Acts 21:1-16

If you have you Bible (and I hope you do) please turn with me to Acts 21:

Acts 21:1–16 NIV

After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home. We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day. Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ ” When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem. Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus and one of the early disciples.

May God add His blessing to the reading of His Holy Word!

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If Paul was something like a CEO, I doubt we’d see much (if any) of this.

If his relationship with the churches around was only motivated by business or was a mere transaction, he wouldn’t have the closeness he does.

Because he cares for them and loves them and has invested his own life in theirs, giving himself to them—his time, his talent, his effort, his blood, sweat, and tears—because of this, the relationship Paul has with the churches is deep and it’s admirable, worthy of our consideration and emulation (think about it and copy it).

For Paul to say goodbye to his brothers from Ephesus is heart-wrenching (what we looked at last week).

It’s like saying goodbye to family after a holiday, knowing it might be a year before you see them again.

Now, sometimes it’s a blessing to say “goodbye” knowing it will be a year before you see them again (some of you know exactly what I’m talking about), but imagine with me, if you can, loving and liking your family.

Paul and these Christians in Acts 20-21 love one another with a brotherly love, a family love, a love that goes deeper and wider and further than the world can fathom.

We probably know what’s facing Paul in Jerusalem and beyond. If you’ve read ahead in Acts before, you know he’s going to face some less-than-pleasant moments, and yet, here he goes. He marches on. But he’s not alone.

He’s accompanied by 7 Gentile men from the churches in Macedonia and Achaia, AND he’s going to have the support and love and hospitality of Christians all along his journey.

He’s not alone; the Lord makes sure of that.

What’s needed for Paul’s journey (and ours) is:

Christian Friendship

Paul is on a literal journey. He’s traveling back to Jerusalem through one town after another. And at every juncture, every port, every hamlet along the way, he finds his fellow Christ-followers.

Christian friendship is a by-product of a relationship with Jesus.

The gospel—the good news about Jesus—creates spiritual friendships. We have the same Lord, the same Spirit.

We have in common that which is most important, that which is most lasting.

As one of my professors taught: “Blood is thicker than water. The blood of Christ is thicker still.”

There is no earthly relationship any more significant and lasting than those forged by a common faith in Christ. I am, by virtue of being a Christian, closer to you than I am to some of my own biological family. And vice versa.

We need to start acting like this is true.

Whether we acknowledge this or not doesn’t make it less true (truth is truth, no matter what).

But to acknowledge this (that our closest earthly relationships are our brothers and sisters in Christ) will have an incredible impact on our own stories and it will catch the attention of the watching world.

The church is not a building.

The church is a people—and not merely a people we tolerate or put up with. The church is a people we love, a people we care about, a people we support, a people with pray with/for, a people with whom we have an eternal bond.

A by-product of being in Christ is love for our brothers and sisters. We love each other, and doing so shows that we have passed from death to life.

We can’t get bogged down in these verses with all the names and locations. What’s important to see is the strength of Christian friendship expressed here.

It’s remarkable to observe how often Paul is surrounded by Christian friends as he does the work God called him to do.

Paul travels with friends, stays with friends, works alongside friends.

Here, Paul’s friends surround him. They journey together. They spend time together. They talk together. They weep together, laugh together, pray together.

This isn’t some defect in Paul, some personality flaw creating a need for company. It’s an expression of the Imago Dei, being made in the image of God.

This is, we are made for community, built for friendships, and this, per God’s design.

When a person becomes a Christian, entering into a new relationship with God through Jesus, they also enter into new relationships with other believers.

It’s the work of the Holy Spirit, uniting diverse people from diverse towns.

Paul journeys through these various places and meets with various groups of people (some of whom he probably hadn’t met before).

This is because Jesus’ people have a common Savior: Jesus.

The unlikeliest people can become great friends because of a shared relationship with Jesus.

“Young techies, then, can become friends with retirees; rock stars can become friends with doctors; hip-hoppers can share a deep bond of friendship with farmers; business men can be friends with hipsters; valley girls can enjoy friendships with home girls.

And when diverse individuals kneel down before Jesus and do life together, it’s a powerful testimony to the life-changing, friendship-forming power of the gospel. And it gets the world’s attention.

Jesus creates remarkable spiritual friendships.”

