Pauls determination to get to Jerusalem Acts 21:1-14

Introduction

Everywhere Paul went there was opposition for him getting to Jerusalem, he had been led by the Spirit to go back to Jerusalem before the riot broke out in Ephesus and now he had travelled many places and was headed to Jerusalem.

He knew there would be bonds and afflictions awaiting him in Jerusalem, but he was determined to get their no matter how many people tried to discourage him.

This morning if God has called you to do something do it, Gods will is much better for you than man’s approval.

This morning we will see Pauls Journey to Jerusalem and his determination when well meaning Christians tried to persuade him to not go

Paul’s Journey to Tyre vs. 1-3

At the end of chapter 20 we find the elders saddened by the leaving of Paul, as he leaves Miletus and heads for Jerusalem.

In the first verse of chapter 21, the bible uses the phrase “we were gotten from them”

The word gotten in the greek gives the idea that they had to pull themselves away from the Ephesus Elders.

I imagine as Paul is leaving, he is almost leaving a part of his heart with those Ephesian elders. He had spent much time with them, sharing the Gospel and reaching Asia from their city, and now he was saying goodbye for the last time in person.

We see Paul travelled from Miletus to Coos, which was the capital of a city on an Island on the southwest coast of Asia minor

From Coos they headed to Rhodes, which was a city on an Island called Rhodes as well. Rhodes was home to Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the Ancient world.

From Rhodes they sailed to Patara.

Each of the ports represents a days journey, the ship would have sailed during the day and would anchor in each port for the night

Patara was located on the mainland of Asia Minor, so far Paul had been taking ships that were hugging the coast, but now he would cross the Mediterranean sea and sailed to Phenicia.

From Phenicia they passed Cyprus on the left and continued to Syria and landed in Tyre, where they unloaded their luggage and would stay for seven days.

Paul’s time in Tyre vs. 4-6

Paul didn’t start the church at Tyre and likely didn’t know many of the Christians their.

The Church at Tyre was started after the Martyrdom of Stephen which caused massive persecution on the church.

Acts 11:19 “19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.”

When Paul found the disciples in Tyre, he tarried with them for seven days.

During those seven days, some of the disciples told Paul through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem

Phillips wrote this commentary on this verse; “The prophets of Tyre might have been more objective than Paul; Paul might have been more subjective than the Tyranian prophets. The fact remains that Paul had ample warning of what to expect in Jerusalem. He was a Godly man, spiritually sensitive and guided by the Holy Spirit.”

As their time in Tyre was coming to an end, Paul and his group were headed out and the disciples in Tyre along with their families escorted them out of the city and kneeled on the shire and prayed for them.

Neither the threat of persecution nor the pleading of well meaning Christians could keep Paul from fulfilling his calling to get back to Jerusalem. He remained encouraged despite the warning of severe persecution when he made it to Jerusalem

Acts 20:23 “23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.”

After they said their goodbyes Paul and his group got on another ship and the disciples of Tyre went back to their homes.

Isn’t it amazing how God brought this church full circle. This church was likely started by the persecution caused by Paul on the church in Jerusalem, and now Paul stops into this church and encourages and is encouraged.

Paul in Caesarea vs 7-16

From Tyre they headed to Ptolemais and saluted the brethren there

This church like the church in Tyre was likely started due to the scattering of the Christians due to the persecution in Jerusalem.

Paul cared for all the churches whether he started them or not

2 Corinthians 11:28 “28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.”

Paul never missed an opportunity to meet with the Lord’s people, to minister to them, to enlarge their missionary vision, and to keep them informed of God’s work in the world.

After one day in Ptolemais, they head to Caesarea.

When they arrive in Caesarea, the head to Phillip the evangelist house.

Phillip was one of the original seven deacons that were appointed to take care of the day to day business of the church.

He was the first missionary to take the gospel to the Samaritans

Acts 8:5 “5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.”

Acts 8:40 “40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.”

He was led of the Spirit to share the Gospel with the Etheopian Eunuch in Acts 8.

Around 20 years had passed since Phillip had arrived in Caesarea, but God was still using him and now was using his daughters as well

Though the Bible isn’t clear on what they prophesied, it is clear that they did prophesy during this transitional period between Christs ascension and the completion of the Scriptures.

As the stayed in Caesarea, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea to see them.

This isn’t the first time we have heard from Agabus

Acts 11:27–28 “27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. 28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.”

This is the only verbatim prophecy recorded in Acts.

The prophecy depicts Paul’s coming arrest in Jerusalem.

Look at the prophecy in verse 11

After the believers here in Caesarea heard this prophecy they begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem because of the impending arrest.

Look at Pauls response in verse 13

No matter how hard they tried to persuade Paul not to go to Jerusalem, he knew what the Holy Spirit was leading him to do and he couldn’t abandon that now.

Paul said that he was not only ready to be bound for the sake of the Gospel, but he was willing to die for the cause of Christ.

There are many missionaries today, that have shown the same resolve as Paul

Adoniram Judson, a Baptist missionary who had a desire to go to Burma (present-day Myanmar), a “closed country,” against the pleas of others, took his new wife into the heart of Burma. He labored for thirty-eight years, suffering through cholera, malaria, dysentery, and unknown miseries that would claim the lives of his first wife and second wife, as well as seven of his thirteen children and numerous colleagues. As a result of his resolve, today there are close to four thousand Baptist congregations in the middle of Buddhist Burma. Over half a million believers are represented in those congregations.

William Carey, “the father of modern missions,” rose up in Europe and said to a group of ministers, “I am going to go to India and make the gospel known there.” A minister in the audience rebuked him: “Sit down, young man. You are an enthusiast. When God pleases to convert the heathen in India, he will do it without consulting you or me.” But Carey wouldn’t be persuaded

If God has called you to do something, do it! No matter how many well meaning people try to persuade you otherwise, do it.

Mark 8:34–35 “34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.”

After they realized they weren’t changing Pauls mind they stopped trying to convince him an yielded to Gods will for Paul’s life.

Gods will should be every believers goal for their life. The only way you find God’s will is by living a life yielded to Him!

Conclusion

This morning has God told you to do something and you haven’t surrendered it to him? Come this morning and give it to him.

Are well meaning believers trying to discourage you from doing God’s will? See God’s will not man’s approval

The most important thing that God wants all of us to do is to accept His Son Jesus Christ as Saviour. Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ to take away your sins? If not, why not right now? One of the biggest lies the devil will tell you is that you will have time later. The only time we have promised is the moment we are living right now.