Series: Acts: We’re on a Mission from God
Message: Unconventional Wisdom
Text: Acts 21:1-16
Date: July 4, 2021
Big Idea: Have you ever felt led of God to do something that other trusted friends and advisors are counseling you against? Such is the case with Paul in Acts 21. He’s feeling led to go to Jerusalem, but more than one prophet, as well as his traveling companions, and other Christians are advising him against that plan. What do you do in those situations?
SLIDE 1 image of Chau and map
INTRO: In November, 2018, a 26 yr. old missionary by the name of John Chau was killed by the isolated tribe he was attempting to share the gospel with. When Chau’s death became international news, not only did secular media condemn his actions but so did many Christians who described it as reckless and even unethical. Was it?
-Have you ever felt led of God to do something that other trusted friends and advisors were counseling you against? Such is the case with Paul in Acts 21. In the preceding chapter (Acts 20:21) he’s revealed that he’s feeling led, compelled as some versions will translate it, to go to Jerusalem, stating “not knowing what will happen to me there.” However, more than one prophet, as well as his traveling companions, and other Christians are advising him against that plan. What do you do in those situations?
Whereas I don’t even begin to suppose to have the answers for your particular situation, there are some things we can glean from Paul’s experience with this that Luke has recorded for us in Acts 21.
Verses 1-7 are somewhat of an itinerary and so for the sake of time, we’re going to pick up in 21:8 where we also see the usage of the pronoun “we” meaning that Luke has rejoined the team.
ACTS 21:8-15 - Caesarea
On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven (deacons, along with Stephen Acts 6), and stayed with him. 9 He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied.
-Back in Acts 2 Peter had stated that Pentecost was a sign that we’d entered into the last days, the final age, before the Day of the Lord, but that before that day of the Lord, God would pour out His spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy (Acts 2:17). Philip’s daughters are doing just that and…
-This is Philip the deacon who we first meet in Acts 6 (34AD), and who, ironically, fled Jerusalem, because of the persecution being led by none other than Paul.
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But Saul (aka Paul) was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. 4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. (Acts 8:3-5)
We’re not given the details but sometime after his encounter with an Ethiopian eunuch in the middle of nowhere Philip has gotten married and now living in Caesarea and has four daughters.
Because of Jesus those who were once enemies (Paul and Philip) are now allies, friends.
While we were staying for many days (at Phillips home), a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
You remember ol’ Aggie right?
We were first introduced to Agabus in Acts 11 (46-47AD). He’s a resident of Jerusalem who traveled to Antioch where he prophesied to the church there that a famine for the Roman empire was coming.
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And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world. This took place in the days of Claudius (a Caesar who ruled in between Caligula and Nero). (Acts 11:28)
Six Degrees of Separation: it’s the theory that through acquaintances you can be connected to anyone on the planet.
For example, I’m six degrees separated from Justin Bieber. I used to work with Stephen Baldwin, whose daughter Hailey, is now married to Justin Bieber. I’ve never met Justin but I’m loosely acquainted with him. That’s six degrees of separation.
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Six Degrees of Separation
-Phillip: as a result of Paul’s persecution of the church, over 20 years ago, in Acts 8, he takes the gospel into Samaria and eventually ends up in Casearea. (Acts 8:3-5). He’s now providing lodging for what was once the osama bin laden to Christians.
-Agabus was the one who showed up in Antioch and prophesied a famine. (Acts 11:28)
-Claudius was the Caesar who expelled Jews from living in Rome, including Priscilla and Aquilla who relocated to Corinth which incidentally is where and how Paul met them. (Acts 18:2)
And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius (Caesar 41-54 AD). His predecessor was Caligula and his successor was Nero) had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them (Acts 18:2).
Point being keep your eyes open for Kingdom connections and be slow to burn relational bridges. You never know how God may re-connect you with someone for Kingdom purposes in the future.
