Acts 21:1-21

Summary
This chapter shows us how Paul moved from one city to the other preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. When Paul and the disciples got to the house of Phillip, a co disciple, He received a revelation of how he would be apprehended for the sake of the gospel at Jerusalem. The disciples who were with him bid him not to go, but Paul being compelled by his calling still forged ahead. Paul was thereafter molested at the temple by some Jews who accused him of blasphemy; he was handed over to the Roman soldiers because the uproar had apparently gotten to the authorities. Nevertheless, Paul still ceased the opportunity to preach to his listeners about his great encounter with Jesus on his way to Damascus, the people listened for a while only to start uproar. Paul was however later taken to the barracks.

Life application
As God’s children, the responsibility of preaching the good news is ours, even as we put God first in all we do. We must also learn to show courage in the face of fear. It is important we believe God will give us victory in every situation.

Personal declaration
I subject my will to the absolute will of God. I will show courage despite the fearful realities around me.

Reading – Acts 21:1-21

On to Jerusalem

21 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.² We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. ³ 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. ⁴ We sought out the disciplesthere and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. ⁵ 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. ⁶ After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.

⁷ We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day. ⁸ Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. ⁹ He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.

¹⁰ After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹ 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.’”

¹² When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 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.” ¹⁴ When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

¹⁵ After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem. ¹⁶ 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.

Paul’s Arrival at Jerusalem

¹⁷ When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters received us warmly.¹⁸ The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elderswere present. ¹⁹ Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

²⁰ When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. ²¹ They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs.