Acts 21:7-16 – We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day. 8 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. 10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’” 12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” 15 After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem. 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus and one of the early disciples.
“We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day.” It was a short journey of about twenty-five miles from Tyre to Ptolemais. Upon arriving at Ptolemais they again sought out the brothers and sisters and ministered to them. Let’s note that it Paul did not “burn out.” Not that didn’t need alone time with Jesus, but that he kept going from the time he came to the Lord to when he was martyred in Rome. He headed to Jerusalem after a third missionary trip. It is true that he did have some time between his missionary trips, but here he is, after approximately thirty years of ministry still taking every opportunity to minister. Paul did not burn out because he loved doing what the Lord had called him to. Yes, he did need breaks, spiritually and physically, he needed time to heal from the beatings and illnesses, but what burned in his heart was God’s love for His people. We can be sure that even between the missionary trips Paul burned with a desire to minister to the flock of Jesus. In fact, he encouraged us to likewise to stoke the fires of our love to serve the Lord (Romans 12:11). When we love the flock of Jesus, even though they are a rambunctious head butting lot, we don’t burn out. We must have the heart of a shepherd, just like another of the Lord’s servants, King David.
“Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven.” They travelled from Ptolemais to Caesarea, which was about thirty miles. Caesarea was where Peter had been taught the lesson that the Gospel was for all people, not just the Jews. (Acts 10) It was also where Philip the Evangelist had been sent by the Holy Spirit and He had made his home there. It should be noted that Philip was not the Apostle Philip, but one of the original first seven deacons (Acts 6:5) who would later aptly become known as Philip the Evangelist. Philip had received very specific instruction to catch up with the Ethiopian Eunuch (whereupon the Ethiopian received Jesus as Savior and Lord) and then was whisked away by the Holy Spirit to Azotus and then to Caesarea. Philip had remained there and was still, some twenty years later, faithfully serving.
“9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.” At Caesarea Philip had raised four daughters. The NIV calls them what they were, unmarried daughters. However the KJV translates the original word parthenos as “virgin.” The KJV seems to be a stronger translation. It is the same word translated as virgin when describing Mary, the mother of Jesus (Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:27). Why though it is important to call them virgins? It is not important in regards to their gifts of prophecy. Obviously married women may have the gift of prophecy just a younger unmarried woman may. The reason that they were described as virgins is to show that they lived virtuous lives. It is important to show their virtuous lives more in regards to Philip than to the daughters. It is a qualification in the word that deacons should have children who obey him and that would mean that Philip’s daughters should also obey him and live according to the Word. (1 Timothy 3:1-7) So showing the virtue of his daughters showed that Philip had continued to be a qualified servant of God. Praise God!
Family, what a great encouragement to know the unshakeable faith of Paul who was willing to suffer and die for the cause of Jesus. It is not that dying for a cause has merit in and of itself. Purposely dying for a wrong cause is foolishness and a waste. But dying to self and living for Jesus, now that is noble. Whether we live or whether we die being faithful to Jesus is our goal. We value our life with Him more than our life here on earth. Draw near to Jesus and let Him be what most highly pursue. Living for Jesus, or if necessary, dying for Jesus, is our highest calling. In it all, our God is good and loves us. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”