ACTS 21

¹Now 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.

1. From Miletus to Cos, to Rhodes and on to Patara. Apparently nothing of significance happened. They were just passing through these areas as they traveled back to Jerusalem.

   1. Cos – Cos (also spelled Coos) is a small island most famous for grapes and wine. It is the birthplace of Hippocrates, the father of medicine.

   2. Rhodes – 50 miles south of Cos is the larger island of Rhodes. It contained one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Colossus. This island is origin of the name for the state of Rhode Island.

   3. Patara – was on the coast of Lydia and was the final destination of their ship.

²And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.

1. Now they find another ship heading the direction they want to go. This ship is headed for Phoenicia. This city is part of Syria.

2. All of Paul's party went and board and headed out. Notice the “we” in this verse means that Luke is a part of the group.

³When 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.

1. They sailed within sight of Cyprus. This was the first stop on Paul's first mission trip. Paul now knows that he is close to home.

2. The ship landed at Tyre. They are now on the shore of Israel.

   1. This city was partly on an island and partly on the mainland.

   2. It was the source of much rebuke and prophetic statements in the Old Testament and was mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 11:21.

    

⁴And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.

1. Paul learns there is a church in Tyre, so he remains there seven days.

2. Inspired prophets told Paul that he should not go to Jerusalem.

⁵When 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.

1. Since Paul did made a similar stay in Troas (Acts 20:6-7), it is assumed that he waited seven days so he could meet and worship with the assembled church at Tyre.

2. When it was time to leave many – men, women and children – escorted them to the edge of the city.

3. There a prayer service was held.

⁶When we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned home.

1. Paul and those with him boarded a ship.

2. The disciples from Tyre returned the their homes.

⁷And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day.

1. It was a short trip from Tyre to Ptolemais, a city near Ceasarea.

2. They met with the brethren there and remained one day.

⁸On 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.

1. Now they arrive at Caesarea and enter the house of Philip.

   1. We last heard about Philip in Acts 8:40. After the conversion of the Ethiopian, Philip traveled up the coast to Caesarea.

   2. That was about 25 years ago. Now – 25 years later, Philip is still at the same location. If there was any doubt about the issue of “located preacher” - Philip is the answer. He was a preacher in the same city for 25 years. That is a located preacher.

2. This Philip is identified as one of the seven deacons appointed in Acts 6 to care for the Greek speaking widows.

3. Paul's group stayed with Philip.

⁹Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.

1. Philip had four daughters, not married, who were inspired prophets.

2. Some attempt to make this passage approval for women to preach in the church. Not so. There were inspired women in they early church. Joel 2 says that there will be women who prophesy.

3. Women could use this gift to teach children. They could use this gift to teach other women. They could use this gift to evangelize the lost. This gift could be used in many ways outside the assembled church.

¹⁰And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

1. Agabus, is a prophet from Judea (the area around Jerusalem).

2. He comes to meet with Paul and his companions.

¹¹When 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.’”

1. There are several kinds of prophecy – oral, visual, apocalyptic, written.

2. Agabus used the visual method. The most famous of the visual prophets was Ezekiel.

3. Agabus takes Paul's belt. He uses this belt to tie his own hands and feet.

4. Then he explains.

   1. The man who owns this belt will be bound in by the Jews.

   2. This will take place in Jerusalem.

   3. He will be delivered into the hands of the Gentiles (Romans).

¹²Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.

1. Now all in Paul's party are joining with the disciples from Tyre.

2. They pleaded with Paul to stay away from Jerusalem.

¹³Then 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.”

1. Paul's response was clear.

   1. Why are you breaking my heart?

   2. I am ready to be bound.

   3. I am ready to die for the name of the Lord Jesus.

2. Paul was told at the time of his confrontation with Jesus on the way to Damascus that he would suffer many things for the name of Jesus. (Acts 9:16)

¹⁴So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”

1. Paul was not persuaded. Was he stubborn? Or, was he acknowledging the will of God?

2. “The will of the Lord be done” was the resignation of his companions. If this is the will of God, we can not prevent it.

¹⁵And after those days we packed and went up to Jerusalem.

¹⁶Also 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.

1. With Paul determined, all the others could do was go along and “hope for the best.”

2. Some disciples from Caesarea joined them on their way to Jerusalem.

3. One of the early converts, Mnason, from Cyprus, was also in the group.

4. It seems that this convert was now living in Jerusalem. He had come to Caesarea and was now traveling with them to Jerusalem. When they get to Jerusalem, his home will be their place to stay.

¹⁷And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

1. Finally, they arrive in Jerusalem.

2. They are greeted with open arms and a warm welcome.

¹⁸On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.

