使徒言行録21:1-14

Paul, who was on a long journey to preach Jesus, met and said goodbye to the elders of the Ephesian church in Miletus, in the west of what is now Turkey. It was to go to the city of Jerusalem. The reason for going to the city of Jerusalem was to go to the Jerusalem church with representatives from the various churches and report on how people in various places had been saved by believing in Jesus. Not only that, but also to deliver to the Jerusalem church the offerings that people from the various churches had given to help the poor in the Jerusalem church.

If Paul went to the city of Jerusalem, Jewish people who did not believe in Jesus might grab him and put him in jail. Perhaps they might even kill him. But Paul was determined to go to the city of Jerusalem, no matter what was waiting for him there.

Paul and his friends first arrived by ship at Tyre. In Tyre there were also people who believed in Jesus. So Paul stayed in there for seven days and fellowshipped with those who believed in Jesus. The believers in Tyre repeatedly told Paul not to go to the city of Jerusalem. However, Paul did not change his mind and set off for the city of Jerusalem. The Christians in Tyre were deeply concerned about Paul and came to the outskirts of the town to see him off. Together they knelt on the beach, prayed and said goodbye.

To get to the city of Jerusalem, they had to get off the ship at the port of Caesarea. In Caesarea, Paul and his friends stayed at the home of a man called Philip, an evangelist of Jesus, for a final time of rest and preparation. Then a prophet called Agabus came there and made a shocking prophecy. Agabus took Paul’s belt and bound his feet and hands with it, saying, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” Those who saw and heard the words and deeds of this prophet were strongly shocked. They asked Paul not to go to Jerusalem.

However, Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. (v. 13)” Paul was living in the Spirit of Jesus. Jesus himself proceeded towards the city of Jerusalem, where his enemies were waiting for him, for the mission of dying on the cross. Therefore, Paul also accepted his mission to be caught up in the city of Jerusalem and testify to Jesus before the Jewish authorities. When those who heard of Paul’s decision said, “Let the will of the Lord be done,” and kept their mouths shut.

How was Paul able to go on to the city of Jerusalem, where sufferings awaited him? It was because he believed in the will of Jesus. Because he was convinced that following Jesus’ will was the best thing to do and he took joy in obeying Jesus’ will. How do you think when you are in sufferings? Do you think, “I wish I had lived a different life rather than suffer like this”? People who believe in Jesus can move forward, believing that the road to heaven that Jesus walked lies beyond the sufferings.