if the newcomer paid all the fees required from the whole company (fees to the Levites for cutting the hair and fees for sacrifices), and finished the vow along with the others. Four Jewish Christians were performing the vow, and would admit Paul to their company, provided he paid their expenses.
Paul consented, paid the charges, and when the last seven days of the vow began he went with them to live in the temple, giving the usual notice to the priests that he had joined in regular fashion, was a sharer with the four men, and that his vow would end with theirs. Nazarites retired to the temple during the last period of seven days, because they could be secure there against any accidental defilement.” [Freeman, J. M., & Chadwick, H. J. (1998). Manners & customs of the Bible (534–535). North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos Publishers.]

If, as some believe, everything Jewish or associated with the Torah died instantly when Jesus breathed his last breath on the cross, they would be hard pressed to explain this portion of Scripture. However, Jesus, his disciples, Paul and most of the early church were Jewish and stayed within Jewish culture and practices.  Jesus said:

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. Matthew 5:17 (ESV)

And Paul said:

12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Romans 7:12 (ESV)

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)

Without the Old Testament, the New Testament makes no sense.  Jesus was the fulfillment of the entire sacrificial system of the temple.  He is the promised Messiah of every prophet.  Jesus didn’t come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it perfectly.  Amen!