Back to Paul…Acts 20:11
11 And coming to us, he (the same Agabus who had accurately prophesied about a famine) took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “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.” 12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “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.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”
15 After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem.
A Little Review
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1-Prophets are saying he’ll be incarcerated:
“He (Agabus) took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “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. (21:11)
This is a bit dramatic but Agabus is emphasizing that Paul is going to be arrested.
This isn’t a youtube prophet who regularly makes all types of sensational predictions that fail to come to pass, but rather someone affirmed by the church in Jerusalem and Antioch who has a track record of accurately revealing the future. He has the good housekeeping seal of approval. By the way, let me encourage you to make sure that the prophets you’re listening to on youtube are a member of a local Bible believing church and have their church’s endorsement. Make note of the ones whose predictions do not come to pass. Point being, Agabus has prophesied that if Paul goes to Jerusalem, he’s going to be incarcerated.
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2-His ministry team and other Christians are saying “don’t go”:
And having sought out the disciples (in Tyre), we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they (Christians in Tyre) were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. (21:4)
When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem (21:12).
Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. (Acts 20:4)
The usage of the “we” pronoun includes some names you’ve heard of like Luke and Timothy as well as some lesser known Christians such as:
-Sopater (Berea), Greek=”second”
-Aristarchus: he was from Thessalonica and along with Gaius were the ones originally seized by the mob back in Acts 19. He will be described by Paul as a “fellow prisoner in Col. 4:10.
-Secundus (“second”): We only have anecdotal church history on him but what we do have indicates that he became a pastor of a church in southeastern Spain.
-Gaius: he met Paul on his first missionary journey in Derbe. it cannot be confirmed but this very well may be the Gaius that 3 John is addressed to.
-Tychicus is from Ephesus and is mentioned as a “dear brother and faithful worker” in Eph. 6:21.
-Tromphimus who is an Ephesian gentile. 2 Tim. 4:20 indicates that he was sick at the time of departure from Miletus and Paul had to leave him there to recover but he’s since rejoined the team. Side note, interestingly, he didn’t experience an instantaneous healing.
When you start following Jesus you very well may lose some friends at first, and even along the way, but God will send new friends as you follow Him.
These friends are good men who’ve been with Paul through thick and thin, riots, and death threast, and they’re saying, “don’t go”.
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Paul says, “I’m going and if I die so be it”
I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, Let the will of the Lord be done.” (21:13-14)
I sometimes like to place myself in biblical scenarios wondering what I would do in certain situations. Not what I like to think I would do, but based upon how I’m living now, what would I do…really. Most recently I was contemplating what it would be like to be on Paul’s missionary team and, to be honest, I’m thinking that at times, as adventurous as it sounds, I believe it may have been very difficult to be a part of his staff. Paul was a very driven individual. Driven for the gospel, but driven nonetheless. He feels called to go to Jerusalem, but everywhere he goes he’s told by prophets that he’s going to run into a lot of trouble in Jerusalem. So, if you’re a member of his team and he’s going to get into a lot of trouble what does that mean for you? Right? I mean, look Paul, are you not hearing what God has been saying? For the most part Paul’s attitude is “well if I die, I die. I’m going to heaven.” Now whereas that’s fine for him maybe you’re feeling that you still have some life to live here on earth. Yes, we’re all looking forward to going to heaven but I wasn’t planning on taking the carpool lane with Paul to get there. I was hoping to ride space mountain just one last time.
v.14 Luke says we finally just gave up, i.e., we finally stopped trying to persuade him otherwise.
It’s finally become obvious to everyone that Paul isn’t changing his mind. In spite of the warnings, he’s going to Jerusalem.
He’s driven, but he’s Prudent not Careless
Paul was obviously a man of faith and yet he wasn’t one to put the Lord to a foolish test. He’s not fool hearty, nor does he have a death wish. Let me show you what I mean.
-On the road to Damascus, where he had temple guards and warrants to arrest Christians, he has an encounter with Jesus and becomes a believer. Shortly thereafter he becomes an evangelist to the residents of Damascus, but after awhile they tire of his evangelistic efforts.
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Damascus: When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. (Acts 9:23-25)
Leaving Damascus, he returns home to Jerusalem where he proceeds to tell them that Jesus is the Messiah.
