The Journey and the Arrival in 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.’ …When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers received us warmly. The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. When they heard this, they praised God.” –Acts 21:13-14, 17-19 (NIV. Read Acts 21:1-26).

Paul and those with him made their journey from Troas to Jerusalem. Acts 21 gives the record of their itinerary and the people they greeted along the way. At Tyre, they had a seven-day layover while the ship unloaded its cargo. There the believers begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem, knowing the Jews were lying in wait to have him arrested. A tender scene took place there, for the believers (or the church at that place) went to the ship with Paul to bid him farewell. We get a beautiful picture of them kneeling on the beach and praying.

At Caesarea they were guests in the house of Philip the evangelist. He was the same person chosen to be a deacon (Acts 6:5-6), and who preached in Samaria and witnessed to and baptized the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-40). Philip’s four daughters were prophets. And Agabus, the prophet whom we met first in Acts 11:27-29, gave an object lesson by using Paul’s belt to bind his own hands and feet. This showed that Paul should not go to Jerusalem because of the arrest and binding awaiting him there. Still Agabus’ warning did not deter Paul from his purpose.

When the missionary team arrived in Jerusalem, they were received warmly by the church of which James was pastor. The gathered assembly heard Paul’s report as he told how the Gentiles where he had been gladly received the Word. But permeating the glad reunion with Paul was the threat from the Jewish authorities.

The church leaders urged Paul to go through the Jewish purification rites, with four among them who had made vows, and to furthermore pay the temple charges for the ceremony of purification for himself and the four others. This was just before the storm erupted for Paul. But Paul had kept his intent. He was in Jerusalem. He knew this was God’s will for him and he was ready for whatever would come at the hands of the Jewish authorities. Suffering and denial of self are at the heart of Christian commitment. Paul is an example to us of total commitment to the Lord’s calling. Self-interest is laid aside to follow God.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Thursday, May 6, 2010