ACTS

ACTS 21

• Acts 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 Phoenicia, 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. 

We see here one of the works of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps this was the gift of knowledge being used to warn Paul of danger if he ventured into Jerusalem. This could have come as a message in tongues and interpretation or a prophetic utterance such as the gift of prophecy but no matter how this message was given it was by the spirit and was a warning. The Holy Spirit works in many ways to exhort, comfort and instruct, but also warns. 

• Acts 21:5 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. 

This would be good in all our fellowship meetings if we would not depart until we prayed together in one accord. Thank of the hardships that these people suffered. Wives and children were with them. I never noticed this before. 

• Acts 21:6 And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again. 
• 7 And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. 
• 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 was one of the seven; and abode with him. 
• 9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. 

Prophesying could be short messages of exhortation, comfort, instruction, warning or foretelling of things to come. They are usually in short duration but could also be long enough to be called preaching. They are utterances by the Holy Spirit speaking through a willing vessel. It is a gift of God and should not be taken lightly or forbidden. Equal to this would be a message in tongues with the interpretation. We see from these scriptures that God used women as well as men. If God gives gifts of the spirit to women, there is no reason to silence them and forbid them because of the writings of Paul. Instead we must study the writings of Paul very closely and find out what he meant because it surely wouldn't mean that women could not preach or prophesy because that would contradict these scriptures.

Perhaps Paul was dealing with a local problem in the Corinthian church that was causing confusion. Our motive should always be to allow the unhindered preaching, teaching and messages from the Holy Spirit to go forth without distraction. If people wanted to continually sing very loud (never wrong in it's place like a time of corporate worship), pray in the spirit out loud whether in tongues or in our own language, again this is not wrong when it is not time to listen to what God is speaking through one of us. Perhaps wives back then were interrupting the service with questions at the wrong time. Learning to yield to the will of the Holy Spirit helps avoid these things Paul was trying to correct in the Corinthian church. Also having a motive that desires God's will is also necessary. I'm sure Paul was never making a commandment to silence all women from speaking or prophesying or it would contradict other scriptures. 

Prophetic messages or interpretation of tongues have to be judged by spiritual leaders to make sure they are in keeping with the known word of God and are not just "in the flesh" or something someone thought up on his own. By studying the written word, we can know the truth of what we hear. Just because there is a danger of certain people getting in the flesh or speaking just to draw attention to themselves, does not mean we should forbid everyone. To forbid the operation of the gifts of the spirit is to forbid the gifts that was given by God. It is literally stupid to cut out the Holy Spirit just because some may abuse these things and make mistakes. It is so tempting for men to try set up hierarchy by separating clergy and laity thereby keeping the laity from participating in the giving forth of the word. This is a mistake. God wants to use all of us to reach the lost and minister His word. Better to make a few mistakes than to become dead, dry and formal. 

• Acts 21:10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 

There are still prophets of God in New Testament times and even now. 

• Acts 21:11 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. 

Paul was warned what lie ahead for him by a prophet, yet Paul felt he had to go and testify before Jews, rulers and give his life for the Lord. 

• Acts 21:13 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. 

Our wants and desires will tend to get in the way of the will of God. When praying, prophesying or preaching we must be careful to speak in the will of God and with the mind of the spirit. 

• Acts 21:15 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. 
• 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, 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. 

Believing Jews even today still have trouble with this question. It is still hard for them to see that the death and resurrection of Christ fulfilled the law and brought in a new covenant of faith with good works accompanying that faith. I love the letter to the Galatians for it makes so clear what Jesus came to abolish and fulfill. We are under a new covenant and a new way. The decision to circumcise children is a decision we can make for health reasons. I had my boys circumcised as bablies but if I did not do that, it wouldn't effect their salvation. Our salvation comes through faith in Jesus as the Messiah God sent to save us from sin.

• Acts 21:22 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. 
• 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 purification, 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. 

They still didn't get it. What God cleanses is not longer unclean. At one time the Gentiles and Greeks would have been unworthy to enter the Jewish temple but when they come to Christ and their sins are forgiven, they are cleansed just as much as the holiest Jewish priest. The grace of God which comes through faith in Jesus is the new and living way. Old things have passed away and all things become new. Now whether someone is circumcised or not, makes no difference in in their salvation or their pathway to God. Whether we keep the feast days or not, doesn't matter in Christ. We are not to judge one another in these things for by grace are we saved, not the keeping of the feasts, rituals and ceremonies of the law. Religion sometimes causes trouble if we don't have a heart of love and a motive that can search out the intent of the law rather than the letter of the law. Faith and the word of God purifies the heart when one turns to Christ. 

Jesus fulfilled the law of God. 

• Acts 21:29 (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. 
• 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. 

We see now the prophecy of Agabus in verses 10,11 coming to pass. We see that trouble comes to Paul. 

• Acts 21:32 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. 

Paul was trying to tell them how to have eternal life and be saved. He was trying to tell them of a new and living way that would bring everlasting joy and peace. He had the words of eternal life. They so resisted his words and hated him that they wanted to kill someone who only came to save them just like they did to Jesus before him. They like Paul when he was going about arresting believers in Jesus but now they hated him for telling the truth.

• Acts 21:33 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. 
• 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. 
• 40 And when he had given him license, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying, 

Instead of desiring to be led to a place of safety, Paul wanted to try again to convince these people that Jesus was the Christ. That was his sole reason for all that he did. He wanted to see souls saved and keep people from being lost without Christ. Paul's words continue in chapter 22. -DC

Acts 22