Band: "Where does Paul of all people say to continue animal sacrifices?"
Paul had some dignitaries that came into town to visit him. Paul himself purchased the animal sacrifices for them.
This was everything Jesus stood against. He overturned the money changers because of the false teachings of animal "scapegoat" sacrifices.
The fact that Paul still participated in temple events and sacrifice also shows that he did not believe that Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice or he would not have continued the practice of sacrificial animals.
The whole thing about blood sacrifice is an abomination. Killing an animal or a human being does not, and never has, "taken away" anyones sins. It is a pagan ritual of believing that you can rub the goats head and transfer your sins (cooties) onto the goat. Kill the goat, and now you are not responsible for any of your wrong doings anymore. The goat did it!
Paul compromised his principles and you can read this in Acts 21:18-24. He was persuaded to go along with what he knew was wrong. Or maybe he really had no conscience about it one way or another. To deliberately go against what you know is right illustrates what it means to "grieve the Holy Spirit" or to "have a double mind".
Paul never knew Jesus and had never spent any time with him nor heard him speak. Since the apostles did not have anything to do with Paul he did not learn much about Jesus's teachings from them either.
I think Paul's "religion" was under the influence and direction of the scribes and pharisees. And I think Paul made it into a lucrative business for himself, for his part in it.