Sunday Morning Service

Acts 21 (Click scripture reference for audio)

"Paul's Final Free Days"  •  1.1.12  •  Sunday Morning Service, Calvary Christian Fellowship

Intro.

- We are covering the end of Paul's third missionary journey. Paul is traveling with a group of men from various Gentile churches, who are intent on delivering an offering the church in Jerusalem.

- Paul knows that this is going to end in trouble for him personally, but his heart is to testify to his native countrymen and to solidify the relationship between the Jewish and Gentile churches.

- What we see before us today, is the portrait of a man determined to follow God wherever He leads and the portrait of a church that is learning to cooperate with the Lord.

- We'll discuss Paul at the end, but please notice the character traits of the church that can be seen throughout this chapter. May they be seen in our church as well.

I. Warm Expression Of Love (v.1-6)

II. Welcomed Rule Of The Holy Spirit (v.7-14)

III. Wise Oversight Of The Elders (v.15-40)

Text

I. Warm Expression Of Love (v.1-6)

•  Acts 21:1-6  :  "Now it came to pass, that when we had departed from them and set sail, running a straight course we came to Cos, the following day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. When we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo. And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed. When we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned home."  : The meeting between Paul and the Ephesian elders was particularly emotional. The word "departing" could easily be translated "torn away from." This was a difficult goodbye.

- They had come to the port with Paul and neither side wanted to leave!

- The church was not a cold institutionalized house of doctrine. It was a vibrant, warm place where believers could experience God's love. If God is in it, that's what should be felt.

- Once they left, they headed in a straight course, which seems to refer to favorable travel conditions, the wind being at their backs.

- Cos, Rhodes and Patara were insignificant in terms of mission, but not so insignificant in life. Cos for example, was home to the oldest cult site for the healing god Asclepius.

- A medical school existed there where Hippocrates, author of the Hippocratic Oath, studied.

- Rhodes by this time had lost it's luster, though it was the 4th largest of the Greek isles. At one point in history, it had been home to one of the 7 wonders of the world, The Colossus of Rhodes.

- Patara, for the most part, can only boast of it's greatest citizen, a man known as St. Nicholas!

- Paul and the crew did not stop to minister in these places, except for the necessary stop tp take on cargo. This was a direct trip back toward Syria, though with good winds, it was a 5 day trip.

- They boarded a ship in Patara for Tyre, which was the last leg.

- This ship was not a luxury liner, but a crude transport ship that these missionaries found their way onto. They hit land and looked, the word indicating a search to find the disciples in that town.

- Paul had not been the one to found this church, but he was determined to seek out fellowship. When Paul first came to Jerusalem we noted how he kept trying to find fellowship.

- Here, he is at it again, looking, searching out meaningful Christian fellowship. This is what determined Christians do who are intent upon following after the Lord.

- The Apostle's doctrine is necessary for our spirit's to feed, but fellowship is just as necessary!

- These people from the church, having learned of what their destination was, warned Paul through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem. The NLT uses the word "prophesied."

- The believers were given insight from the Lord regarding what would take place. They knew from the Lord what was going to place in Paul's life.

- Verse 4 presents us with a problem, in that these prophesied in a contradictory manner to what the Holy Spirit had already said. The contradiction goes away easily.

- The sense of verse 4 is that they prophesied about what would happen to Paul and then they, not the Holy Spirit, advised him not to go to Jerusalem.

- God was giving them a prophecy, not a prohibition! God had given them this word, so that they might encourage and pray for Paul, not to dissuade him.

- Nothing is said of Paul's response, but that when they had come to the end of their stay, the believers went with them to the port and prayed for them.

- Now, understand that these believers had a short time with Paul, but here is a good deal of the church escorting Paul back to the port! They took leave of one another sounds so formal.

- According to BLB's lexicon, this word refers to the salutation which retards a journey for all the embracing and kissing going on! How long had Paul known them? It didn't matter! That's love!

II. Welcomed Rule Of The Holy Spirit (v.7-14)

•  Acts 21:7,8  :  "And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day. On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him."  : The company's travels came to an end in Tyre, in northern Israel and sailed down to Caesarea, coming to Phillip's home. Phillip has been off the scene for 20+ years!

- He is known as the evangelist, a herald of the news of God's salvation in Christ. It's interesting that he began as a deacon, one of the seven, chosen by the Apostles to wait on tables.

- Phillip started in a humble way, but God had opened the doors of gifting to this faithful man.

- Don't think for a moment that God has to stay within the bounds of what you are now! Despite not hearing anything from his life, Phillip continued to be effective for and faithful to the Lord.

