Introduction
Acts 21:1–16: Paul continues his journey to Jerusalem, stopping along the way at various islands along the southern coast of Asia Minor. He arrives in Tyre and then Caesarea where believers warn him not to go to Jerusalem. The prophet Agabus tells Paul what will happen to him if he goes to Jerusalem.
Today’s Key Verse: Acts 21:13b GNT
[Paul said:]: “I am ready not only to be tied up in Jerusalem but even to die there for the sake of the Lord Jesus.”
Read
21 We said good-bye to them and left. After sailing straight across, we came to Cos; the next day we reached Rhodes, and from there we went on to Patara. 2 There we found a ship that was going to Phoenicia, so we went aboard and sailed away. 3 We came to where we could see Cyprus, and then sailed south of it on to Syria. We went ashore at Tyre, where the ship was going to unload its cargo. 4 There we found some believers and stayed with them a week. By the power of the Spirit they told Paul not to go to Jerusalem. 5 But when our time with them was over, we left and went on our way. All of them, together with their wives and children, went with us out of the city to the beach, where we all knelt and prayed. 6 Then we said good-bye to one another, and we went on board the ship while they went back home.
7 We continued our voyage, sailing from Tyre to Ptolemais, where we greeted the believers and stayed with them for a day. 8 On the following day we left and arrived in Caesarea. There we stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven men who had been chosen as helpers in Jerusalem. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who proclaimed God’s message. 10 We had been there for several days when a prophet named Agabus arrived from Judea. 11 He came to us, took Paul’s belt, tied up his own feet and hands with it, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: The owner of this belt will be tied up in this way by the Jews in Jerusalem, and they will hand him over to the Gentiles.”
12 When we heard this, we and the others there begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem. 13 But he answered, “What are you doing, crying like this and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be tied up in Jerusalem but even to die there for the sake of the Lord Jesus.”
14 We could not convince him, so we gave up and said, “May the Lord’s will be done.”
15 After spending some time there, we got our things ready and left for Jerusalem. 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us and took us to the house of the man we were going to stay with[a]—Mnason, from Cyprus, who had been a believer since the early days.
Reflect
What message does the prophet Agabus deliver to Paul (verses 10–11)? How does Paul respond (verse 13)? Why do you think the believers were unable to convince Paul to change his mind about going to Jerusalem? Have you ever experienced a time when someone attempted to persuade you to change your mind about doing something you knew in your heart was the right thing to do? If so, what did you do?
Pray
Lord Jesus, I want to be a witness for you. By your Holy Spirit teach me what you would have me say and help me to speak your message with boldness. I place my trust in you. In your holy name, I pray. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Acts 21:17–26: Paul arrives in Jerusalem