Jerusalem: And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus (his childhood home) (Acts 9:29-30).
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Iconium (South Central Turkey):
When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them, they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country (Acts 14:5-6)
Point being that Paul is not one to put the Lord to a foolish test. He’s no dummy. He doesn’t unnecessarily place himself in harm’s way. Yet, here he knows the fate that awaits him and he walks forward into it. So, what’s different?
How do you discern when you should follow God when it’s contrary to human wisdom and counsel? I don’t have all the answers for you but there are at least 4 insights we can glean from what Paul went through.
For starters,
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1-God sometimes calls us to do things that seem illogical
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8 NIV)
Sounds somewhat like Frodo Baggins. There’s a scene in LOR in which they’ve come to the conclusion that the ring must be destroyed in the fires of a horrendous place of evil called Mordor. Frodo says, “I will take the ring, although I do not know the way.”
Imagine what it must’ve been like for Abraham to just pack up and move. Imagine trying to explain this to your spouse. Abraham, and Sarah for that matter, followed God’s instructions even when it didn’t make any sense to him. In the Bible, we can find plenty of examples of God asking people to do far-fetched things:
-Noah. He told Noah to build an ark. This would be the modern-day equivalent of you and I building a spaceship…out in our backyard. What will the neighbors think? Imagine going into the local Ace Hardware store and the cashier asks you what your project is and you tell them that you’re building a spaceship.
-Joshua. His first true test of leadership in the Promised Land was to seize Jericho. This was a fortified city with an outer wall 13ft in height and an inner wall that was 28ft. So, what’s the game plan? How do we take this city? Battering rams? Catapults? Chuck Norris? What’s the plan? God told Joshua to march around Jericho seven times and to then blow trumpets. Does anyone else have any suggestions?
We also have several examples of God directing us to do the illogical in Acts.
-Philip, who was having a great ministry in Samaria, was instructed by an angel to go and share the gospel with an Ethiopian eunuch who was travelling from Jerusalem back home. No other details were provided to him. This would be like God asking us to take a side road off the 87 and to go up to a limo and share the gospel with the person in the back seat.
-Ananias the Christian in Damascus: Paul is physically blinded by his encounter with Jesus. In Acts 9:11-12 the Lord spoke to Ananias in a vision saying, “go and lay your hands on Paul so that he may receive his sight.” Ananias responds by saying that I don’t know if you know this or not Lord but I’ve heard some pretty bad things about this guy Paul. He’s public enemy number one to us Christians.”
-If you walk long enough with Jesus, He’ll ask you to do some things that will not make sense to you, like waking up in the middle of the night to pray for someone, saying something spiritual or kind to a stranger, asking a waitress how you can pray for her, volunteering for a role that you’ve never done before, making a donation to missionary who’s serving in a country you have no ties to.
This can prompt the people around you (and even your own mind) to say, “that just doesn’t make sense!” Rest assured, you’re in good company.
Point being, there are times when God asks us to do things that seem illogical. This is the case with Paul and his compulsion to go to Jerusalem. Secondly,
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2-Follow God’s Will, not the will of other people, for your life.
And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” (21:14)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths (Prov. 3:5-6)
-One of the more popular gospel tracts in the 1990s was The 4 Spiritual Laws. A friend of mine was sharing how he was once using these principles for sharing the gospel but one day after sharing the first of the 4 spiritual laws, which is “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life”, the guy responded by saying, “man, that sounds a lot like my mother-in-law”. The idea of someone else having a plan for his life wasn’t appealing. Truth is, God has plans for our lives as do other people. Make sure you follow God's plan.
It’s always wise to seek counsel and advice. In fact, the bible tells us that there’s safety in the multitude of counselors (Prov. 11:14). However, there may be times when God directs us to what would be contrary to what other well-meaning people think we should do. During those times we need to follow God. Allow Him to have veto power in your decision making.
