120. TO JERUSALEM AND BONDAGE

"I am, ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus"

Aim

To show how God's warnings to Paul of imprisonment in Jerusalem, came to pass.

During his third journey Paul had encouraged the ecclesias to raise money for the poor brethren in Jerusalem. Now as his journey was ending he set out towards Jerusalem, taking with him, the money which had been raised (Acts 24:17). He was aware that trouble and persecution awaited him in Jerusalem, for he had told the Ephesians: "I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Spirit witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me... (Acts 20:22-24).

Paul had not hesitated to preach the Gospel to all who would hear. Now he was to preach at Jerusalem -probably the most difficult of all his work.

Acts 21

THE PROPHECY OF AGABUS (vv. 8-14)

When Paul left Troas he was heading back to Jerusalem. He was anxious to be there in time to keep the Feast of Pentecost. His main stopping places were Miletus, Tyre and Caesarea.

At Miletus he called the Ephesian brethren to him to encourage and warn them. They were very sad to see Paul go, especially because he said, "Ye shall see my face no more."

At Tyre, Paul's ship stopped for seven days to unload its cargo and Paul spent the time with the disciples there. Here too they warned Paul, through the Spirit, of the danger he would face in Jerusalem. The brethren with their wives and children all came down to the shores to say goodbye to Paul and his companions. There they knelt down and prayed together before Paul boarded the ship and sailed south to Caesarea.

At Caesarea Paul stayed at the house of Philip (v. 8; Acts 6:5). There, a prophet from Judea named Agabus, took Paul's girdle and bound his own hands and feet and said, "Thus saith the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles" (v. 11).

The brethren begged him not to go on. Even Paul's travelling companions, who had heard these warnings before, now pleaded with him to stay away from Jerusalem. But 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" (v. 13). When they could see that Paul was still determined to press on to Jerusalem, they said: "The will of the Lord be done" (v. 14).

PAUL COMES TO JERUSALEM (vv. 15-26)

Packing their baggage (including the precious gift of money from the Gentile ecclesias for the poor brethren in Jerusalem), Paul and his companions set off on the three days' journey accompanied by some of the disciples from Caesarea.

They were warmly welcomed in Jerusalem and the following day, Paul went to see James and the elders of the ecclesia. One by one Paul told them of the things God had done by him and when they heard the story of his experiences, they glorified God.

But James and the elders had a problem now that Paul was in Jerusalem. Thousands of Jews who had been baptised still kept the Law of Moses and they had been told that Paul was encouraging Jews to forget about the Law. This was untrue, of course. Paul knew it was no longer necessary to keep the Law of Moses. God accepted Jews and Gentiles because they believed the Gospel and were baptised. The apostle did not teach the Gentiles to keep the Law, nor did he instruct the Jews not to keep it.

It was suggested that Paul go into the Temple and join four other Jews, who were fulfilling a vow to God. This would show that he was not setting out to destroy the customs of the Jews.

While he was in the Temple another false charge was made against him. Some Jews cried out that he had brought a Gentile into the Temple, where Gentiles were not allowed to go. This was not true either.

BOUND WITH CHAINS (vv. 27-37)

In a short time they stirred up the Jews in the city and a riot broke out. Paul was dragged from the Temple and the doors were immediately shut. The Jews would have killed Paul, if Lysias, the Chief Captain of the Roman guard had not suddenly appeared with his men. As soon as he had heard the uproar he took soldiers and centurions and ran down to the excited mob near the Temple. When the Jews saw the Romans arrive they stopped beating Paul. He was bound with two chains and Lysias asked who he was and what he had done to cause such trouble. The Jews shouted out one thing or another all together and he could not tell what they were saying. So he marched Paul off to the Roman Castle of Antonia. The Jews were still angry and rushed after the soldiers shouting, "Away with him". The soldiers had to carry him up the steps and into the castle because of the violence of the people. He was now a prisoner, just as God had told him.

LESSON FOR US

Wherever Paul went on his travels, he found a warm welcome and friendship among the believers. It is still like that today among brethren and sisters of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us always be thoughtful and kind to our friends who love the Truth.

We also learn from this story to be, like Paul, determined to do God's will, no matter what troubles lie ahead. It took great courage to go to Jerusalem, when the apostle knew he would be made a prisoner there. Let us have the same courage, when we have to stand against others in the name of Jesus Christ.

QUESTIONS

Short Answers

1. Why did Paul hurry back to Jerusalem?

2. What did the prophet Agabus do with Paul's girdle?

3. What did Agabus tell Paul?

4. Was Paul frightened to go to Jerusalem?

5. Whom, did Paul meet at Jerusalem?

6. What did Paul tell the elders at Jerusalem?

7. What did James tell Paul the Jews were saying about him?

8. What did they suggest Paul should do to show the rumours were wrong?

Detailed Answers

9. Paul was on his way to Jerusalem, when he met the prophet Agabus at Caesarea.

1. What did Agabus say would happen to Paul?

2. How did he show what would happen?

1. What did Paul say he was ready to do in Jerusalem?

10. (a) Why did Paul go into the Temple with four others?

2. How did this start a rumour?

3. Tell about the riot that followed and what happened to Paul?