Committed To The Gospel - Acts 21:1-16

Journey to Jerusalem (Acts 21:1-16)

There are times when God calls us to do something that makes no sense to anyone else.

In these moments we need to be confident in what God is saying.

We also need to be humble enough to hear the concerns of others.

This balance of confidence and humility is what we see in Paul at the beginning of Acts 21.

Paul is on his way to Jerusalem, he wants to arrive by Pentecost, yet he also wants to encourage people so he is making a lot of stops along the way.

At the end of chapter 20 he spent time with the elders from Ephesus.

In the first three verses of chapter 21, Luke simply records the course of their trip.

Verses 4-6 describe Paul’s time with the believers in Tyre.

Acts 21:4–6 ESV

4 And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5 When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed 6 and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.

To clarify, Paul is not being told by God to avoid Jerusalem, that is simply how these believers are interpreting the fact that Paul will face suffering there.

Sometimes, as much as we would rather avoid it, suffering is God’s will for us.

In those moments, we need to trust our loving Heavenly Father.

Paul spends a week with these believers.

Why?

Fellowship.

Even though Paul is in a hurry, even though they are trying to dissuade him from what God has called him to do, Paul stays to fellowship with these believers.

My favorite part of these verses is that they kneel on the beach and pray publicly with Paul.

Prayer is to be a natural, normal, expected part of the Christian life.

Paul and company set sail again and visit with a new group for one day, then sail to Caesarea and stay with Philip the evangelist.

I love this name.

It always makes me wonder how I am known.

Philip the evangelist.

Earlier in Acts 8 Philip is described as preaching the gospel at every opportunity.

He has definitely earned the name of evangelist.

He has four daughters who prophesy. They use their spiritual gifts for the benefit of the church.

Paul stays there many days and then a prophet named Agabus comes and foretells how Paul will be bound.

Everyone attempts to persuade Paul to avoid Jerusalem.

Let’s look at Paul’s response.

Acts 21:13–14 ESV

13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”

This is the level of Paul’s commitment.

He is willing to face imprisonment and even death for the cause of Christ!

Seeing his commitment everyone responds with “Let the will of the Lord be done.”

With this statement I think we arrive at the heart of these verses.

All the travel, all the predictions of Paul’s suffering, Paul’s commitment; all of this leads us to one grand conclusion.

God is at work!

He is using all of these things to provide Paul with gospel opportunities that few others have had.

Just like our Lord, Paul will be bound by the Jews and delivered to the Romans.

And just as it did with Jesus, this suffering and persecution will happen according to the plan and purpose of God!

Through all of this, God is at work.

He is moving and working, using Paul to bring the gospel to people!

God wants to use you and I to bring the gospel to people.

For some, that may involve suffering, for others it will not.

God’s desire is to use the circumstances and difficulties of your life to bring people to Jesus!

This only happens as we are open and available to be used by God.

We must have the commitment displayed by Paul, willing to face suffering and even give our lives if it means telling others about Jesus.

Here is the challenge for today:

Spend time in prayer, and maybe journaling, about what it means to speak of Christ even in the midst of suffering.

Ask yourself this question: Am I willing to endure trials and difficulties to tell others about Jesus?