- By the way, don't miss the power of what God can affect in the lives of His people. Phillip had come to Caesarea because Paul, then Saul, had consented to his buddy Stephen's death!

- Now, Paul, whose persecution had forced Phillip's relocation, was standing welcome in his home! That is the power of God.

•  Acts 21:9-12 : "Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, 'Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.' Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem."  : Along with being faithful to God, Phillip had also been fruitful. He had 4 daughters who were of marrying age.

- What stood out about them? Was it their beauty? Was it their bodies? No, it was their gifting! A word to the wise: Seek to be known for what Jesus has borne in you!

- Luke comments that they "prophesied." They spoke forth the word of God. They listened to what God had to say about any topic and they repeated it in every conversation at every occasion!

- It was their joy to speak for God to these men. They looked for an opportunity to use their gifts for the Lord.

- One wonders how these girls came to embrace this gifting in their lives? Philip was an evangelist, but his girls were prophetesses.

- What a wonderful truth about diversity: Even in the home of an evangelist, God chose to place a few prophetesses. It seems that these girls got plenty of encouragement in their church.

- While Paul's group relaxed at Philip's home, a prophet named Agabus came to hang as well. Whether this was the same Agabus as the one who predicted the famine in Acts 11 is questionable.

- If it was the same Agabus, he is going to be 2 for 2! He came in and grabbed a hold of Paul's belt and put on a dramatic presentation, a living parable for them to see.

- Agabus put the belt around his arms and legs and spoke of the man who would be bound like this in Jerusalem. Notice that Agabus claims to speak of what the Holy Spirit testified to him.

- The Holy Spirit had testified this to Agabus, apart from knowledge of Paul's intentions. The Holy Spirit had given Agabus a specific word of knowledge for Paul.

- Paul had talked about this with the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:22-24. The Holy Spirit had testified to Paul about "chains and tribulations."

- The prophecy of Agabus was simply a further confirmation of what would come upon Paul when he went to Jerusalem and he would be turned over to the hands of the Gentiles.

- The people assembled listened to what was said, Paul's cohorts as well as the Caesarean members of the church, pleaded with Paul, repeatedly begging him to abandon his plans.

- Sadly, in the same way that Peter rebuked Jesus, the church sought to keep Paul from fulfilling his ministry.

•  Acts 21:13,14  :  "Then Paul answered, 'What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.' So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, 'The will of the Lord be done.'"  :  Paul did not fear what would come upon him in Jerusalem. Neither imprisonment nor death moved Paul, so long as it was for Jesus!

- Eugene Peterson, the author of the Message Bible translates Paul's thoughts this way.

˚  "You're looking at this backward. The issue in Jerusalem is not what they do to me, whether arrest or murder, but what the Master Jesus does through my obedience. Can't you see that?'"

- Paul was determined to go to Jerusalem and the people of God did what only they could do.

- Just as Paul had committed the churches to Christ, now the church commends Paul to the Lord. The will of the Lord be done!

- When you are convinced that you have delivered your message and it is from the heart for the recipient, we cannot make them receive it, so it's good to say, "Let the Lord's will be done!"

- They had warned Paul, but he would hear none of it. Who was right and who was wrong? That is the beauty of letting the Lord's will be done! Whatever God wanted to do, would be done!

III. Wise Oversight Of The Elders (v.15-40)

•  Acts 21:15-17 : "And after those days we packed and went up to Jerusalem. Also some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us and brought with them a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to lodge. And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly." : As promised, Paul went to Jerusalem, the company going along with him.

- You must admire these friends of Paul, who were willing to go along with him, even when there was certain trouble to follow.

- They brought along with them this man from Cyprus, an early disciple or one who had followed Jesus from the very beginning of the church. He had a place for them to stay.

- Coming to Jerusalem, things started out very well. The brethren, those who were a part of Jerusalem Christian Fellowship, received Paul and his cohorts gladly.

•  Acts 21:18-25  :  "On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, 'You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law. But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.'"  : On the second day, Paul had an official audience with Pastor James and the elders, the presbyters or overseers of the church.

- Paul had the opportunity to share in detail the ministry that he had been pioneering. He shared each and every last item that they could have wanted to know about!

- Notice that Paul shared what the Lord had done and when it was finished it was the Lord who was glorified! That is what a healthy report will bring to pass! God gets the credit and all the glory!

- The elders had been concerned about Paul's work and it's effect upon those who were Jewish. They lived in a place where their cultural sensitivities were at an all time high.