ILLUS: Matthew Henry was a famous commentator. As a very young minister he met the girl he wanted to marry. She was an only daughter and the future heiress of a considerable fortune. Her father strongly objected to their relationship saying, “he may be a perfect gentleman, a brilliant scholar, and an excellent preacher; but he is a stranger, and we do not even know where he comes from!" "True," replied the girl, but we know where he is going, and I should like to go with him."
We need the same attitude with God, i.e., We should “like to go with Him”. When you cannot trust God’s head (logic) you can trust His heart.
-Very important that you know that Paul doesn’t deny the validity of the prophecies about his incarceration, but He trusts God’s heart. He trusts where God is going.
Paul sees the predictions, the prophecies not as prohibitions, but as preparation.
Sometimes, with no notice, our lives take drastic turns. Personally, I prefer it when I have a little time to mentally and spiritually prepare for change. Actually, it’s very pastoral of God to be given a heads up of what lies ahead and such is the case here.
Earlier Paul had said,
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“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there (Acts 20:22 NIV)
That was Acts 20, but since then it has been revealed to him that he will be incarcerated there. He believes that these prophecies are messages from God. He doesn’t deny what they’re saying but he doesn’t see it as a prohibition. He sees that whereas they’re right about what’s going to happen to him in Jerusalem, they’re wrong in interpreting that he shouldn’t go.
In fact, he was certain that God wanted him to go to Jerusalem.
Acts 20:22
CEV: “I must obey God's Spirit and go there”
Amplified: “obligated by my convictions”
ILLUS: When mountain climbers try to scale Mt. Everest, they are often fastened to their guide. They have become a part of their guide. During the hike, mountain climbers often slip and fall. Sometimes due to intense blizzards they lose sight of their guide, but nonetheless, their guides, who have often guided many other climbers to the summit before, know exactly where they’re at and going, making certain that the climbers are not lost.
Likewise, our Guide, the Great Shepherd will guide us through the valleys and the mountain passes. We can rely on His wisdom and security and travel through life without fear knowing that we’re connected to Him.
As we’ll see in the following chapters, turns out that just as the prophets and friends had predicted, Paul will end up being arrested in Jerusalem. Afterwards, he’ll spend two years in Caesarea, and then another two more years under house arrest in Rome where he’ll eventually be executed.
It’s only natural to wonder, wouldn’t it have been better had Paul heeded the warnings of the prophets and listened to the counsel of his friends? Maybe he’d even have had a longer ministry? Possibly, but God will be the judge of that.
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3-Be guided by the Holy Spirit, not your comfort
And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me (Acts 20:22-23)
One thing about Paul that’s evident is he wasn’t guided by comfort. His primary aim in life wasn’t to achieve the American dream, rather he was driven by the gospel, not the prosperity gospel, I might add.
On one occasion Jesus had told some would be disciples that whereas the foxes had their holes and the birds had their nests, he didn’t have a place to sleep that particular night. And so, are you still in?
And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Mt. 8:20)
Paul’s life is guided not by comfort but by spiritual calling and purpose. May the same be said of you and I.
ILLUS: Esther
Esther “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16)
Esther refused to stay in the comfort zone. After learning about a Hitler-esque plan to destroy the Jews she commits three days to prayer and fasting with the intent of revealing her cards, i.e., that she’s a Jew herself to her husband, the King and to enter his court without an appointment. It would slightly similar to barging into the Oval office without an appointment. There she leaves her fate and future in the hands of God. She lets trust in God lead the way and she leaves the consequences in His hands.
I’ve noticed that if sacrifice is involved, and/or getting out of your comfort zone is involved, this is often a sign that you’re on the right track.
Key Point: Ask yourself if you’re making the decision out of comfort or not. Following Jesus often involves taking rough and bumpy trails.
ILLUS: An architect was consulted to come and design a house for a couple in Beverly Hills only to discover that they had already designed it all for themselves. What they really wanted was his approval of the plan for a building permit. Likewise, we sometimes go to God, the Great Architect, supposedly seeking His guidance, when in reality we have already planned how we will build our future yet seeking God’s approval for our plans. Now, going to God in prayer about our plans is certainly a step in the right direction but what’s even better is to invite Him to remodel our plans as He sees fit. “Unless the Lord builds the house they labor in vain that build it.”
