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.
“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.”” We can remember Agabus who was identified as a prophet in Acts 11:27-28. He had, through the Holy Spirit, prophesied that a severe famine was coming, and it came true during the reign of Claudius. Now he is prophesying to confirm what others with the gift of prophecy have already told Paul, that big trouble awaits him in Jerusalem.
Let’s note that Agabus did not tell him not to go Jerusalem. He did not because that would be contrary to the prophecy the Holy Spirit had just given. He said that Paul would be in Israel and bound by the Jews and handed over to the Gentiles. If Paul was to never go there then that is what he would have been told. But Agabus issued a word from God and Agabus knew that what God said is truth and will happen. Why would Agabus ask Paul to go against the will of God?
“When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.” Luke, wrote “we.” He, along with the rest of the disciples, after hearing the proclamation from Agabus became very distraught. In fear of what would happen to him they begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem. It would seem that having Agabus prophesy what they had already heard caused a fear in them for their friend. Here was a well-known and proven prophet saying what they had already heard, but perhaps were hoping would not happen. Maybe God would relent? But when Agabus prophesied even Luke joined in enjoining Paul not to go. Obviously those pleading with Paul had many tears at the thought of the danger, and perhaps death, that awaited Paul. Yet Agabus did not say that Paul would die in Jerusalem, he said the Paul would be bound and given over to the Gentiles and that is exactly what happened.
“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.”” To see his brothers and sisters crying for him and out of genuine love (misguided as their reaction was) trying to dissuade him from going to Jerusalem moved him. Paul was not tempted to not go, he firmly asserts to them that he is ready to bound and even to die for the name of Lord Jesus if that be the will of God. Paul was fully committed to Jesus. Paul had taught that our lives are not our own but belong to Jesus (1 Corinthians 6;19-20) and so Paul had fully yielded to whom he called Lord. He was ready to suffer all, even death, but the distress of those who loved him was breaking his heart. He knew that they did not fully understand. Even Jesus had to deal with this with the original apostles not understanding and trying to dissuade him from was to happen to him in Jerusalem (Matthew 16:21-23). In fact we see great commonality, in a lesser degree, between what was Paul was going through and what Jesus went through. Not that Paul would die for sins, only Jesus could and did that. But similar in what they suffered for the Gospel, how they knew what was coming, and how those who loved them pleaded with them to avoid what was coming. Yet, if Jesus, or Paul, had not yielded and were called to do, they would not be the men that they were.
“When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” It is sometimes said that those who would dissuade Paul realized that they could not change his mind and so realized it was the Lord’s will and let it be done. Perhaps, but it seems a fine distinction in trying to go against the will of God and then submitting to it due to revelation and opposing the will of God and submitting because it was a useless battle. The will of God cannot be defeated. Perhaps these two thoughts are not opposing but inclusive to each other. In the end, they did say “Let the Lord’s will be done” and that it was.
“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.” So Paul’s yielded entourage accompanied to Jerusalem. They stayed with Mnason, one of the early disciples of The Way.
Family, let us be fully persuaded within ourselves to not only yield to the will of God, but to embrace it. Let us not only willingly walk the easy path, but the rough path that hurts. Let us not only willingly submit, but to run to it because we so know who God is, His intrinsic qualities like love and goodness, that we absolutely and without doubt trust Him. We not only yield but run to do the easy and the hard because we know He who is only good and loves us so bids it and that is enough for us walk into a flood or fire with confidence that God is with us. And that is enough. Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Praise God! Oh let us walk with confidence, not in ourselves, but in God who 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.”