Study From the Book of Acts,21

Study From the Book of Acts,21

Today we study the twenty first chapter of the Book of Acts and we choose two biblical principles and their lessons which are useful in Biblical Counselling.

The apostle Paul’s affection for his fellow believers ran deep. It must have been a difficult life for Paul, consistently leaving friends and family as he travelled about proclaiming the gospel.

Paul wasted no time because he wanted to get to Jerusalem by Pentecost, which occurs just 50 days after Passover. Paul had celebrated Passover with his friends in Philippi more than three weeks earlier, so he had less than 30 days to reach Jerusalem in time for the festival.

The warning was given by the Holy Spirit of the danger that was waiting for Paul in Jerusalem. It is doubtful that the warning meant that Paul was actually not supposed to go. The warning did cause the disciples who loved Paul and did not want to see him hurt. But Paul had already demonstrated sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Some believe that Philip’s house was the place where the believers of Caesarea assembled to worship God. He has four virgin daughters who prophesied. Here we see a partial fulfilment (the complete fulfilment will happen at the end of the age) of what Peter said in Ch.2.about young men and women both would be gifted by the Spirit of God to prophesy and to proclaim the truth of God. 

Agabus had predicted in ch.11:27-30 the famine that would fall upon Judea. Here Agabus predicted Paul’s imprisonment and suffering. The Holy Spirit did not forbid Paul to go to Jerusalem  but warned him of what it would cost him.

James and elders were the leaders to house churches meetings in Jerusalem. The evidence of how God changed the lives of the Gentiles was presented to the Christians in Jerusalem. The strongest evidence was the Gentile believers themselves who had accompanied Paul to Jerusalem. At this time, Paul may have also given the money he had collecting from the Gentile Christians. The love the Gentiles expressed to their suffering Jewish brethren was a mark of their genuine conversion.

Reports were circulating that Paul had been urging Jews to abandon Mosaic traditions. However, Paul never derided his Jewish heritage nor demanded the Jewish Christians renounce the Law of Moses. He only made it clear to everyone that the Law could not function as a means of Salvation. The Christian leaders were not asking Gentiles to live like Jews; neither did they want to compel Jews to live like Gentiles. The spiritual unity of the body   of believers is realised in the diversity not in conformity. From our diverse backgrounds and cultures, we honour the same Lord.

The temple before its destruction in 70 A.D was surrounded by three courts. The innermost was the Court of Israel where Jewish men could offer their sacrifices. Only consecrated priests actually entered the temple building itself, and only the high priest could enter the inner sanctuary of the Most Holy Place -once a year on the Day of Atonement. The second court was the Court of Women where Jewish families could gather for prayer and worship. The out court was the Court of Gentiles, open to all who would worship God. If any Gentile went beyond the barrier into the second Court, he or she would be liable to death penalty. Paul was accused of bringing Gentiles beyond that barrier (for they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple beyond the barrier.)

Structure:

Verses 1-14: warnings on the journey to Jerusalem.

Verses 15-25: Paul urged to make peace

Verses:26-36: arrested in the temple

Verses 37-40: addressing the Jerusalem mob.

Principle 41: verse 21:13: ” ----So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased. saying, ‘the will of the Lord be done.’”

Lesson 41: Paul could not be talked out of his dangerous plan because he was convinced it was God’s plan. Paul's friends had to end up where Jesus did in the Garden: “not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42.

Principle 42 verse 21:32:” ----And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.”

Lesson 42:  Even before Paul’s conversion, Jesus told Ananias, “I will show him how many things he must suffer for My sake” Acts 9:16. Paul did not like beatings, but he expected them and rejoiced in his identification with Christ.6/7/2025.