ACTS SERIES:  DETAINED IN JERUSALEM – CHAPTER 21

Despite knowing the fate that awaited him in Jerusalem, Paul, with resolve, continued on his journey. He sailed to Rhodes, onto Patara, and then to Tyra, where he met with fellow believers during his seven-day port stay. Without success, some of the believers told Paul he should not go to Jerusalem. Still, he would not be stopped, and on his departure, the believers and their families accompanied Paul to the seashore, where they knelt and prayed before returning to their homes.

Sailing on to Ptolemais, Paul briefly met with the brethren before sailing on to Caesarea, where he and his companions visited the home of Philip the evangelist. Additionally, the scripture noted Philip had four virgin daughters who were referred to as “prophetesses.” While there, Agabus, the prophet from Judaea, came and, taking Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it. Then said, “Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.” Hearing this, those present attempted to dissuade Paul from going to Jerusalem. Nevertheless, Paul responded, ‘What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” So, the brethren said, “The will of the Lord be done.”

Leaving Caesarea, Paul, his missionary companions, along with some Caesarea disciples accompanied Paul to Jerusalem, where they stayed in the home of Mnason. Paul, who the brethren in Jerusalem cordially received met with James and the elders to share what had occurred among the Gentiles during his third missionary journey.

Though the men gathered and praised God for what He did, they expressed their alarm over a rumor circulating about Paul. It was rumored Paul taught the Gentile converts to forsake the teaching of Moses concerning circumcision and the practices of their forefathers. To help dispel these rumors it was suggested that Paul join and pay the expenses of four men who were taking a temporary Nazarite vow and undergoing a purification rite in the temple. The leaders also affirmed their previous recommendations to the Greeks remained the same.

Complying with the leader’s suggestion on the following day, Paul went to the temple and interacted with the Jews. All went well until the seventh day when some Asian Jews saw Paul in the temple and falsely accused him of bringing a Gentile into the temple and polluting it with his presence. They had previously seen Paul with an Ephesian man in Trophimus, and unfortunately, they thought he had accompanied Paul into the temple. Stirring up the city, the Jews caught Paul, dragged him out of the temple, and closed the doors.

As the city mob was about to kill Paul, hearing what was happening, the chief captain took centurions and soldiers to the place where Paul was being beaten, rescued him, and bound him with chains. The chief captain demanded the mob to tell him what the commotion was all about; however, some cried one thing, and some another. Therefore, the chief captain had Paul taken to the castle while some of the mob still attempted to assault him, and others cried out, “Away with him.”

When Paul requested to speak to the captain, who, before being corrected, mistakenly thought Paul was the Egyptian who had previously led an insurrection with 4,000 men, allowed him to do so. Paul told him, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia which is no small town. I request permission to talk to these people.” Chapter twenty-one ends with Paul, after receiving the captain’s approval, standing on the castle stairs and addressing the quiet crowd in the Hebrew language.

Here are the nuggets I gleaned from Acts 21:

God will send warnings of pending danger via the prophets.

When you receive a word, it is up to you to decide what to do with it.

Some people are not scared when faced with the prospect of death.

When someone feels strongly about an action, they will be undeterred by the words of people.

Commit unresolved issues to the will of the Lord.

Sharing a testimony of the things God has done should bring gladness to the hears.

Unfortunately, some people will find fault over the things you do.

Some suggestions that people make are unfruitful.

Trying to appease your opposers does not always work.

Being trilingual, Paul spoke Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic.

God will not allow you to die before your appointed time.