Acts 21:1-16: "The Will of the Lord be Done"
Paul knew in his heart he was to travel to Jerusalem. He was on his way to deliver funds from the Gentile churches to the needy in Jerusalem, and some much needed encouragement. I almost get caught up in skipping over all the traveling Paul does. I start to see all the cities listed and begin to broaden my reading and skim over it. However, it is amazing to note all the traveling Paul does. He truly wore himself out for ministry. As I often find it hard to get myself up to run 5 or 6 miles, Paul probably walked that 5 or 6 times over everyday. It is truly amazing to remember there were no cars or motorized transportation during that time. It is also important to note the places he has traveled in reading. I remember how significant it was to follow the story in Acts 14 when Paul travels to Lystra preaches the gospel and does some miracles. "But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead". Paul and Barnabus then leave to Derbe, and yet the next verse explains, "And after they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God"". What an amazing testament to Paul's perserverance and commitment to the gospel. This will clearly be seen again later in this section.
It can be noted that as Paul travels from Cos to Rhodes to Patar to Phoenicia to Tyre, that each of these ports represents a day's voyage. It was no simple flight over to Jerusalem, these were long ship rides in unknown weather. All this time Paul had to think over the persecution and suffering he might face traveling there. However, undiverted, Paul travels to where he knows the Lord is calling Him.
It struck me as I was reading, the courage and commitment of Paul. In this narrative, he is twice told by other believers to, "not set foot in Jerusalem". I often seek counsel from my Christian friends and family for the decisions in my life. There are often some tough decisions that need wisdom and I can often find it in my friends and family. It would have been hard to be Paul who is being urged by other believers to not go somewhere because of the danger. This could have been an easy excuse to flake out and stay with those he knew, rather than risk his life in Jerusalem. In verses 10-12, Paul is given a second urging not to leave. A prophet named Agabus had come to show Paul what awaited him in Jerusalem. Speaking on behalf of the Holy Spirit he says, "In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we had heard this we as well as the local resident began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem".
I take several observations from this account.
1) What courage it took for Paul who has now been warned repeatedly by many of his friends and fellow Christians to continue his course.
2) It is interesting to think about the word, "from the Holy Spirit". How Agabus visually illustrates to Paul and the other believers what he has been told by the Spirit seemed unusual. MacArthur in his commentary writes, "the phrase through the Spirit is inconclusive; it merely means that someone spoke as from a spiritual gift of prophecy. As Paul notes in 1 Cor. 14:29, however, not ever manifestation of the figt of prophecy is legitimate. Whether it was legitimate in this instace must be determined by other factors." MacArthur gives many reasons why this was probably not a legitimate claim from the Holy Spirit. Don't kill me..but I think that this could be a completely legitimate prophecy from the Holy Spirit and it not undo the integrity of the passage. By saying, "In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles", in no way is forbidding him to go. I believe this is a legitimate prophecy of what awaits Paul. In fact, Paul even recognizes this by saying, "I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus". He understood that in all he had done up to this point he would suffer for Christ. Again, this is speculation on my part, but I believe that possibly the Holy Spirit gave this prophecy in front of everyone in a visual manner to encourage those around Paul. By seeing Paul's courage and determination to do the Lord's will (despite all the persecution that awaited him) he was encouraging the other believer's to continue to press on despite the future that awaits you. Paul had recognized this when he wrote to the Philippians, "Now I want you to know, brethen, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole Praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear". I believe the Holy Spirit was showing the other believers an example of courage in Paul.
3) Paul's most amazing response to the prophecy could only come out of complete faith and trust in God. When we worry or are fearful, it is because we are lacking trust in God's ability to do what His Word promises. "He works all things out for the good of those who love Him.." Instead of giving in to the cries of his friends he softly rebukes them by saying, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart?" It was almost as if he was saying stop trying to keep me from doing what the Lord has called me to do. He was willing to did for Christ. That being the case, nothing could dissuade him.
4) After an incessant time of begging Paul to stay - the fellow Christians understood they were being selfish, and knew that Paul, "would not be persuaded". They knew Paul's conviction. They knew once Paul gave himself to a task he would finish it. Finally, they recognized this, and knew the Lord had set Paul apart for this task, "The will of the Lord be done!"
It can be noted that as Paul travels from Cos to Rhodes to Patar to Phoenicia to Tyre, that each of these ports represents a day's voyage. It was no simple flight over to Jerusalem, these were long ship rides in unknown weather. All this time Paul had to think over the persecution and suffering he might face traveling there. However, undiverted, Paul travels to where he knows the Lord is calling Him.
It struck me as I was reading, the courage and commitment of Paul. In this narrative, he is twice told by other believers to, "not set foot in Jerusalem". I often seek counsel from my Christian friends and family for the decisions in my life. There are often some tough decisions that need wisdom and I can often find it in my friends and family. It would have been hard to be Paul who is being urged by other believers to not go somewhere because of the danger. This could have been an easy excuse to flake out and stay with those he knew, rather than risk his life in Jerusalem. In verses 10-12, Paul is given a second urging not to leave. A prophet named Agabus had come to show Paul what awaited him in Jerusalem. Speaking on behalf of the Holy Spirit he says, "In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we had heard this we as well as the local resident began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem".
I take several observations from this account.
1) What courage it took for Paul who has now been warned repeatedly by many of his friends and fellow Christians to continue his course.
2) It is interesting to think about the word, "from the Holy Spirit". How Agabus visually illustrates to Paul and the other believers what he has been told by the Spirit seemed unusual. MacArthur in his commentary writes, "the phrase through the Spirit is inconclusive; it merely means that someone spoke as from a spiritual gift of prophecy. As Paul notes in 1 Cor. 14:29, however, not ever manifestation of the figt of prophecy is legitimate. Whether it was legitimate in this instace must be determined by other factors." MacArthur gives many reasons why this was probably not a legitimate claim from the Holy Spirit. Don't kill me..but I think that this could be a completely legitimate prophecy from the Holy Spirit and it not undo the integrity of the passage. By saying, "In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles", in no way is forbidding him to go. I believe this is a legitimate prophecy of what awaits Paul. In fact, Paul even recognizes this by saying, "I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus". He understood that in all he had done up to this point he would suffer for Christ. Again, this is speculation on my part, but I believe that possibly the Holy Spirit gave this prophecy in front of everyone in a visual manner to encourage those around Paul. By seeing Paul's courage and determination to do the Lord's will (despite all the persecution that awaited him) he was encouraging the other believer's to continue to press on despite the future that awaits you. Paul had recognized this when he wrote to the Philippians, "Now I want you to know, brethen, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole Praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear". I believe the Holy Spirit was showing the other believers an example of courage in Paul.
3) Paul's most amazing response to the prophecy could only come out of complete faith and trust in God. When we worry or are fearful, it is because we are lacking trust in God's ability to do what His Word promises. "He works all things out for the good of those who love Him.." Instead of giving in to the cries of his friends he softly rebukes them by saying, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart?" It was almost as if he was saying stop trying to keep me from doing what the Lord has called me to do. He was willing to did for Christ. That being the case, nothing could dissuade him.
4) After an incessant time of begging Paul to stay - the fellow Christians understood they were being selfish, and knew that Paul, "would not be persuaded". They knew Paul's conviction. They knew once Paul gave himself to a task he would finish it. Finally, they recognized this, and knew the Lord had set Paul apart for this task, "The will of the Lord be done!"
posted by amesfam | 9:58 AM
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