Acts 21:1-16

Acts 21:1-16

• Context: 
• Last time we left off at the end of chapter 20 of Acts where Paul had called for the elders of Ephesus to come to the port of Miletus to meet him.  Paul is headed back to Jerusalem. Paul has spent the last 5 years in Asia and Greece. Luke is traveling with Paul as well as those from different congregations that are taking the collections to the Jerusalem church.
• Acts 21:1-6
• After we tore ourselves away from them, we set sail straight for Cos, the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 Finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we boarded and set sail. 3 After we sighted Cyprus, passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria and arrived at Tyre, since the ship was to unload its cargo there. 4 We sought out the disciples and stayed there seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go to Jerusalem. 5 When our time had come to an end, we left to continue our journey, while all of them, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach to pray, 6 we said farewell to one another and boarded the ship, and they returned home.
  • Who did Paul tear away from?
    • See Acts 20:17-38 The Elders from Ephesus who Paul had sent for. 
  • Once Paul and company got to Patara, what kind of ship were they looking for? 
  • A ship crossing over to Phoenicia. This trip would be 475 miles across open sea. They would have had to sleep on the open deck and  I doubt meals were provided. 
  • Why would Paul and his companions seek out Christians in the city of Tyre?
    • The Greek word used here for “sought” is used only one other time by Luke when Joseph and Mary were looking for Jesus in Jerusalem.  So Paul and others had to hunt to find these Christians.  To encourage them; Paul may have been here before.  But also for a place to stay remember there are 8 or 9 people with Paul…they stayed a week.
  • What did the believers in Tyre try to convince Paul to do?
    • Avoid going to Jerusalem.  Where were they getting their guidance from?  The Spirit
  • Where was Paul getting his guidance from?
    • The Spirit…See Acts 20:22   “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.”
  • Do you think the Spirit gave contrary guidance through his friends?
    • No I think the Spirit revealed to His friends what lay ahead for Paul and they interpreted not wanting Paul to go thru more trouble…And Paul was being obedient by going to Jerusalem.
  • So why the warnings and predictions if Paul is going to go on to Jerusalem anyway?
    • I don’t think it was to dissuade Paul from taking risks but to allow him to fortify his will to be that faithful witness.  Look up Acts 23:11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”
  • What does the departure of Paul from Tyre show us about how the Christians there thought of Paul?
    • See verse 5 & 6  I think they thought a lot of Paul everyone went with him to the ship for prayer on the beach.
• Acts 21:7-11
• 7 When we completed our voyage from Tyre, we reached Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day. 8 The next day we left and came to Caesarea, where we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven, and stayed with him. 9 This man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. 10 After we had been there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 He came to us, took Paul’s belt, tied his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him over to the Gentiles.’”
  • From Tyre the ship Paul was on sailed 25 south to the seaport of Ptolemais (Tahl uh MAY iss) and met one day with Christians there. And then Paul sailed another 30 miles to Caesarea. This was the port that Herod the Great built to be the port for Jerusalem which was 65 miles inland.  It a large manmade harbor and was the provincial capital of Judea for the Roman Government. There was no water there so the Romans tunneled thru 4 miles of solid rock and built another 4 miles of aqueducts to bring water to this city from Mt. Carmel.  The manmade harbor could hold 100 ships at a time. 
  • Who does Paul find in the city of Caesarea that we have seen in the book of Acts before?
    • Philip one of the 7 who served the widows.
  • Why did Luke mention his daughters?
    • Since he doesn’t say much else about them may indicate that they were widely known in the early church.  Were these daughters married?  No, in fact the word used in the Greek indicates they were virgins. It appears they have chosen to remain single to serve the Lord in a greater capacity.
  • What good news did the prophet Agabus have for Paul?
    • By the way this is the 2nd time we have heard of this prophet in the book of Acts he predicted a famine in Acts 11 which was 10 years or earlier.
• Acts 21:12-16
• 12 When we heard this, both we and the local people pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 Since he would not be persuaded, we said no more except, “The Lord’s will be done.” 15 After this we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us and brought us to Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to stay.
  • Who all pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem?
    • It sounds everyone there including our writer Luke “WE”.
  • Did Paul think it unjust that he should have to go to suffer for Christ?
    • Not at all; look at what He says  verse 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.
  • How did Paul’s friend signal their acceptance of his decision?
    • God’s will be done affirming Paul’s decision.
  • How did the Christians show they were with Paul?
    • See verse 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason…  
  • How do you see Paul in this setting in verse 13?
    • Here was a driven man who was also caring and capable of receiving and giving deep affection.
  • What kind of man did they stay with in Jerusalem?
    • Mnason, an early disciple; a mature Christian; a Jewish Christian who could handle having Gentile Christians in his home. You see, they could not make the trip Jerusalem in one day so they stop to spend the night. So you have 8 or 9 traveling with Paul and then the other Christians traveling with them. So Mnason provided a place for them to stay.
• TAKE AWAY
  • Do you see a parallel in Paul’s journey to Jerusalem to someone else that was determined to go to Jerusalem?
    • Jesus set His face to go to Jerusalem, knowing what was going to happened to Him.
  • Is it unjust for God to allow righteous people to suffer?
  • What lessons can we learn from suffering?
  • What about being determined to carry out God’s will in your life even is mean going into difficulty?