Acts 21:1-36 - Prophets & Prophecies

Introduction

Today:

The things God calls us to do are rarely easy and painless

The text:

Paul on his way to Jerusalem

Paul will arrive at Jerusalem

Paul will face opposition in Jerusalem

Section 1: Acts 21:1-16 - The Prophecies

Main Focus: (Verse 13) Paul’s pursuit of his calling could not be stopped

Paul receives multiple prophecies:

Verse 4: Telling Paul not to go (they saw persecution ahead so they said do not go).

Verse 9: Four Virgin daughters who prophesied (They most likely saw a vision similar to what was seen by other disciples and what will be seen by Agabus)

Gift of prophecy was said to be given to men and women according to Joel’s prophecy quoted in Acts 2 and Joel 2.

Joel 2:28–29 ESV

28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29 Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

Acts 2:17–18 ESV

17 “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

Verse 10-11: Agabus prophesies that Paul will be bound in Jerusalem by the jewish opposition and handed over to the gentiles (Further agrees with the message of persecution).

A note on Prophecy

The prophecy here is important. They did not have the written revelation of the New Testament, therefore God spoke to them through the gift of prophecy. This gift had a necessary use because their was no New Testament to help them interpret what they were to do in the New Covenant. These people gave God’s inspired message. This, I believe is only really appropriate for their context because they did not have the New Testament scriptures which completed the canon. I do not believe in modern day prophecy in this sense we see here.

If prophecy is speaking the “Word of the Lord” then the best way we can do that is read scripture. The Scriptures are sufficient, they have a clear beginning and a clear end (simply read the end of revelation and you will see what I mean).

Revelation 22:20–21 ESV

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

If God is still giving “new prophecy” or “new revelation” today then we should be writing it down and seeking to add it to our canon. Again though I believe what we have is perfectly sufficient for what we need.

Back to the main point: (Verse 13) Paul’s pursuit of his calling could not be stopped

Paul pursued what the Lord called him to do!

He knew that what he was doing would come with persecution but he simply desired to share the gospel that much.

Not only did he know this, but the Holy Spirit told him through multiple different people that the task of evangelizing and doing the work of the great commission would be difficult.

God has called US to a difficult task!

We have to reach and serve this community while still also caring for those who are here.

Ask yourself: “Where do I fit into that?”

Is it by helping with our new Nursery and kids ministry?

Is it by greeting people as they enter?

Is it by praying in unity for this church?

Is it by starting to come to and attend our Wednesday night discipleship groups where we study and grow together.

Maybe you are just still trying to figure out how to attend church regularly

Section 2: Paul visits James in Jerusalem (v.17-26)

(v.17-19) Paul recounts the mighty works of God

Paul told the elders in Jerusalem everything that God had done.

He recounted the mighty works of God to them. He celebrated with them!

It is important for us to remember the mighty works and acts of God!

We just had a baptism this past week!

I am not even aware when the last baptism was! That was huge y’all!

There will be more!

We went door to door in our community to let them know we are here!

There will be more of that!

We have gained new members!

There will be more!

Our music team has gained new members and improved!

There will be more!

We have started kids ministry!

We will get kids in here!

(v.20-26) Jewish believers make accusation against Paul - Then Paul “cleanses himself”

The Accusation (v.20-22)

Many Jewish Christians were strictly following the ceremonial law and they were resentful of the fact that gentile believers were not following it.

They had accused Paul of telling Jews that were living among the gentiles that they did not need to follow the law.

Paul was not following ceremonial law while amongst the gentiles as to not cause a stumbling block in front of them.

When Paul was with Jews he would follow the customs - when he was with the gentiles he would not follow the customs.

Now note: He would avoid sin in all circumstances - He would simply not offer sacrifice and would eat with the gentiles. If he was with Jews he would not go out of his way around them to offend them.

Now Paul opposes those who would enforce the ceremonial law as a requirement for salvation.

(If you remember just about ten chapters ago we had a dispute about all of this - which is referenced in the text).

The Cleansing - Paul keeps peace between believers (v.23-26)

Paul chooses to take part in a ceremonial cleansing that concludes his Nazarite vow to show the Jewish believers that he is not out to offend them.

This issue is a issue of Christian liberty

Romans 14:1–8 ESV

1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

So how should I react to seeing this?

Well seek to grow and follow God in sanctification killing sin and seeking to be more like Christ.

Now Paul says in other places that we are to remain as we are where God saved us. In other words do not seek to become a jew. We know of people in Corinth who felt they needed to undo their circumcision and some who felt they needed to be circumcised (1 Cor 7:18-19). Paul tells them to remain as they are.

But at the same time we see another place where Paul circumcises Timothy in Acts 16.

How we should understand all of Paul’s words and actions here is that we need to understand that he reacted differently in different situations based upon the people around him that he would not cause them to stumble so that he could be a witness to them.

We should have the same outlook. Let us remain as we are. If you are a jew do not just throw away your heritage - do not worship it and become a legalist. If you are a greek do not throw away the fact you are are greek (of course remove the bad - because all cultures have a bad aspect to them).

Seek to follow Christ the best way you can and do not seek purposely to become a stumbling block to others.

Do not compromise the gospel or the commandments of God.

Section 3: Paul Arrested at the Temple (v.27-36) - Setting up for Next week

(Just read this and set us up for next week)

Application from this though: Even when we go out of our way to be loving we will still face opposition - so don’t be surprised.

Application

Seek to honor God by following what He calls us to do through His word

Seek to persevere through trials and persecution

Seek to not be a stumbling block for others