The book of Acts
On the way to Jerusalem
Chapter 21: 1 to 14
After the warm farewell at Miletus, Paul and his companions sailed to the island of Cos where they spent the night. This island is famous as birthplace of Hippocrates (the "father of medicine"), and Apelles (a Greek painter). In addition to a medical school, it also had a great trade, with many Jews living there.
The next day they continued south to the island of Rhodes, called the "Island of Roses". It is famous for the statue of the god Helios, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The island is at the entrance of the Aegean Sea and had a great university, especially for rhetoric and oratory, and much commerce.
Leaving the cape to the north of the island, they sailed east to Patara, a seaport of Lycia on the southern coast of Asia Minor where many ships passed all year round.
There they left the small coastal vessel that they had used, and boarded a merchant vessel of larger size, which crossed the open sea to Tyre, one of the major cities of Phoenicia, skirting the island of Cyprus. The ship probably carried grains and fruits, and took seven days to leave its load before continuing its journey. There were disciples in Tyre, who hosted Paul and his companions as they waited for the departure of their ship. Paul had been there before (chapter 15:3) and so he knew them.
The Holy Spirit had already warned Paul that chains and tribulations awaited him in Jerusalem (Acts 20:23). In Tyre, by the Spirit the disciples again recommended Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Despite this new warning, Paul felt it was his duty to continue his journey. Paul evidently interpreted the action of the Holy Spirit as only informing the disciples, and judged that they were recommending him not to go because they did not want him to face the danger that threatened him there. Therefore, once again they boarded the ship when it was ready to leave. All the disciples, with wives and children, accompanied them to the shore, and there they knelt and prayed in an eloquent statement of their Christian love.
The next stop was the port of Ptolemais, where he greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day. This is the city now known as Acre, near Haifa. It is the ancient Akko, whose inhabitants were not expelled at the time of the Judges (Judges 1:31). It was the best port of Palestine, surrounded by mountains, and was recently captured by the Israelis and annexed to Israel in 1948.
The travellers departed on the next day, and finally landed at the port of destination Caesarea. This was one of the most important cities of the Roman Empire, being at that time the political capital of Judea. Herod the Great, who named it Caesarea in honour of Emperor Augustus, built it. Most of the inhabitants were Greeks. This is the third time we see Paul in Caesarea (see chapters 9:30 and 18:22).
Philip "the evangelist" lived there. Philip is second in the list of the first deacons of the church of Jerusalem (chapter 6:5). He did evangelistic work in Samaria after the death of Stephen, and announced the gospel to the Ethiopian minister (chapter 8). He was called "evangelist", as John was known as "baptist" (Mark 1:4), to distinguish him from another of the same name, who was an apostle. Philip hosted everyone in his home.
The term "evangelist" used here was also used by Paul (Ephesians 4:11; 2 Timothy 4:5) and signifies a person used by the Holy Spirit to travel carrying the message of the Gospel to individuals, work groups and churches. They are among the special classes of ministers given to churches, as we have them today.
Philip had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. It was not necessarily to reveal future events, such as Agabus did to Paul and his companions when they were there, but their gift empowered them to edify, exhort and comfort the church, which was more important than speaking other tongues (1 Corinthians 14:1-4). The prophecy of Joel, in its chapter 2 verse 28, talks about daughters who shall prophesy in the last times (Joel 2:28), and it was remembered by Peter at Pentecost.
Paul taught that women should cover their heads when prophesying (and praying), apparently in public, which seems to disagree with his instructions for women to keep silent in church (1 Corinthians 14:34-40, 1 Timothy 2:8-15). To reconcile these teachings we understand that the gift of prophecy given to women should be exercised in meetings that are not for all the church, such as women’s meetings, Sunday school, etc.
During Paul’s sojourn at Caesarea, a certain prophet, like the daughters of Philip, named Agabus went down there from Judaea. He probably was the same that went to Jerusalem of Antioch and predicted that there would be a great famine throughout the world, which happened during the reign of Claudius (chapter 11:28).
Agabus took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands with it. It was a dramatic, symbolic action, as done by many prophets before him, to represent and emphasize his message. The Lord Jesus had spoken to Peter, years ago, that others would tie the hands of Peter, meaning he would lose his freedom (John 21:18). Agabus prophesied by the Holy Spirit, that in Jerusalem the Jews were going to arrest Paul and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
His travelling companions and the brethren of Caesarea feared for Paul and besought him with tears not to go to Jerusalem. In none of the times when the Holy Spirit warned Paul that he would be in danger when he went to Jerusalem, was there were some instruction from Him not to go there. Instead, Paul felt compelled by his spirit (subordinate to the Holy Spirit) to go, maybe even against his own common sense. Paul does not tell us of the struggle he was waging in himself because of this, but the insistence of his brethren was hurting him a lot.
Paul then said that he was grieved with their behaviour, and that he was ready to not only be imprisoned, but also even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. As Paul could not be dissuaded, they finally resigned saying that the Lord's will be done and ceased. Were they being used by Satan to try Paul? On the other hand, was Paul resisting the Holy Spirit? No doubt, his teammates loved him and wanted Paul to stay away from the danger that had been predicted. However, Paul showed them that he had a duty to perform, and he was ready to risk his own life, if necessary, so that the Lord Jesus might be served and honoured.
This reminds us that, in similar circumstances, when the Lord Jesus returned to Jerusalem for the last time, His disciples said to him, "Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?" and He replied in the sense that He knew what He was doing (John 11:8).
The events that followed proved that this was the path God had planned for Paul to testify of the Lord Jesus, not only in Jerusalem but also in Rome (chapter 23:11).
R David Jones
1. 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.
2 And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.
3 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.
4 And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.
5 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.
6 When we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned home.
7 And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day.
8 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.
9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
10 And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11 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.' "
12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 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."
14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The will of the Lord be done."
Acts chapter 12 verses 1 to 14