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4-God sees the bigger picture
But the Lord said to him (Ananias), “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15)
For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar”. (Acts 27:23-24a)
As a result of being arrested in Jerusalem, Paul was able to witness to king Agrippa, great grandson of Herod the Great from the Christmas story. He will witness to Claudius Antonius Felix, one of the most cruel and corrupt governors of Judea during the first century. On his way to Rome, he was shipwrecked in Malta where he led what we would refer to as a civic leader, perhaps a mayor, to Christ. Even today a small group of Christians in Malta trace their spiritual lineage back to when Paul was shipwrecked there. During his time under house arrest in Rome, between 60-62, he would write Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon, known as the prison epistles.
While he was under house arrest in Rome we’re also told that:
“(Paul) welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance." (Acts 28:30-31)
God sees the bigger picture
ILLUS: S. Korea.
-Seoul South Korea has a special cemetery known as the Foreigners Cemetery which contains the graves of 145 missionaries who are buried there. The first missionaries arrived in the 1600s but all of them were martyred. Again, Christians tried to evangelize the nation in 1785, but by 1801 all records indicated that Christianity had either been eradicated or gone so far underground to be of little to no effect.
-Robert Thomas was a Welsh missionary who felt led to go to Korea. He was told that it was useless and that his efforts would be better spent elsewhere but he felt called to Korea. And so, like Paul, and against the counsel of well-meaning friends and advisors, in 1866 he went anyways. Sure enough he was met with instant hostility. The governor of Pyongyang (who happened to be Kim Jong-un’s great-grandfather) ordered for the boat that Thomas was on to be attacked and to take no prisoners, but to kill everyone. Thomas jumped overboard holding a Korean bible that translators had worked on for years. Thomas held out the bible to a Korean who mercilessly killed him on the spot. The soldier took the bible and used its pages as wallpaper. Later however, he began to read the wallpaper and became a Christian. Word about the “talking walls” got out and people traveled great distances to stay at that guest house to read the walls. In 1907 (41 yrs after Thomas had been killed) a revival broke out in Korea. Today, South Korea is considered the 2nd most Christian nation and they are 2nd only to the USA in the number of missionaries they send out each year.
God can see the orchards in a single apple seed. He sees the big picture.
CONCLUSION
Remember how we started this morning? We began discussing Johnathan Chau, the young missionary who went against conventional human wisdom and was killed trying to share the gospel with an unreached people group.
It’s important that you know that Chau was not an uneducated adrenaline junkie who just spontaneously decided out of the blue to take the gospel to a remote island in the Indian Ocean. He had actually spent years preparing. He fully understood the risks for trying to share the gospel to this specific unreached people group.
All Nations, the evangelical organization that trained Chau, issued an interesting statement saying,
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“The privilege of sharing the gospel has often involved great cost. We pray that John’s sacrificial efforts will bear eternal fruit in due season.” -Dr Mary Ho, All Nations.
I believe that they will.
Empowered and directed by the Holy Spirit may we follow Jesus wherever He leads us, trusting, like those who have faithfully, and bravely, gone before us, that fruit will follow.
And so, may we be mindful that sometimes, God will call us to do things that seem illogical and counter-intuitive.
Secondly, seek counsel but allow God to be the final decision maker for your life. Give Him veto power.
Third, be guided by the Holy Spirit, not comfort.
And finally, remember that Jesus is the Alpha and Omega. He sees the bigger picture and its always a blessing to be a part of His plans.
Has God been calling you to do something illogical, uncomfortable?
-Maybe its sharing the gospel with a friend or co-worker. Maybe its asking your waiters and waitresses how you can pray for them.
-Volunteering at the church or for a ministry for which you don’t feel skilled or equipped for.
-Tithing
-Going into vocational ministry.
Whatever it may be, may we...
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths (Prov. 3:5-6)
For some of you it may mean receiving Jesus as your Savior and Lord.
PRAYER
