Exciting happenings in today’s lesson. I took the end off because it goes with the next chapter. Enjoy.
Let’s pray:
Lord Jesus, I thank You for the believers back then. I thank You for Your constant protection of Your people. I thank You for Paul and Luke who both did more to share the good news than many of those believers did among us so far in the future from this. Thank You for being here and for being worth all the trouble we see here. Faith is what You look for, help us grow our faith. Lead us, Lord. Amen.
Paul Sails from Miletus
1 When we had torn ourselves away from them and set sail, we ran a straight course and came to Cos, and on the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara; 2 and after finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went on board and set sail. 3 After we came in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on our left (port side), we sailed on to Syria and put in at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo. 4 After looking up the disciples [in Tyre], we stayed there [with them] seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the [Holy] Spirit [a]not to set foot in Jerusalem. 5 When our days there came to an end, we left and proceeded on our journey, while all of the disciples, with their wives and children, escorted us on our way until we were outside the city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying, we told one another goodbye. 6 Then we boarded the ship, and they returned to their homes.
Do you know what it’s like to tear yourself away from someone? So grateful though it isn’t just Paul that has to leave, his companions go with him. So many goodbyes.
Please read Acts 21:7-14
On toward Jerusalem
7 When we had completed the voyage from Tyre, we landed [twenty miles to the south] at Ptolemais, and after greeting the [b]believers, we stayed with them for one day. 8 On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and we went to the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven [deacons], and stayed with him. 9 He had four virgin daughters who had the gift of prophecy. 10 As we were staying there for some time, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And coming to [see] us, he took Paul’s [wide] [c]band (belt, sash) and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this same way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this band, and they will hand him over to the Gentiles (pagans).’” 12 Now when we had heard this, both we and the local residents began pleading with Paul trying to persuade him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart [like this]? For I am ready not only to be bound and imprisoned, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be dissuaded, we stopped pleading and fell silent, saying, “The Lord’s will be done!”
Might we all be ready not only to be bound but even to die for Christ Jesus. And in everything we pray, Lord, Your will be done. What an exciting life is available for Your followers.
Please read Acts 21:15-20a
Paul at Jerusalem
15 After this we got ready and started on our way up to Jerusalem. 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea also came with us, taking us to [the house of] Mnason, a man from Cyprus, a disciple of long standing with whom we were to lodge.
Faith Grows – Glory and Praise is the Response
17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the [d]brothers and sisters welcomed us gladly. 18 On the next day Paul went with us to [see] [e]James, and all the elders of the church were present. 19 After greeting them, Paul began to give a detailed account of the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20a And when they heard it, they began glorifying and praising God;
Faith growing is worth glorifying and praising God. It’s so exciting too. May our faithful brothers and sisters be as loving toward us and we toward them as James and the elders of the church were toward Paul and the churches back then were to each other. For faith is precious to God and love is a hallmark and an order of Jesus for those who would be His followers.
The Warning
Please read Acts 21:20b-22
20band they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, and they are all enthusiastic supporters of the Law [of Moses]. 21 Now they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are living among the Gentiles to turn away from [the Law of] Moses, advising them not to circumcise their children or to live according to the [Mosaic] customs. 22 What then should be done? They will certainly hear that you have arrived.
Does this surprise you? Have you not noticed all the opposition to Paul in the last few chapters? Surely some of them came to Israel and shared false information, information they knew would incite the unbelievers toward violence if Paul should ever come back there. We know now, he was back. Thus their warning.
The Order
Please read Acts 21:23-24
23 Therefore do just what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow; 24 take these men and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses [for the temple offerings] so that they may shave their heads. Then everyone will know that there is nothing to the things they have been told about you, but that you yourself also follow and keep the Law.
Hopeful orders, nice to see the elders still had best expectations toward the unbelievers surrounding them.
Remember the Decision
Please read Acts 21:25
25 But with regard to the Gentiles who have believed [in Christ], we have sent them a letter with our decision that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from [consuming] blood and from [the meat of] what has been strangled and from sexual immorality.”
Please read Acts 21:26
Obedience
26 Then Paul took the [four] men, and the next day he purified himself along with them [by submitting to the ritual]. He went into the temple to give notice of [the time] when the days of purification [ending each vow] would be fulfilled and the usual offering could be presented on behalf of each one.
Please read Acts 27-29
Paul Seized in the Temple
27 When the seven days [required to complete the ritual] were almost over, [some] Jews from [the province of] Asia [Minor], caught sight of him in the temple, and began to stir up the crowd, and they seized him, 28 shouting, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul, and they assumed that he had brought the man into the temple [beyond the court of the Gentiles].
Assuming is always wrong. Always incites more violence than it should.
Please read Acts 21:30-32
30 Then the whole city was provoked and confused, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the gates were closed. 31 Now while they were trying to kill him, word came to the commander of the [Roman] garrison that all Jerusalem was in a state of upheaval. 32 So he immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down among them. When the people saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
Read that again. From verse 31. Violence. Yet they knew what they were doing wrong because they stopped when they saw the commander and soldiers.
Please read Acts 21:33-36
33 Then the commander came up and arrested Paul, and ordered that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done. 34 But some in the crowd were shouting one thing and others something else; and since he could not determine the facts because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken to the barracks [in the tower of Antonia]. 35 When Paul got to the steps, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob; 36 for the majority of the people kept following them, shouting, “Away with him! [Kill him!]”
I can’t help but be thankful for the soldiers and this particular commander. Mobs are always violence inciters. We know some things haven’t changed in all these many years since these events, that is one of them. All of this is so exciting.
The last three verses from this chapter are coming with next week as they’re connected to Acts 22. Paul is going to respond. Praise God for His protection even if it be soldiers and jail. This is really quite a gripping book. I hope you have noticed it too. Till next week then. Grow your faith.
Footnotes
[a] Acts 21:4 not to set foot in Jerusalem – Clearly the disciples felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to tell Paul not to go to Jerusalem. But a question remains as to whether the Spirit was actually forbidding Paul to go, or only preparing him for what he would have to suffer in Jerusalem (cf v 11). Either explanation is possible, but many Bible scholars prefer the latter.
[b] Acts 21:7 believers – Lit brethren.
[c] Acts 21:11 band – This was not a belt like men wear today, but a band (sash, girdle), about six inches wide, usually made of leather, worn on top of the outer garment. It was fastened around the midsection of the body and served as a kind of pocket or pouch to carry personal items such as a dagger, money or other necessary things.
[d] Acts 21:17 brothers and sisters – Lit brethren.
[e] Acts 21:18 James – The half brother of Jesus, author of the Letter of James and leader of the church in Jerusalem, not to be confused with James the Apostle (John’s brother).