CHAPTER 21

1 And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:
2 And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.
3 Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.
4 And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
5 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
6 And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.

Remember, in Acts 20, Paul was in Miletus where he had been speaking to the elders from Ephesus.
After leaving Miletus, on ship, Paul's company traveled in a Southeasterly direction, heading toward Jerusalem.
The ship stopped in "Coos," then "Rhodes," then "Patara."
In Patara they found another ship sailing to Phenicia and boarded.
Then they sailed by "Cyprus," and came to port in "Tyre."
There, the ship was unloaded.

While the ship was unloading, Paul and company found "disciples" and stayed with them "seven days."
These disciples told Paul that they discerned "through the Spirit" that he would face severe difficulty in Jerusalem.
And, it was their wish that he would not continue the journey there.
In ministry, though we "know" of difficulty and adversity, we must discern the will of GOD, and not ourselves.
Paul obviously felt the trip was in the will of God, so they "kneeled down on the shore, and prayed" with the disciples.
Then, Paul and company boarded the ship, headed for "Ptolemais," and the company of disciples returned home.

7 And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.

Upon arrival in Ptolemais, they had fellowship with some "brethren" there, and stayed "one day."
Then, they departed for "Caesarea."

8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.
11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

We remember "Philip" from the 8th chapter of Acts.
He was one of the deacons that the church ordained in Jerusalem (Acts 6:5).
He had been preaching in Samaria, and many people were being saved (Acts 8:12).
But God called him to Gaza, in the desert, where he led an Ethiopian Eunuch to Christ.
Now, we find that same Philip in Caesarea and he had "four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy."

A prophet named "Agabus" from Judaea came to join them.
He took Paul's "girdle" and bound himself with it.
(A "girdle" was a belt, sometimes embroidered, used to hold the robe in place.
When working, or in battle, the girdle would be used to tie up the bottom half of the robe and effectively make a pair of shorts.)

Agabus stated that Paul would be "bound" in Jerusalem, and given over "into the hands of the Gentiles."
Many of Paul's company then pled with him not to go to Jerusalem (vs 12 above).

But Paul knew this trip to Jerusalem was in God's will.
And, he would not thwart the will of God for his own safety!

Just think what might have happened if Paul had bent to emotion rather than to the will of God.
He would not have been arrested in Jerusalem and sent to Rome.
And, we would perhaps not have the letters: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.
For, they were written while Paul was in prison in Rome.

My wife's first cousin is Earl Williams, who was a missionary for some 26 years to Liberia.
This was during the time that Liberia was in turmoil due to civil war.
He and his wife Jane raised 5 children there!
I remember when some would ask him about serving in a place like that.
He would say, "I'm never so safe as when I am in the will of God!"

This is the way to approach ministry when God calls.
We must believe that He Who has called us will also equip, provide, and protect us!

15 And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.
16 There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.
17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

Paul and company left Caesarea and went to Jerusalem.
There, they stayed with "Mnason of Cyprus, and old disciple."
And, "the brethren" in Jerusalem, "received" them "gladly!"

The Jerusalem Christians were glad to see Paul and company, for they would learn of God's wonderful work through them in places afar.

18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord,

Paul and company went to a meeting with "James; and all the elders were present."
Note, there is no other apostle mentioned.
This was the "Jerusalem Council" over which James presided as chairman and chief speaker.
This was the same James to whom Peter wanted the news conveyed of his release from prison (Acts 12:17).
Also, he was the James who delivered the decision about circumcision (Acts 15:13).

Now some contend that this was James the Less, "the son of Alphaeus" (Mark 3:18), one of Jesus' disciples, perhaps brother of Matthew (Matt. 9:9) and thus an apostle.
And, some say he was James "...the Lord's brother" (Gal 1:19, Jude 1:1), or Jesus' half-brother, born after Jesus.

Personally, I prefer the latter.
However, it doesn't really matter - he was the Christian leader in Jerusalem.

Paul and company reported "what things God had wrought amont the Gentiles by his ministry."
James and the elders "glorified the Lord."

Now, you will note that I have divided verse 20.
It will continue in the next comment.
The reason is because AFTER "they glorified the Lord," there was a PROBLEM.

20 ...., and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;
24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

Indeed there were "thousands of Jews" who were Christians in Jerusalem!
Acts 2 tells of 3,000 who were saved, and Acts 4 tells of 5,000 more who were saved.
And, those were only two instances...there were many more because "the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:47)
Acts 5:14 says, "And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women."

All of these Jewish Christians, James said, were "zealous of the law."
Even though they were Christians, saved FROM the law, they believed it was correct for them to KEEP the law as much as possible.
Christians today might take note here, the law of God may not be imperative to keep, but is important to developing Christian character!

James knew and voiced the fact that Paul taught Gentile Christians they did not HAVE to be circumcised.
But, some of the Jewish believers had heard rumors Paul was teaching Jewish converts that THEY didn't have to be circumcised.
James wanted UNITY.
He said, "The multitude must needs come TOGETHER."

So, he proposed a compromise.
Paul should take four men "which have a vow on them" to the temple and "purify" himself WITH them.

Now, Paul was quite willing to do this.
And it demonstrated the fact his teachings were correct, and the rumors were false.
Keep in mind, Paul was himself very zealous for the law of God.
Because he, "after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee" (Acts 26:5).

Rumors will arise!
People will think, and even say, what they WANT.
The best way to meet rumors is to be forthright and live in good character.

26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purifcation, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,
28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
29(For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
30 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.

They ASSUMED Paul had brought Trophimus into the temple!
They didn't CHECK to be sure!
INSTEAD, they immediately went out and "stirred up all the people" with GOSSIP!

"Gossip" is simply telling what you have not seen with your own eyes, and not heard with your own ears!

Gossip almost got Paul killed!!

Lev 19:16
Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.

Prov 26:20-22
20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

AVOID gossip!
Turn it AWAY!
Prov 25:23
The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

Gossip serves no purpose but to kindle fires of strife and contention!!

31 And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
32 Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.
33 Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.
34 And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.
35 And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.

Remember Agabus? (vs 11 above)
He had predicted this would happen!

Actually Paul was "bound" to protect him.
The Chief Captain wanted to show he would not let anyone escape justice.
And, in the same frame, wanted to ensure peace from the angry crowd.

Notice Paul had been beaten already, and had to be "carried" up the stairs.

This is gossip's ultimate intention:
to "beat up" people!

36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.
37 And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?
38 Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?
39 But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.

The people were yelling; the crowd was animated!

The Chief Captain thought Paul was someone else. (See vs 38)
Paul assured him of two things: he was a Jew, and he was a citizen of Cilicia.
Being a Roman "citizen" afforded Paul respect and certain rights.

He asked the Chief Captain permission to speak to the people.
The permission was granted.

(I will include verse 40 with Acts, Chapter 22.)

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.
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