Acts 21:7-14
7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting the brothers and sisters, we stayed with them for a day.
8 On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.
9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses.
10 As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11 And he came to us and took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.’”
12 When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
14 And since he would not be persuaded, we became quiet, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!”
From Ptolemais to Caesarea (3)
Paul’s Gethsemane
Before moving forward, let us reflect on Paul’s prayer and the evaluation of him.
(1) Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane was as follows: “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). (a) Jesus prayed about two possibilities but ultimately prioritized the Father’s will. (b) The path Jesus chose was difficult but one that revealed God’s glory.
(2) Caesarea was Paul’s Gethsemane. (a) In Caesarea, Paul was presented with two paths. One was the path not to go up to Jerusalem, suggested by the believers around him. The other was the path of going up to Jerusalem, despite the dangers that awaited. (b) In the end, the prayer, “The will of the Lord be done,” prevailed.
(3) Luke portrays Paul’s struggle in Caesarea as a parallel to Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane.
The evaluation of Paul
(1) The third missionary journey can be summarized as follows: (a) There are fewer accounts of actions compared to the first two missionary journeys, but the missionary outcomes were significant. (b) The record of the third missionary journey provides a more detailed look into Paul’s inner thoughts and motivations for ministry. (c) The accounts of the third missionary journey portrays a relatable Paul, one who experiences sorrow and pain. (d) By God’s grace, he was chosen as a vessel to proclaim the gospel throughout the vast Roman Empire.
(2) Reflecting on the welcome and hospitality Paul received from various churches, the following can be said: (a) In the early days, many believers were suspicious of Paul. (b) However, he was warmly welcomed in places like Tyre, Ptolemais, and Caesarea. (c) He was also respected and loved by believers who had been in the faith from the beginning, as seen in his relationships with people like Philip, Agabus, and Mnason (Acts 21:16). (d) In summary, Paul earned their trust through years of faithful service.
(3) The evaluation of Paul throughout Christian history can be summarized as follows: (a) Following the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul is revered and loved by believers around the world. (b) Paul’s credibility directly supports the reliability of the New Testament. (c) The central message he risked his life to teach was the unity of Jewish and Gentile believers.
There are many lessons we can learn such as the accumulation of faithful services and the unity of Jewish and Gentile believers. Paul continues to speak to us today as an apostle of Jesus Christ.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, there are sufferings in the path of following the footsteps of the Lord Jesus, but it is the path through which Your glory is revealed. Please do Your will. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.