The Pilgrim Path---Acts 21: 1 – 15

And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo. And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.

When our days were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board ship, and they returned home.

When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day. On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied.

While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the LORD Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the LORD be done.”

After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.

“…WEEPING AND BREAKING MY HEART”

---verse 4---the Believers in Tyre were telling the Apostle Paul, “Through the Spirit”---do not go to Jerusalem. There is no contradiction with the LORD in the passage---just a natural human reaction to difficulty and adversity The LORD had compelled the Apostle to go (Acts 20: 22). His friends knew by the Spirit---it would be harsh and hard. They preferred he “not” forge ahead.

---verses 8, 9---the evangelist Philip, had four daughters who prophesied. Dr. Luke does not tell us about the nature of their prophecies. We would be “safe” to think of them in the light of what is recorded in First Corinthians 11:5; 14: 1, 39. These unmarried daughters were ready and able to bring the Scriptures to the Gentiles close to them.

---verses 10, 11---the Prophet Agabus arrives. He makes it clear that Paul will be “man-handled” by the Jews in Jerusalem. He uses visuals like Old Testament prophets to make his message stick (Isa. 20: 2; Jer. 13: 1 – 11; Ezek. 4: 1 – 12). As Kistemaker says, “Agabus predicts immediate future events.”

---verse 12---the people beg Paul not to go---he is going to be delivered into the hands of the Gentiles! The people cannot imagine Paul facing prison (or the possibility of death).

---verse 13---the Apostle Paul “adds” to the pathos---We have already seen and felt---in this portion of The Book of Acts. In a touching scene he simply says, “Don’t break my heart---crying like this…I am prepared to be in Jerusalem---dead or alive----prison or execution---for the sake of Jesus Christ the LORD.”

---verse 14---the People at Caesarea responded, “Let the will of the LORD be done.”

From Simon Kistemaker: Paul is unafraid, for he knows that God determines the outcome of all things. His attitude is completely free from fatalism; in full reliance on Christ, he accepts the message of the Holy Spirit and tells his audience that he is ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem (compare 20: 24). In view of the suffering he had already endured on behalf of Christ (see II Cor. 11: 23 – 28), Paul has proved his willingness to die for the LORD Jesus. Conversely, Paul’s statement should not be interpreted to mean that he expects his life to come to an end in Jerusalem. He still intends to extend the church to the ends of the earth…Even Luke had joined the effort to dissuade Paul. But when he and the rest of the group perceived Paul’s steadfast desire to obey God’s will, they said, “Let the will of the LORD be done.”---Further, the words spoken by the people in Caesarea are reminiscent of Jesus’ prayer uttered to his Father in Gethsemane: “Not my will, but…yours be done (Luke 22: 42).

From Thomas Watson: To be employed in doing God’s will is the highest mark of honor that a mortal creature is capable of. Doing the will of God makes us like Christ: “I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me” (John 6: 38).

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason