November 21

Acts 21: 1-16

When we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 When we found a ship bound for Phoenicia, we went on board and set sail. 3 We came in sight of Cyprus; and leaving it on our left, we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, because the ship was to unload its cargo there. 4 We looked up the disciples and stayed there for seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5 When our days there were ended, we left and proceeded on our journey; and all of them, with wives and children, escorted us outside the city. There we knelt down on the beach and prayed 6 and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home. 7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais; and we greeted the believers and stayed with them for one day. 8 The next day we left and came to Caesarea; and we went into the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy. 10 While we were staying there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 He came to us and took Paul's belt, bound his own feet and hands with it, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'" 12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." 14 Since he would not be persuaded, we remained silent except to say, "The Lord's will be done." 15 After these days we got ready and started to go up to Jerusalem. 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea also came along and brought us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to stay.

It is clear to the church that Paul will be arrested when he gets to Jerusalem. In some ways this is a similar journey to the one that Luke tells in the gospel. Jesus sets his face toward Jerusalem and goes there to the crucifixion and resurrection. Now Paul is on his way to Jerusalem.

The relationship between Paul and the believers is very strong. There are those who want to protect him by discouraging this trip. He continues on with prayer and with fellowship with those who would have him not go. For Paul it is a call that he must follow. For the other believers, it is concern for the welfare of the apostle.

Once again the story of Acts moves from the safe decision to the faithful decision. Paul is convinced that he needs to go to Jerusalem. He goes knowing the dangers. In the process we meet familiar names, Philip, and new names of leaders in the early church. It is also clear that the church has expanded so that in each community there is a group of believers with whom Paul and his companions can stay. The church has branched out from Jerusalem and now is present along this trade route of the ancient world.

Reflection questions
1. When some in the church say the Spirit is giving warning about trouble and others are saying that the Spirit is guiding in this direction, how do we decide which voice of the Spirit is correct?
2. What do the similarities of Paul’s journey and Jesus journey in the Gospel of Luke say to you about discipleship?
3. What does the matter of fact way in which Philip and other leaders of the church are identified tell you about the spreading of the early church?