Acts 21

Acts 21:1-40

62. “THE WILL OF THE LORD BE DONE” Acts 21:1-40 Paul was en route to Jerusalem, knowing fully that upon his arrival there he would meet with vehement opposition because of the gospel he preached (Acts 20:22-24). But he would allow nothing to keep him from doing what he knew God had called and directed him to do. After his brief stay at Miletus (Acts 20:17-38), he sailed down the west coast of Asia Minor, stopping at Coos, Rhodes, and Patara. From there they sailed around the Island of Cyprus to Tyre, in Syria. Finding disciples there, he and his companions tarried at Tyre for seven days. Read Acts 21:1-4. AT TYRE, THE WARNED PAUL NOT TO GO UP TO (Acts 21:4-5). Without question, they gave this warning “to Paul through the Spirit.” Neither can it be doubted that Paul was “bound in the Spirit” to go to Jerusalem. There is only one way to understand this apparent contradiction - These warnings given to Paul by the Holy Spirit were given to try and prove his faith and faithfulness so that he might stand as an example to others. After the warning was given and Paul could not be dissuaded, the disciples at Tyre, with their families, prayed with Paul and bid him farewell, submitting to the will of the Lord. AFTER LEAVING TYRE, PAUL AND HIS FRIENDS CAME TO , WHERE THEY WERE THE GUESTS OF PHILIP THE (Acts 21:7-9). Philip was one of the original deacons (Acts 6:5). Later he became an evangelist. He is the one who was sent of God to preach the gospel to the Samaritans and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. The last we saw of him, he was settled in Caesarea (Acts 8:40). Now, some twenty or more years later, he was still there, serving the Lord with a family of four daughters who had the gift of prophecy. This servant of God was a married man. Contrary to papal doctrine, which forbids the marriage of God’s servants, almost all the pastors, deacons, and evangelists of the New Testament were married men (1 Timothy 4:1-5). Philip, being given to hospitality, graciously opened his home to paul and his travelling companions. Grace makes people gracious and generous. Philip counted it an honor and privilege to have God’s servants and his saints as guests in his home. Happy is the home and household where the servants of God and the people of God are frequent guests. Where God’s servants and his people are lodged, blessings are lodged (Matthew 10:41-42; Hebrews 13:1-2). Philip’s virgin daughters prophesied. There is no indication that these girls had taken a vow of virginity! They were simply young women who were not yet married and were virgins, as all unmarried women should be. These young ladies had a gift of prophecy. That does not imply that they taught and explained the Scriptures, or preached in the public assemblies of the church. That would have been a direct violation of the Word of God (1 Corinthians 15:34-35; 1 Timothy 2:11-12).

When Luke tells us they “did prophesy”, he simply means that they had the gift to foretell future events by the Spirit of God. This was one of the many extraordinary signs of the fulfilment of Joel’s prophecy in apostolic times (Joe 2:28). We can only guess what the subject of their prophecy was, but the context helps us. Like the disciples at Tyre (Acts 21:4) and Aqabus (Acts 21:11), Philip’s daughters probably warned Paul of the danger awaiting him at Jerusalem. Over and over again the Holy Spirit plainly told Paul the things he would face at Jerusalem. He knew that certain death awaited him (Acts 20:25). While he was still at Caesarea in Philip’s house, AGABUS CAME DOWN FROM JUDEA AND OF PAUL’S AT (Acts 21:11-14). Paul had met Agabus fifteen or sixteen years earlier at Antioch. It was Agabus who had prophesied of the famine that came in the days of Claudias Caesar (Acts 11:28). Paul was familiar with this man and fully aware of his Divine commission and gifts. Agabus publicly prophesied that Paul would be bound by the Jews and delivered up to the Romans. The disciples were heart broken for Paul’s sake.

They tenderly and urgently begged him not to proceed with his plans. But Paul would not be dissuaded. He was committed to Christ and determined to obey that which he knew to be the will of God, even if it cost him his life (Acts 21:13; Acts 20:22-24). Seeing Paul’s determination, all the disciples submitted to the will of the Lord. They would not be found in rebellion to God. This is the spirit of faith.