-Tony Merida

Notice how Christian friendship expresses itself in this text:

Hospitality

In at least four places, Paul stays with fellow believers: in Tyre (v. 4), in Ptolemais (v. 7), in Caesarea (v. 8), and finally in the home of Mnason of Cyprus in the city of Jerusalem (v. 16).

The believers Paul encountered (and elsewhere) viewed their homes as gifts from God.

Paul’s brothers and sisters showed him hospitality, that is “love for strangers” or “love for new people.”

If you remember, hospitality is required of the elders of a church. Titus 1:8 says: “He [the elder] must be hospitable...”

It’s not just on the elders, this; hospitality is commanded of all Christians.

Romans 12:13 NIV

13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Christ’s people are to practice hospitality with joy, welcoming others as Jesus welcomed us. Because God has welcomed us—new people—into His family, we should gladly welcome others into our homes and into our live.

We all have at least one item at our disposal: our homes. Whether you own or rent, you have an incredible tool at your disposal. Your home, your kitchen table, your living room can be a tool used to minister to others.

As Paul is traveling, you probably picked up on a theme:

They sought out the disciples [in Tyre] and stayed with them seven days (21:4).

In Ptolemais they greeted the believers and stayed with them for a day (21:7).

Then they stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven (21:8) and stayed there a number of days (21:10).

On their way to Jerusalem, they were accompanied by some of the disciples from Caesarea and were taken to the home of Mnason, where they were to stay (21:16).

Paul wasn’t just looking for a free place to crash; but he knew he could depend on the hospitality of the Christians along the way.

One of my friends from college, Kory Pederson, decided to experiment his junior year.

He decided to be intentionally homeless. He called his experiment: “Kory’s Hobo Adventure.” It was actually pretty clever and exceptionally frugal.

He’d ask to stay in a spare room or on your couch in trade for cleaning or doing laundry or grocery shopping.

My roommates and I loved Kory and told him he could stay a week or two at a time, whenever he needed. He stayed with us several times—on and off. What’s impressive is that he made it the entire year “homeless”, simply depending upon the hospitality of his friends and brothers and sisters in Christ.

“Kory’s Hobo Adventure” was successful because God’s people show hospitality.

I used to let people know that if they had any issues as they were driving through Kansas—if they got stranded or had car trouble—to give me a call.

I’d tell them, “I know someone in just about every town in Kansas. If you need, someone will come pick you up, tow your car, put you up in their home until the storm passes or the mechanic fixes the problem.”

Several people over the years have taken me up on it. I had some friends who got stuck near Emporia.

They called me. I called Larry Ellis and had him pick them up. They ended up staying with Larry and Marilyn for a couple of days and enjoyed wonderful fellowship.

I once led a mission trip to Boise, Idaho.

Our team—a whole van-full—stayed with MCC alumni and supporting churches on our way there and back. We had a great experience, met some great people, and were blessed by the hospitality and friendship of Christ’s people in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah.

Hospitality should be the norm—one of the major ways Christ’s people express friendship.

Showing affection

There are displays of visible, physical affection for one another. We see them weeping, embracing, and kissing. Don’t make it weird. To greet one another with a holy kiss was common. In some circles, it’s still practiced.

Luke says they had to tear themselves away from the Ephesian elders (21:1). They were so close, they cared so much about one another that leaving was difficult.

When it was time to leave Tyre, all of them, including wives and children accompanied them out of the city (21:5). Then they knelt down and prayed together.

There should be some show of love for your brothers and sisters. A hand shake, a hug, a fist-bump, a high-five, a wave and smile, the side hug (leaving enough room for Jesus, of course).

Romans 12:10—Love one another with brotherly affection...

There ought to be a shared affection between us, a visible expression of the love we have for one another, even if we don’t know one another any better than Paul knew some of these saints. Showing affection for one another is an expression of Christian friendship.

Praying together

The Ephesian elders pray for Paul (Acts 20:36). The Christians in Tyre pray for him (Acts 21:5). We can assume without making too much of a leap, that during his stay with the saints that Paul and his brothers and sisters there prayed with one another.

Deep Christian friendship involves times of fervent prayer for one another. We pray for protection, blessing, guidance, healing, relationships, and all other aspects of life and ministry when you gather with believing friends.

