Today we’re reading Acts 21 together. Here a some quick thoughts:
- The start of this chapter again details the travels of Paul. In Tyre some disciples urged Paul not to go to Jerusalem.
- Paul’s last stop before Jerusalem was in Caesarea. Here a man named Agabus predicted (through the prompting of God) that Paul would be arrested by the Jews and handed over to the Romans. At hearing this all the people pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Paul would not be dissuaded.
- An arriving in Jerusalem Paul was warned by James and the elders in Jerusalem that the Jews there believed he had turned his back on the Jewish people. They suggested a Jewish ceremonial process to show there was no truth in these reports. Paul agreed and did this.
- A week later the Jewish people still incited a riot against Paul. They seized him and began to beat him, trying to kill him. The Roman officials heard of this and with soldiers took Paul away to jail.
- Story to be continued . . .
Throughout his travels people tried to get Paul not to go to Jerusalem. In Caesarea Paul was warned that he would be arrested in Jerusalem. Paul’s response was; “I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” When they realized they were not going to persuade Paul not to go they said, “The Lord’s will be done.” They probably were really thinking, “Paul, you big dummy everybody is telling you not to go!” But Paul knew God wanted him to go and he would not be convinced otherwise.
Have you ever had a situation where you knew God wanted you to do something and people told you not to? Did you go through with it? Or did you listen to the crowd? What was the outcome? Have you regretted your decision either way?
No comments:
Post a Comment