When we had torn ourselves away from them and set sail, we ran a straight course and came to Cos, and on the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara;
and after finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went on board and set sail.
After we came in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on our left (port side), we sailed on to Syria and put in at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo.
After looking up the disciples [in Tyre], we stayed there [with them] seven days; and they kept telling Paul through the [Holy] Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem.
When our days there came to an end, we left and proceeded on our journey, while all of the disciples, with their wives and children, escorted us on our way until we were outside the city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying, we told one another goodbye.
Then we boarded the ship, and they returned to their homes.
When we had completed the voyage from Tyre, we landed [twenty miles to the south] at Ptolemais, and after greeting the believers, we stayed with them for one day.
On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and we went to the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven [deacons], and stayed with him.
He had four virgin daughters who had the gift of prophecy.
0 As we were staying there for some time, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
And coming to [see] us, he took Paul’s [wide] band (belt, sash) and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this same way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this band, and they will hand him over to the Gentiles (pagans).’”
Now when we had heard this, both we and the local residents began pleading with Paul trying to persuade him not to go up to Jerusalem.
Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart [like this]? For I am ready not only to be bound and imprisoned, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
And since he would not be dissuaded, we stopped pleading and fell silent, saying, “The Lord’s will be done!”
After this we got ready and started on our way up to Jerusalem.
Some of the disciples from Caesarea also came with us, taking us to [the house of] Mnason, a man from Cyprus, a disciple of long standing with whom we were to lodge.
When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters welcomed us gladly.
On the next day Paul went with us to [see] James, and all the elders of the church were present.
After greeting them, Paul began to give a detailed account of the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
And when they heard it, they began glorifying and praising God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, and they are all enthusiastic supporters of the Law [of Moses].
Now they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are living among the Gentiles to turn away from [the Law of] Moses, advising them not to circumcise their children or to live according to the [Mosaic] customs.
What then should be done? They will certainly hear that you have arrived.
Therefore do just what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow;
take these men and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses [for the temple offerings] so that they may shave their heads. Then everyone will know that there is nothing to the things they have been told about you, but that you yourself also follow and keep the Law.
But with regard to the Gentiles who have believed [in Christ], we have sent them a letter with our decision that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from [consuming] blood and from [the meat of] what has been strangled and from sexual immorality.”
Then Paul took the [four] men, and the next day he purified himself along with them [by submitting to the ritual]. He went into the temple to give notice of [the time] when the days of purification [ending each vow] would be fulfilled and the usual offering could be presented on behalf of each one.
When the seven days [required to complete the ritual] were almost over, [some] Jews from [the province of] Asia [Minor], caught sight of him in the temple, and began to stir up the crowd, and they seized him,
shouting, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.”
For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul, and they assumed that he had brought the man into the temple [beyond the court of the Gentiles].
Then the whole city was provoked and confused, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the gates were closed.
Now while they were trying to kill him, word came to the commander of the [Roman] garrison that all Jerusalem was in a state of upheaval.
So he immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down among them. When the people saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
Then the commander came up and arrested Paul, and ordered that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.
But some in the crowd were shouting one thing and others something else; and since he could not determine the facts because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken to the barracks [in the tower of Antonia].
When Paul got to the steps, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob;
for the majority of the people kept following them, shouting, “Away with him! [Kill him!]”
Just as Paul was about to be taken into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” And the man replied, “Do you know Greek?
Then you are not [as I assumed] the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led those 4,000 men of the Assassins out into the wilderness?”
Paul said, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia (Mersin Province, Turkey), a citizen of no insignificant city; and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.”
When the commander had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, gestured with his hand to the people; and when there was a great hush, he spoke to them in the Hebrew dialect (Jewish Aramaic), saying,
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!!
Content source: Amplified version of the Holy Bible by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631
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How would we react if we heard a similar prophecy, an assertion of that caliber? Would we be willing to continue our evangelizing project or would we think twice before continuing to expose ourselves? Maybe, after listening to our brothers and relatives, we would reach the conclusion that we should be more cautious and that, because of the work, we have to take care of ourselves.
On the other hand, Paul, the servant of God, said: "I am willing not only to be bound, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." He was willing to not defend himself from persecution, ready to be imprisoned and bound by the cause of Christ. He was prepared psychologically and spiritually to give his life for the Lord. As Jesus had been tortured, crucified and killed in Jerusalem, Paul would not avoid death by the name of the Savior. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, this Apostle left us the rod very high. If as Gentiles we are his followers, we must tread his footsteps.
His companions could not persuade him otherwise and finally said: "14 ... The will of the Lord be done." St. Paul died beheaded in Rome, after having preached the message of Jesus Christ throughout the Roman Empire, including in the house of Caesar. Like him, prisoner of Christ, during the twenty-one centuries that followed, many have given their lives to death through Jesus Christ. Are we willing too?
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Verse 11
David was a man of great questions. He never did anything without inqûiring from God, no wonder he never operated outside God's will, save when he was overcome by lust.
There were prophecies, even Paul was well aware, of the ordeal set before him, but it was not recorded that he asked for direction or that he had already received instructions on what to do - to continue in his journey or not to.
I think it is paramount to ask for direction from the Holy Spirit even when are prøphecies.
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This passage contains several warnings given by the spirit in the sense that Paul would have problems during his visit to Jerusalem, but the apostle Paul insisted on his purpose, and was later arrested and sent to Rome in custody
The discussion on whether or not Paul's decision was in perfect harmony with the will of God is meaningless, what is worth noting is that:
1.- The prophecies do not have to dictate the decisions or manipulate the will of the people.
2 .- Although it is possible that they are true, the purpose of God can still be realized, as was the case of bringing Paul to Rome.
God is sovereign, and as he wants, besides the purpose of God in men, it can not be stopped by any human, then, what God determines will be done.
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From vs 8-11
Paul had passion for God, but I feel he would probably had stayed longer in ministry if he had heeded the prophecy. The Holyspirit deemed it necessary to warn Him, but he still went and there his ministry came to a close.
God wants us to do His work on earth and to escape the arrows of the enemy, we have to heed warnings from Him and not allow passion blind us.
God help us
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