AGABUS’ PROPHECY
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Opening Prayer
Holy Spirit, lay clearly before me what God would say to me in today’s reading and help me to respond in ways that glorify my Savior.
Read ACTS 21:1–16
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
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 disciples there 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.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What things give you courage when you are faced with difficult challenges?
It is hard to part from people we love. Paul here undergoes a difficult parting from the churches he loves: ‘After we had torn ourselves away’ (vv. 1, 5, 6).
We continue with Paul’s journey to Jerusalem. William Barclay notes, ‘The narrative is speeding up and there is an atmosphere of approaching storm as Paul comes nearer to Jerusalem. There is the sheer determination of Paul to go on no matter what lies ahead.’1 Paul took a complicated route to Jerusalem involving three ships—why did he not go to Antioch and report to the church as usual and then go on? Because he wanted to reach Jerusalem ‘if possible, by the day of Pentecost.’2
Luke describes multiple warnings to Paul about going to Jerusalem, not least the graphic prophecy of Agabus in which he ties his feet and hands to show how Paul will be bound. There are echoes of other biblical stories—the prophetic acting of the Old Testament, for example, and Jesus’ warning to Peter.3 We might wonder why the Holy Spirit, who ‘compelled’ Paul to go to Jerusalem,4 also seems to warn him of what awaits him there. Probably the Spirit gave prophetic foresight to the believers, who passed the warning on to Paul—adding their own human opinions to the message.
What is your reaction if being faithful also means putting yourself at risk in some way? This requires discernment and we should always consult others if possible. Missionaries throughout the centuries often went ahead in spite of danger. Polycarp was burned at the stake and said, ‘How can I deny Christ, he has done me no harm?’ These words were repeated by Thomas Cranmer, who designed the Anglican Prayer Book, as he was burned at the command of Queen Mary in Broad Street in Oxford.
Apply
Take time to pray for missionaries who are risking everything to share the love of Jesus.
Closing prayer
In whatever ways I find myself tested, Father, help me to stand firm in my testimony for Jesus. Give me courage to share about the grace and mercy he offers anyone who comes to him.
1 William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles (Westminster John Knox, 1976), 153,154. 2 Acts 20:16 3 John 21:18,19 4 Acts:20:22
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