Paul’s Determination despite Warning
November 8, 2019
Commentary
Another warning came to Paul from a man named Agabus, who was a prophet from Judea (v. 10). He had prophesied that a widespread famine would affect the world (Acts 11:27-28) and his prophecy came true. He bound himself with Paul’s belt, using it as an object lesson, showing that Paul would face such a binding by his fellow countrymen and would be delivered to the Gentiles (v. 11). However, this deterring sign of Agabus did not stop Paul for a single moment. There was even a united outcry by Paul’s friends and fellow travelers for him not to go to Jerusalem, but the argument that he would be imprisoned did not impress him (v. 12). Despite these warnings the apostle was determined to go on.
The grim statement of Agabus was Paul’s last warning, his last chance to turn back. Two great passions tugged at Paul’s heart; his passion for Jerusalem and his desire to see Rome. Paul says, “I am not only ready to be imprisoned, but even ready to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (v.13). At this point someone may say, “Doesn’t this show that he was anxious that God’s will be done in his life"? Not necessarily! Maybe the Lord wants you to live for Him. To stand in front of a firing squad may be easier than going to prison and living for years as a witness.
His friends and fellow travelers from the mission field pleaded with him, Philip and his daughters pleaded with him, and the other believers in Caesarea joined their voices to the general plea. However, when Paul’s friends saw that he was not going to change his mind about the matter they threw up their hands and said, “The will of the Lord be done” (v. 14). There will no doubt be times in our lives when we are faced with a situation like this that we cannot change, and all we can do is just turn it over to the Lord. From here Paul got ready to go to Jerusalem but he was invited to stay overnight in the home of Mnason before leaving (vv. 15-16).
Application
I need to be very careful about telling the Lord I will serve Him and then refuse to obey what he has already told me in his Word.
Acts 21:10– 16 (NET)
10 While we remained there for a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 He came to us, took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it, and said, “The Holy Spirit says this: ‘This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man whose belt this is, and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’” 12 When we heard this, both we and the local people begged 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 tied up, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 Because he could not be persuaded, we said no more except, “The Lord’s will be done.”
15 After these days we got ready and started up to Jerusalem. 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea came along with us too, and brought us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple from the earliest times, with whom we were to stay.