skip to Main Content

October 11, 2022

Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.

Reading along with us in Acts? Here’s today’s reading:

Acts 21 (NIV)

On to Jerusalem
1 After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. 2 We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. 3 After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. 4 We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem............Continue Reading

Next: Acts 22

Back: Acts 20

This Post Has 7 Comments
  1. Paul’s fearless surrender to the will of God is amazing here. so many warnings of what lied before him in Jerusalem and yet he clearly stated he was willing to die for the will of God to be done! The Jews were so focused on the law that they didn’t see the importance of spreading God’s word to people that weren’t practicing Christianity the way they did and therefore it couldn’t be God’s will to them and Paul was severely punished for their stubbornness.
    God as always provided a way out through two guards before the angry mob beat him to death and Paul still wants to speak to this angry mob and give them the opportunity to hear that Jesus made the way for righteousness not just the law!

  2. I do like the details that Luke adds about their travels and the time spent with various people even if it was brief. There is a bit of a debate amongst scholars whether or not it was God’s will that Paul go to Jerusalem. To see people warning him in the Spirit and having prophets warning him as well makes Paul’s actions a bit suspect. Then on top of that he is convinced by those who emphasize the law to participate in a legalistic right. That certainly is not to say that Paul’s commitment and courage are laudable and we should all be dedicated to the cause of Christ in the way that he is. But these incidents here are going to take Paul out of the picture of doing the traveling ministry he has done for years with great success. It will also lead him to declare the gospel in contexts he wouldn’t otherwise be in as well. He will eventually speak before rulers and kings, as Jesus had mentioned at his calling.

    And these oppositional Jews are relentless and will do anything to silence Paul, even committing violence against him. And yes, God’s protection of him is evident and He uses the Romans once again. And it is just like Paul to take any opportunity he can to speak to a crowd….especially a crowd that is opposed to him….

  3. I sometimes wonder at our conclusion that a prophesy of bad events that lay ahead means that we should not move ahead! I mean, if I know a storm is coming, I don’t go out! What is good or for God’s purpose may involve danger and suffering. Sometimes the prophesy is just letting us know in advance.

    “Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
    So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”

    It is what it is.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back To Top