1. The next day Paul meets with the elders at Jerusalem and James.

2. There are two possible James' here:

   1. James the Less, one of the original 12 apostles.

   2. James the brother of Christ, known as a pillar in the church. He is a leader in the conference in Jerusalem (Acts 15). He is mentioned by Paul in Galatians 1:19 and 2:9,

   3. NOTE: This James can not be the brother of John. James, the brother of John was killed in Acts 12.

¹⁹When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

1. Paul now greets and reports on his work. He has been gone about 5 years and has much to talk about.

2. This third mission trip was more Gentile focused.

²⁰And 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;

1. There was great rejoicing as Paul talks about churches started and growing.

2. There was also some concerns.

   1. Many thousands of Jews were converted. 3,000 on Pentecost (Acts 2:41); 5,000 (Acts 4:4); and multiplied greatly (Acts 6:7).

   2. Now, 25 years later, there are many thousands of Jewish converts.

   3. BUT – they are zealous for the law. They are wanting to bind the Law of Moses on Gentile converts. This should have been settled in Acts 15, but it is still a problem.

²¹but 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.

1. These Jewish Christians know about Paul and his work.

2. They are aware that Paul is teaching Jews and Gentiles to leave the Law of Moses.

3. They are upset that Paul has taught that circumcision is not important or necessary.

²²What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come.

1. Word will get out that Paul is in town. There must be a meeting with these Jewish brethren to discuss their disagreement with Paul.

2. There must be an assembly called for this purpose.

²³Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow.

1. There are four men in the Jerusalem church which have taken a vow.

2. Their vow was about to expire and they must be purified – by Jewish law.

²⁴Take 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.

1. By having Paul take them for this purification, there would be a symbolic gesture, that Paul was not totally opposed to the Law of Moses and keeping its precepts.

2. This would show the Jews that Paul walks orderly.

²⁵But 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.”

1. However, the Gentiles are not under these rules. They restate what was decided in Acts 15 at the conference in Jerusalem.

2. Other than these four things – the Gentiles are not required to observe Jewish laws.

²⁶Then 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.

1. Paul took the men the next day so all of them could be purified and conclude their vow.

2. An offering was made to show that the vow was kept.

²⁷Now 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,

1. During the period of seven days that were part of the purification process, trouble arose.

2. Jews from Asia had heard Paul teach against keeping the Law.

3. They stir up the crowd and capture Paul.

²⁸crying 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.”

1. They charge Paul with two crimes.

   1. Paul teaches against the Law – telling people they do not have to keep the Law of Moses.

   2. Paul defiled the Temple by bringing in Greeks (uncircumcised) into the temple.

²⁹(For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

1. This verse explains the second charge. They had seen Trophimus, from Ephesus, with Paul in the city.

2. They “supposed” that Paul brought him into the Temple.

³⁰And 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.

1. Now the whole city of Jerusalem is in an uproar.

2. They form a mob. They grab Paul and drag him out of the temple.

³¹Now as they were seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

1. Their intent was clear. They wanted to kill Paul.

2. News of this uproar came to the Roman army commander.

³²He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

1. This Roman commander takes charge. He takes soldiers and centurions, and headed for the temple.

2. As the Roman officers approached, they stopped beating Paul.

³³Then 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.

1. Paul is now in the hands of the Romans.

2. He is bound with two chains.

3. Now they begin to inquire – Who is this man and what has he done?

³⁴And 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.

1. The same thing happened here that occurred at the trial of Jesus. Many had charges. All different. None of them confirmed.

2. When the truth could not be learned from this mob of angry Jews, Paul was taken away to the Roman army barracks for his protection.

³⁵When he reached the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob.

1. The Roman palace was about 75 feet higher than the Temple grounds.

2. As they approached the stairs leading up the palace, soldiers had to carry Paul because of the potential for violence of the Jewish mob.

³⁶For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, “Away with him!”

1. The Jews were still bent on killing Paul.

2. “Away with him” means – put him to death. See Luke 23:18.

³⁷Then 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?

1. Paul requests to speak to the commander.

2. The commander is surprised that Paul speaks in the Greek language because he supposes that Paul is Jewish and would only speak Hebrew.

³⁸Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?”

1. The commander has a case of mistaken identity.

2. He believes Paul to be an Egyptian that caused some problem and lead away 4,000 people.

³⁹But 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.”

1. Paul identifies himself – Paul – a Jew – from Tarsus – no small or unimportant city.

2. Then Paul requests to speak to the people – the mob of Jews.

⁴⁰So 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,

1. The commander gave permission for Paul to address the crowd.

2. Paul stood on the stairs and motioned for silence.

3. When they were quiet – Paul spoke in the Hebrew language.

4. NOTE: This chapter ends with a comma. The next chapter is Paul's speech to this crowd.