I’ve had several moments where I’m struggling with difficult things: the death of my parents, church struggles, family health concerns.

When I express these, do you know what happens?

Cliff & Wanda, Tom and Wylene, Becky Humble, Gail Jones (to name a few) will say, “Well, let’s pray about it right now.”

Sometimes, that’s in person. Other times, it’s over the phone.

I’ve never felt as fortunate to have Christian friends as I have when someone takes the time to pray with and for me.

Christian friendship is a byproduct of a relationship with Jesus.

The gospel creates spiritual friendships—hospitable, loving, prayerful relationships.

We have the same Lord, the same Spirit, making our bond permanent and inseparable.

How thankful we should be for Christian friendship, for people who point us to Jesus; people who love us and care about us.

To get through this life, Christian friendship is essential.

What’s needed for the journey is:

Surrender

Even more than friendship—which is not to be underestimated or undervalued—even more than Christian friendship, what’s needed for the journey is surrender.

On an actual journey, we have our plans. We have a schedule. We have thought things through: “We’ll make it there by 6.”

And then sometimes our plans and schedules get blown out of the water. It might be a flat tire. You might hit traffic.

One time, I hit traffic literally. I found icy roads in Wichita and ran into the car in front of me who had run into the car in front of them who had run into the car in front of them.

Unseen, unplanned things happen. It’s just part of it.

The quicker we learn to surrender to God’s will, the better off we’ll be. It seems Paul had already surrendered to what God had for him—uncomfortable as it would be. Paul’s friends actually warn him against going to Jerusalem.

A prophet name Agabus, whom we’ve met before (Acts 11), even has an object lesson, an illustration for Paul. “There in Jerusalem, they’re gonna bind you and hand you over.”

Paul friends—Luke included—pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem.

The love him and care about him, as they should. But Paul knows God’s way is best, even if it doesn’t look good to us.

Paul is surrendered.

Acts 21:13 NIV

13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Paul cares about his comfort less than he does God’s will. What Paul says is admirable: “I am ready to die…for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

It’s admirable, incredible, and extremely Christ-like. As Jesus prayed in the garden:

Luke 22:42 NIV

42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Paul’s friends naturally wanted him to avoid what was coming his way. They were good friends, who loved him and wanted him to be safe. They weren’t necessarily wanting him to subvert God’s will (or maybe they were), but they were concerned for Paul’s safety.

They finally relent. They eventually come to the point of saying what we should be quick to say: “The Lord’s will be done.”

Acts 21:14 NIV

14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

We should trust and rest in what God wants done. And believe that what He wants done will be done.

All along this journey called life, surrender to God’s will and God’s ways will serve us so much better than insisting on our ways and our will.

Paul is surrendered.

And his surrender to God’s will makes it easier for his friends to surrender.

Onward toward Jerusalem they go, Christian friends surrendered to God’s will.

>As we apply these verses to our own lives, we will be ready and equipped for the journey ahead of us.

Would the Lord help us understand that:

Jesus’ call is to follow Him, regardless the cost.

Following Jesus won’t always take us on the easy path. We aren’t promised prosperity or well-being (in fact, we’re promised the opposite), but we are promised His presence.

We must love Jesus most.

Paul loved people and his brothers and sisters, especially. But Paul treasured Jesus more than anyone. So must we.

We must, in our love for Jesus, be willing to die for the name of Jesus, because we love Him most—more than parents, more than our spouse, more than children, even more than life.

We might appear foolish for following Christ.

You know there were people around Paul who believed him to be crazy, knowing what he knew, hearing what Agabus said was awaiting Paul in Jerusalem. And yet, he went anyhow.

It’s a distinct possibility that people will think us foolish or crazy for following Jesus.

Jim Eliot gave his life to serve the Auca Indians in Ecuador, even though people told him he was “too gifted” to consider “wasting his life” on such a thing.

It’s a distinct possibility that people will think us foolish or crazy for following Jesus—but nothing compares to following Him in full surrender.

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May we surrender to God’s will and trust Him for the journey, knowing we are never alone.

He is with us and He has given to us many Christian friends—brothers and sisters in Christ—to love and help and support us as we go.

Let’s journey on, telling people about Jesus, pressing on toward the goal.