We are continuing this morning to go through the New Testament book of Acts, the story of the early church. We have been following Paul’s missionary journeys, and we are up to chapter 21 today. Everything is going to change for Paul in this chapter as he enters Jerusalem. He is going to be assaulted, arrested, and brought to trial, and over the next six chapters there will be five trials as Paul tries to defend himself from the charges the Jews have brought against him. As we look at chapter 21, I want to speak in particular about courage, something that Paul displays in abundance in this passage throughout Acts, but especially in chapter 21.
Let’s begin in v. 10-15:
Acts 21:10-15 - After we had been in Caesarea 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 Jews of 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 got ready and went up to Jerusalem.
Notice his courage. Despite being told that if he enters Jerusalem, the Jews there will seize him and hand him over to the Gentiles, Paul tells them that this will not stop him from following the leading of the Spirit into Jerusalem and preaching the gospel of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection there.
In Jerusalem, as prophesied, Paul is seized by a mob.
