Acts 21:1-6 - The Courage of Conviction (Part 1)

Acts 21 : 1-6 — The Courage of Conviction

Lesson 79 (Part 1)

Paul has left the elders at Miletus and is sailing east toward Jerusalem with the relief offering for the poor believers there. These six verses show what real conviction looks like in a servant of Christ. It is more than strong feeling; it is steel in the soul—purposeful, undiverted, willing to pay any price, and contagious.

1. Conviction knows its God-given purpose

Paul’s purpose is unmistakable. He believes God has told him to unite Jew and Gentile by hand-delivering the collection to Jerusalem (see Romans 15:25-27). The Spirit has already warned him that chains await, yet he presses on. Courage is impossible without a clear “why.”

Key takeaway: Decide what God has sent you to do; everything else becomes secondary.

2. Conviction cannot be diverted

Luke describes the itinerary in rapid strokes: tearing themselves away from the Ephesian elders, day-hops along the coast to Cos, Rhodes, and Patara, then a larger sea-leg to Phoenicia. In Tyre the Spirit warns—through concerned disciples—that danger lies ahead. Paul listens, thanks them, and stays the course. He is not stubborn; he is settled. Pleas rooted in love do not override orders rooted in calling.

Key takeaway: Loving counsel should be weighed, but God’s assignment must rule.

3. Conviction is willing to pay any price (vv 13-14, next passage)

Luke will soon quote Paul: “I am ready not only to be bound but even to die for the name of the Lord Jesus.” That willingness explains why repeated threats never turn him aside.

Key takeaway: If safety is your highest value, you will never finish the race God sets before you.

4. Conviction affects others (vv 5-6)

When the week in Tyre ends, the entire church—men, women, and children—escorts Paul to the beach, kneels with him, and prays. His resolve deepens their own devotion. True courage radiates; it does not merely survive.

Key takeaway: People catch fire from a flaming heart more than from a fine argument.

In Summary

Paul’s journey from Miletus to Jerusalem is a living lesson in Spirit-driven courage:

Purpose — he knows why he is going.

Tenacity — he cannot be talked out of obedience.

Cost — he counts his life expendable for Christ.

Influence — his conviction strengthens every believer he meets.

Ask God to brand these qualities on your own heart; He still uses men and women of unshakable conviction to move the gospel forward today.