Warnings on the Way to Jerusalem
[ READ ] Acts 21:1-26
Paul Goes to Jerusalem
1 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. 2 And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 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. 4 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. 5 When our days there 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 6 and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.
7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day. 8 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. 9 He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. 10 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own 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.’” 12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 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.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”
15 After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16 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.
Paul Visits James
17 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, 21 and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. 22 What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24 take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. 25 But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.” 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them.
1 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. 2 And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 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. 4 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. 5 When our days there 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 6 and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.
7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day. 8 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. 9 He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied. 10 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own 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.’” 12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 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.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”
15 After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16 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.
Paul Visits James
17 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. 18 On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law, 21 and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs. 22 What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23 Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; 24 take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. 25 But as for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.” 26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering presented for each one of them.
At Tyre, the believers walk Paul all the way down to the beach to say goodbye. Wives, kids, everyone. And when they get there, they don't just wave and leave. They kneel down together in the sand and pray. Luke doesn't tell us the words. Just that they knelt.
That's worth noticing. Some goodbyes are too heavy for the right words to show up. So people just kneel together and let their bodies say what they can't.
This happens again and again on Paul's trip. People keep warning him, keep crying, keep begging him to stay safe. And every time, Paul keeps walking toward the danger anyway, not because he doesn't care about their tears, but because he's already settled it with God. By the end, even the people who love him most stop arguing and just say, let the Lord's will be done.
Most of us won't face what Paul faced. But we all know what it's like to love someone and have to let them go anyway, into a hospital room, a hard decision, a future we can't control. Maybe the lesson isn't to be brave like Paul. Maybe it's simpler than that. When words run out, you kneel down with the people you love, and you trust God with what happens next.
- David Bempong
That's worth noticing. Some goodbyes are too heavy for the right words to show up. So people just kneel together and let their bodies say what they can't.
This happens again and again on Paul's trip. People keep warning him, keep crying, keep begging him to stay safe. And every time, Paul keeps walking toward the danger anyway, not because he doesn't care about their tears, but because he's already settled it with God. By the end, even the people who love him most stop arguing and just say, let the Lord's will be done.
Most of us won't face what Paul faced. But we all know what it's like to love someone and have to let them go anyway, into a hospital room, a hard decision, a future we can't control. Maybe the lesson isn't to be brave like Paul. Maybe it's simpler than that. When words run out, you kneel down with the people you love, and you trust God with what happens next.
- David Bempong
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What repeats at nearly every stop on this journey? What might that pattern be building toward?
+ The disciples at Tyre warn Paul "through the Spirit" not to go to Jerusalem, yet Paul goes. What do you make of that tension?
+ Look at Agabus's action in verses 10 and 11. Why act it out instead of just saying it?
+ What repeats at nearly every stop on this journey? What might that pattern be building toward?
+ The disciples at Tyre warn Paul "through the Spirit" not to go to Jerusalem, yet Paul goes. What do you make of that tension?
+ Look at Agabus's action in verses 10 and 11. Why act it out instead of just saying it?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Think of someone you've had to let go of, even though it hurt. What did that letting go actually look like for you?
+ Is there a hard goodbye or hard decision in front of you right now where words feel insufficient? What would it look like to just kneel, literally or figuratively, instead of trying to fix or explain it?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Think of someone you've had to let go of, even though it hurt. What did that letting go actually look like for you?
+ Is there a hard goodbye or hard decision in front of you right now where words feel insufficient? What would it look like to just kneel, literally or figuratively, instead of trying to fix or explain it?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
God, some goodbyes are too heavy for words, and we don't always know what to pray. Thank you that we don't have to have the right words, only the willingness to kneel. Give us the trust Paul had, and the tenderness of the friends who loved him enough to cry and let him go anyway. When we're facing what we can't control, remind us that your will is safe, even when it's hard.
+ Pray with me:
God, some goodbyes are too heavy for words, and we don't always know what to pray. Thank you that we don't have to have the right words, only the willingness to kneel. Give us the trust Paul had, and the tenderness of the friends who loved him enough to cry and let him go anyway. When we're facing what we can't control, remind us that your will is safe, even when it's hard.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ Is there someone you could sit with this week, not to solve anything, just to be present the way the believers were on that beach?
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ Is there someone you could sit with this week, not to solve anything, just to be present the way the believers were on that beach?
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