Paul Put Into Chains

Introduction

We are about to se a shift in the book of Acts

the first 8 chapters

about the explosion of the church in Jerusalem

from chapters 9 -20

how through persecution and missionary journeys, the gospel has spread out to the outer most parts of the earth

Now the shift will be with Paul put into chains

One of the biggest challenges for the church today is complacency

being a christian is easy

in our part of the world

not discounting or forgetting the hundreds of people that have been reported as killed just a few weeks ago

funny how you do not hear anything else about it

truth is, as the day draws nearer to Christs return we will be faced with choices

do we follow Jesus and his will no matter the costs

or do we do all we can to keep the easy cheap religion

Acts 21:1–36 CSB

1 After we tore ourselves away from them, we set sail straight for Cos, the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 Finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we boarded and set sail. 3 After we sighted Cyprus, passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria and arrived at Tyre, since the ship was to unload its cargo there. 4 We sought out the disciples and stayed there seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go to Jerusalem. 5 When our time had come to an end, we left to continue our journey, while all of them, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach to pray, 6 we said farewell to one another and boarded the ship, and they returned home. 7 When we completed our voyage from Tyre, we reached Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day. 8 The next day we left and came to Caesarea, where we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven, and stayed with him. 9 This man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. 10 After we had been there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 He came to us, took Paul’s belt, tied his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him over to the Gentiles.’ ” 12 When we heard this, both we and the local people pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 Since he would not be persuaded, we said no more except, “The Lord’s will be done.” 15 After this we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us and brought us to Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to stay. 17 When we reached Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters welcomed us warmly. 18 The following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 19 After greeting them, he reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 When they heard it, they glorified God and said, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law. 21 But they have been informed about you—that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or to live according to our customs. 22 So what is to be done? They will certainly hear that you’ve come. 23 Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have made a vow. 24 Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay for them to get their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that what they were told about you amounts to nothing, but that you yourself are also careful about observing the law. 25 With regard to the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter containing our decision that they should keep themselves from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.” 26 So the next day, Paul took the men, having purified himself along with them, and entered the temple, announcing the completion of the purification days when the offering would be made for each of them. 27 When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd, and seized him, 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place. What’s more, he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul, dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31 As they were trying to kill him, word went up to the commander of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in chaos. 32 Taking along soldiers and centurions, he immediately ran down to them. Seeing the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the commander approached, took him into custody, and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He asked who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd were shouting one thing and some another. Since he was not able to get reliable information because of the uproar, he ordered him to be taken into the barracks. 35 When Paul got to the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, 36 for the mass of people followed, yelling, “Get rid of him!”

Pray

Hard times will come in life. Christ has warned us of the troubling times times bit we must decide is he is worth it.

We are to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, this is our reasonable worship.

The Prophecy

We pretend like we would like to know what was coming in our lives

I told Roger Alford, I would not come if I was expected to be the next Pastor after he retired

could not imagine preaching every week

I love the study, I love to preach, I love being able to be in a community of believers where we can do life together and I get to do all of those things

It was not a surprise what was coming to Paul

Paul did not tell Jesus, like me, I will serve you but it looks like this

Acts 21:4 CSB

4 We sought out the disciples and stayed there seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go to Jerusalem.

The warnings that the Spirit gives does not always mean that we are to change direction

that is what the disciples here thought for Paul

Paul! The Spirit told us that you will be persecuted for the name of Christ if you go to Jerusalem!

we have this false teaching, or belief that the Holy Spirit will not lead us into dangerous places

the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever

the chief end of God is not to love man and keep him safe in this world

Acts 21:10–14 CSB

10 After we had been there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

Agabus was also in chapter 11, said that there would be a famine in Judea, and the church of Antioch sent supplies with Paul and Barnabas to them

Acts 21:10–14 CSB

11 He came to us, took Paul’s belt, tied his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him over to the Gentiles.’ ” 12 When we heard this, both we and the local people pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 Since he would not be persuaded, we said no more except, “The Lord’s will be done.”

Paul knew what was coming

Acts 20:22–24 CSB

22 “And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, compelled by the Spirit, not knowing what I will encounter there, 23 except that in every town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me.

notice the Spirit is telling Paul that he is supposed to God to Jerusalem

compelled = bind together

if he is to be in the Spirit, follow the Spirits leading he is going to Jerusalem

he doesn’t have all the details, but he knows that he is going to have chains and afflictions

Why go then?