- The church in Jerusalem had continued to flourish and mature. James says that there were many myriads of Jews who had believed, but had maintained a close relationship to the law.

- James and the elders are relieved that Paul encouraged the Jewish believers to remain in their customs, while also reaching out to the Gentiles.

- They wanted to know that Paul was sensitive to their culture. In keeping with that, they had Paul put his money where his mouth was by paying for these poor brothers to keep their vow.

- This group of elders is mindful not simply of one group, but of the whole church. They are protective over the sensitivities of their members, looking for the best way to build them up.

•  Acts 21:26-29  :  "Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them. Now when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, crying out, 'Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.' (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)"  : Paul submitted to these elders and did what they had said. He did not grab onto his rights as an Apostle or override their oversight. He did what they asked the very next day.

- We'll never know what the effect was upon the believing Jews because the Jews from Asia, likely the ones that Paul had avoided weeks earlier on the boat to Miletus, stirred up a riot!

- "This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against." Just like any rumor, this was completely false!

- Paul was not so much anti-anything as much as he was pro Jesus, which trumped everything! His love and devotion to the Lord made everything else as valuable as dung!

- Second, the Jews were in an uproar against Paul on account of a misunderstanding. They had seen Paul with Trophimus earlier in the week and believed that he brought him to the temple.

- According to several commentators, there was a 4 to 5 foot high barricade wall that separated the outer court and the inner court, which had signs that read:

˚  "No man of alien race is to enter within the barricade that goes around the temple. And if anyone is taken in the act, let him know that he has himself to blame for the penalty of death that follows."

- This would have been a very incendiary act, but Paul had not committed it! Truth is rarely a trait that is treasured by the mob.

•  Acts 21:30-36 : "And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut. Now as they were seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. Then the commander came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done. And some among the multitude cried one thing and some another. So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks. When he reached the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob. For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, 'Away with him!'"  :  Everyone moved violently toward Paul, bringing him out of the temple and into the courtyard which lay outside of the Temple proper.

- The entrance to the temple court was covered by these large doors that were part of an entrance that was 105 ft high and 37.5 feet wide! The murderous intention was clear.

- This is when the Roman occupying soldiers came to the rescue. They bound Paul in chains. These are the Gentiles that Paul would be handed over to, not for hurt but for blessing.

- If it had not been for their intervention, the Jews would have beaten Paul to death. At this point, Paul was taken away because of the mob and the last words he heard were "Away with him."

•  Acts 21:37-40  :  "Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, 'May I speak to you?' He replied, 'Can you speak Greek? Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?' But Paul said, 'I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.' So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying,"  :  Paul, with bruised face and bloodied nose, speaks to the commander, who is shocked at hearing him speak Greek.

- The commander believed that he had brought in an Egyptian that Josephus writes about, who attempted to draw a rebellion to himself on the Mount of Olives.

- That man had escaped arrest, and in the midst of all the turmoil, the commander believed that he had arrested him, but that was not the case.

- He had arrested a Roman citizen, from the city of Tarsus, the region of Cilicia, a great city. Paul using that information as leverage, asks for permission to speak to the crowd.

- The commander, knowing that this was the least that he could do allowed it. The crowd went from attempting to murder Paul, to standing in silence before them!

- Believe it or not, this is exactly where Paul wanted to be! He was given an open door. Had Paul not submitted to the elders, I'm convinced that he would not have been in this position.

Conclusion

- The church was a place of warm love. That can only happen as we choose it! Let the Lord love through you and let the Lord love you through others!

- The church was a place where the Holy Spirit's rule was welcome. He spoke over lives and people spoke what He spoke to them.

- Finally, the church was governed by wise oversight from the elders. His submission to them lead to a wonderful, in the sight of God and Paul, opportunity to minister.

- We cannot close this sermon without considering Paul as an example of an incarnational believer, endowed truly with the Spirit of Christ.

- Like Jesus, Paul set his eyes upon where he sensed that God was leading him. Both Jesus and Paul were destined to go to Jerusalem.

- Like Jesus, Paul was dissuaded from going by well intentioned believers. Like Jesus, Paul answered in such a way as to inspire trust in the will of God.

- Like Jesus, Paul was handed over to brutal men and was silent as they manhandled him. All of this in an attempt to seek out the people of God, that both Jesus and Paul were passionate for.

- In the days ahead, where will Christ's spirit lead you? Where will He set your eyes and what challenges will you overcome for the privilege of carrying His name?

- I pray that as you ponder those things, that you will discover the answers and bring glory to our God, as He repeats His story in you.