It is the spirit of Christ (Matthew 26:42). All who believe God submit to the will of God, preferring his will to their will because his will is best. AT LAST PAUL WENT UP TO , WHERE HE WAS BY JAMES TO GIVE TO THE OF THE MOSAIC LAW (Acts 21:15-40). Carefully read Acts 21:17-26. It is one of the saddest paragraphs in the Bible. A terrible, tragic thing is about to take place. No man was a greater, or more consistent exponent of the believer’s freedom from the law than Paul. Yet, he is about to go back under the yoke of bondage! James and the elders at Jerusalem persuaded Paul that, in order to conciliate the Jews and put an end to the scandalous reports they had heard about him, he should give public approval to the observance of the ceremonial law of Moses. They compelled him to go into the temple with four men who had taken a Nazarite vow (Numbers 6:2; Numbers 6:13) and offer a sacrifice of purification; and Paul did it! Without question, this action was contrary to everything Paul taught (Galatians 2:3; Galatians 2:11; Galatians 3:1-3; Galatians 5:1; Colossians 2:16). By example and by association, Paul gave approval to legalism. His action could only encourage others to retain the spirit of legalism and both confuse and dishearten the Gentile believers. To this day, legalists point to this passage as an argument why we should live under the yoke of the law. Why did Paul submit to this legal ceremony? The believing Jews had not yet seen the destruction of the temple. During this time of transition, most Jewish believers continued to observe the customs of the law. God virtually had to break their hands to get them to let go of Moses and the carnal ceremonies of the law. But why did Paul, who knew better, do this horrible thing? No doubt, he was trying to be conciliatory to the believing Jews who were yet weak in the faith (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). That is commendable. Those who are weak in the faith are to be borne with in patience. We must do nothing to offend them. But we must not, even for the sake of nurturing the weak, do that which is contrary to the gospel of Christ or in violation of our own conscience. We can do without wine or meat to keep a brother from stumbling; but we cannot and must not pretend to live by legal principles to keep from offending a legalist!

If we join others in committing evil and compromise the gospel of grace in the name of christian love, we will not help them, and are likely to hinder many others. In addition to those things, Paul was probably simply tired of fighting with his brethren over the law. He finally gave in; but he regretted it. His strongest instructions about the believer’s total freedom from the law in Christ were written after this incident. Besides, the compromise did not work (Acts 21:27-40). It never does! The Jews were not conciliated. It is a vain thing to imagine that men can be pleased and that their approval of the gospel can be won by compromise. However, it must not be forgotten that God graciously overruled even this sad blemish in Paul’s life to accomplish his purpose. This too proved to be good for Paul, good for God’s elect, and for the glory of God. Had he not gone into the temple that day, he would not have been arrested, he would not have gone to Rome, he would not have written his prison epistles, he would not have been martyred for Christ. Without question, God brought good out of evil; and he still does!

Acts 21:13-16

Acts 21:13-16 Faith in Christ is nothing less than the surrender of one’s life to the rule and dominion of Jesus Christ as Lord. It is that implicit confidence in him that causes a person to trust Christ to control all the affairs of his life. Faith is losing your life to Christ. Anything short of the surrender of heart and life to Jesus Christ as Lord is not faith (Matthew 10:37-38; Mark 7:34-37; Luke 9:23-24; Luke 14:25-33; John 12:25). In Acts 21:13-16, Luke gives us several examples of that surrender of life that always accompanies true faith. Paul, being “bound in the Spirit” to go (Acts 20:22), was on his way to Jerusalem. He did not know exactly what awaited him there. But the Holy Spirit assured him that “bonds and afflictions” (Acts 20:23) would certainly be waiting for him. Still, this faithful servant of God was determined to finish his course with the joyful awareness that he had been obedient to Christ, no matter what difficulties and dangers awaited him. All along the way the Lord tested his resolve and proved his faith. First, the disciples at Tyre pleaded with Paul, urging him not to go up to Jerusalem because the Holy Spirit had shown them the danger awaiting him (Acts 21:4). Then, Agabus came down to Caesarea and made a very bold and vivid prophecy of the bonds awaiting Paul at Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-11). After that, all the disciples began to weep and begged Paul not to go up to Jerusalem (Acts 21:12). The disciples at Tyre, Agabus, and these disciples at Caesarea were all spiritual men. They all had Paul’s best interest at heart.

They all spoke to him by the Spirit of God. But Paul new what the will of God was. And he was determined to do God’s will, regardless of cost or consequence. What an example he sets before us! When God has shown us his will, when the path of our responsibility is clear, we must be obedient and walk in it, no matter what it may cost us to do so. Nothing will justify the neglect of disobedience to the known will of God (1 Kings 13:26). TRUE FAITH A LOVING AND OF LIFE TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. When Paul called upon the saints at Rome to present their bodies as living sacrifices to the Lord (Romans 12:1-2), he had already done so. His life was a life of self-sacrificing devotion to Christ, as Acts 21:13 indicates. “Then answered Paul, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” The Lord Jesus Christ is worthy of all that we might be called upon to do or suffer for him, and infinitely more. This is an obvious fact to all who know him. It is not something that has to be proved. He who is worthy of heaven’s highest praise is worthy of our hearts’ highest love, esteem, and devotion. He is worthy of our full surrender to his claims and total commitment to his glory. He is worthy because of who he is, God over all and blessed forever, our incarnate Mediator and Substitute (Isaiah 9:6-7; John 1:1-3; John 1:14; Philippians 2:6-8; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 1:1-3).