Acts 20:22–24 CSB

24 But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.

his purpose was to finish the ministry that he received from the Lord

this is the key to our text

I am not saying that we are to run head first into every trouble because we are being bold for the Lord

that is unwise and misguided

we must know what the Lord is calling us to,

in tune with with the Holy Spirit and go where he leads us

We have prophecy concerning “end of days”

Matthew 24:24–26 CSB

24 For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 Take note: I have told you in advance. 26 So if they tell you, ‘See, he’s in the wilderness!’ don’t go out; or, ‘See, he’s in the storerooms!’ do not believe it.

so that when these things happen, we do not doubt God

Paul is bold enough to stop those who tried to get him not to go

wow! how secure in the Lord you would have to be

The Plan

I love a good plan… and in the words of Hannibal Smith from the A-Team, I love it when a plan comes together.

tell the story of what is happening at the meeting between Paul and Elders

Acts 21:20–25 CSB

20 When they heard it, they glorified God and said, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law. 21 But they have been informed about you—that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or to live according to our customs. 22 So what is to be done? They will certainly hear that you’ve come. 23 Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have made a vow. 24 Take these men, purify yourself along with them, and pay for them to get their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that what they were told about you amounts to nothing, but that you yourself are also careful about observing the law. 25 With regard to the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter containing our decision that they should keep themselves from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.”

Problem announced

people have heard of rumors

these rumors are important to understand

what is this Jewish man teaching those who he is converting

they have heard that he is removing all jewishness

we are under the new covenant

this did not wipe out the law of the OT, but fulfilled the law of the OT

we do not believe that the OT is obsolete and unprofitable

a solution is proposed and agreed upon

the solution sounds weird

basically take these four guys to the temple who are taking a vow, pay for the things they have to do for the vow

pay for their heads to be shaved, for the sacrifice

show that you are not against the jewish traditions

Paul is attempting to be all things to all people

to the jewish he was jewish, so that he might win some

Nothing stops the plans of God

I do not care how good our plans are, you are not going to stop the will of God

Matthew Henry said, “The providence of God must be acknowledged.”

providence = that God will use the good and the bad things in life for his glory

Paul goes in and out of the temple for a week

doing what the elders proposed

what attitude did Paul have

was he doing this thinking, it really doesn’t matter, I am going to be put into chains

was it I am going to do the next right thing… whatever happens, happens

but isn’t that how we are supposed to live

I am going to do what God calls me to do. I will live as he has called us to live

whatever happens I pray he uses it for his glory

Good, God honoring intentions did not stop God’s will

The Fulfilled Prophecy

We do not always know God’s timing

sometimes he says things in the bible and it is for another generation

sometimes it is for the moment

Paul did not have to wait long

Acts 21:26–36 CSB

26 So the next day, Paul took the men, having purified himself along with them, and entered the temple, announcing the completion of the purification days when the offering would be made for each of them. 27 When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd, and seized him, 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place. What’s more, he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul, dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31 As they were trying to kill him, word went up to the commander of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in chaos. 32 Taking along soldiers and centurions, he immediately ran down to them. Seeing the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the commander approached, took him into custody, and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He asked who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd were shouting one thing and some another. Since he was not able to get reliable information because of the uproar, he ordered him to be taken into the barracks. 35 When Paul got to the steps, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, 36 for the mass of people followed, yelling, “Get rid of him!”

Takes right at a week for prophecy to be fulfilled

but Paul has been here before

falsely arrested, beaten, put into chains, before any questions

this hits us a little different here with the rights that we have in this country

this was common in the Roman world

this is common in other parts of the world now

the roman soldiers arrest him and chain him assuming that he did something greatly wrong to be treated like that

that is why they ask him, What did you do

was there ever a point that he regretted going to Jerusalem

I do not think so

the beatings hurt both physically and emotionally

this is his people, we know from Romans 10-11 that he loves the Jewish people and would give anything to see them saved

that includes his life

now they beat him and want him dead because he proclaims that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah

We offer ourselves as a living sacrifice

because of the mercies of God

Romans 12:1 CSB

1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.

not because of the earthly protections and blessings

what are the mercies of God

Romans 5:1 CSB

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:8 CSB

8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:23 CSB

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:1 CSB

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,

Romans 10:9 CSB

9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Discussion Questions

What was the initial response of the disciples in Tyre when Paul expressed his intention to go to Jerusalem?

What does Paul's willingness to suffer in Jerusalem teach us about the nature of discipleship and sacrifice?

In what ways can we prepare ourselves spiritually for the trials we may face in our own lives?

How can we, like Paul, discern and follow God’s will even when it is difficult or goes against popular opinion?

What specific instructions did the elders in Jerusalem give to Paul to address the rumors about him?

What did Agabus' prophecy about Paul's future reveal regarding the challenges he was going to face?

How does Paul's response to the warnings about his impending suffering reflect his relationship with God?

What can we learn from Paul's example about being steadfast in our faith despite warnings or challenges?

How can we show our commitment to God’s calling in our lives, similar to how Paul did, when faced with opposition?

What is the significance of the message that the Gentiles should remain abstinent from certain practices according to the early church leaders?