He is worthy because of all that he has done for us: his suretyship engagements (Hebrews 10:5-14), his assumption of our nature (2 Corinthians 8:9; Galatians 4:4-5), his representative obedience (Romans 5:19), and his sin-atoning, substitutionary, sacrificial death (Romans 5:6-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; Galatians 3:13). He is worthy because of all that he is doing and shall yet do for us: his advocacy (1 John 2:1-2), his providential rule (John 17:2), his preparation of heaven for us (John 14:1-3), the resurrection of the saints (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), and the perfection of glorification (Ephesians 5:25-27). When we think of who Christ is, what he has done, and what he has promised, we are compelled to shout with the saints in heaven, “Thou art worthy!” True faith loves and esteems the Son of God above all things, even above life itself. To those who believe, “He is precious” (1 Peter 2:7). Faith perceives the infinite worth of Christ and the comparative worthlessness of all but Christ (Philippians 3:4-11). I realize that there are varying degrees of consecration to Christ, and that believers grow in grace; but wherever grace is experienced, indebtedness is felt (Luke 7:36-50). The believer is never satisfied with anything done for or given to Christ. Love yearns to give more, do more, surrender more, and be more for Christ.

Faith can never be satisfied with anything less than total commitment to Christ, total communion with Christ, and total conformity to Christ. Faith counts that kind of devotion to be a very reasonable thing (Romans 12:1-2; Romans 14:7-8; 2 Corinthians 5:15). TRUE FAITH TO THE WILL OF GOD. When the disciples realized that Paul could not be persuaded to follow the course of personal safety, they submitted their friend, the cause of Christ, and their own lives to the will of God, saying, “The will of the Lord be done” (Acts 21:14). Even so, it is our responsibility and in our best interest to submit all things to the will of God. It is an act of faith to submit all our plans to his will (James 4:15). And it is an act of patience to humbly endure personal trials, troubles, and heartaches realizing that all that we suffer, we suffer by the will of God (1 Samuel 3:15). As we seek to walk in obedience to the will of God, three things need to be understood.

1. THE SECRET WILL OF GOD is his eternal purpose and decree of predestination. God is the first cause of all things (Romans 11:36; 2 Corinthians 5:18; Ephesians 1:11). Some things are permitted by God; and some things are directly caused by God; but all things were decreed by God in his eternal purpose (Isaiah 46:9-11).
2. THE WILL OF GOD is that which we are responsible to obey. Our responsibility is determined not by the decree of God, but by the revelation of God. We are responsible to do what we know God has commanded us to do in his Word (John 2:5). For example: All men are responsible to repent (Acts 17:30). All believers are responsible to be baptized, confessing and identifying with Christ in the watery grave (Acts 2:38). And all who know Christ are responsible to be his witnesses (Acts 1:8). Once we know God’s will in any area of life, we must obey, without consideration of cost or consequence.
3. THE WILL OF GOD is whatever comes to pass in time. All that comes to pass is brought to pass by the will of God (Romans 8:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). It is our responsibility to trust God’s will of purpose, obey God’s will of revelation, and submit to God’s will of providence, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.” TRUE FAITH TO THE END. Acts 21:16 speaks of “one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple with whom” Paul lodged at Jerusalem. What charming words! If I should live to be an old man, let me live to be “an old disciple”. I want no more. “Mnason” means “one who remembers”. He had seen, heard, learned, and experienced much of Christ, of redemption, and of grace.

What precious memories he must have enjoyed! He came from the little island of Cyprus, the home of Barnabas. And he was “an old disciple”. Those words imply that he was a man advanced in years; but literally they mean he was “a disciple from the beginning.” Mnason was one of the original group of believers. Thirty years had passed since the death of Christ. Mnason was one of the very few left who had seen, heard, and believed Christ in the flesh.

Most of his old buddies were gone already to heaven. But Mnason was still a disciple. He was still learning from his Master, following his Master, and growing in grace. He was still given to hospitality, and a man so highly esteemed in the church that his acceptance of Paul carried such weight that the Jewish brethren received him gladly (Acts 21:17). Thank God for old disciples!