He was now making every effort to go back to Jerusalem. He had been seeing Gentiles saved by the scores, and no doubt he began to think of his own Jewish people, who were lost without Christ, and wanted to go back and share the gospel with them.
Illus: One of the frustrations that we Christians have is that while we rejoice when souls are saved, regardless who they are, as we see these being saved it makes us even more burdened to see our own loved ones saved.
This was probably the reason Paul was going back to Jerusalem, to witness to the Jews once again. He had a tremendous burden for his Jewish ancestors. In fact, in Romans 9:3. he writes, “For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:”
We find out in the Scriptures, whereas he had been having great success in other places, he had none in Jerusalem. Many times it seems we can win the whole world, but we cannot win our own families. I sincerely believe however, if I cannot win my own family, if I am faithful in winning other people's family members to Christ, then God will send someone along who will win my family members. As we study this passage of Scripture, we have to keep in mind the heavy burden Paul had for the Jewish people.
I. THE DISCOVERY (VERSES 1-6)
A. THE DISCIPLES
Verses 1-4, “And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara: And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth. Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden. And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.”
It is interesting that as Paul traveled from city to city, he seemed to have a format that he followed. Regardless of what town Paul entered, he immediately found other Christians. They landed at Tyre and were going to be there for seven days. The ship was to be unloaded, and possibly take on a new load of cargo. When Paul arrived the Bible states, “And finding disciples,”. Why did he find disciples? People want to associate with people they have something in common with.
Illus: Personally, I do not care a thing about... (mention a sport you do not care for). If I am somewhere and the subject comes up, I try to change it, but if the people I am with persist in talking about this sport, I begin to try to think of a way to make my stay there as short as possible without being rude. Why? I do not have a thing in common with people who like this particular sport.
Paul, when he arrived at a town, sought to find disciples of the faith. He desired to be with them, not because he had SOMETHING in common with them, but because He had SOMEONE in common with them.
Illus: The reason you have to literally beg, blackmail, and threaten some people into coming to church to worship is because they worship a god that we do not worship, and we worship a God they do not worship. They do not have a thing in common with us, and we do not have a thing in common with them. With this knowledge in mind, we can understand why it is hard to get some people to attend church. I have no trouble understanding this, but I must confess to you that I have a hard time understanding why some, who profess to be saved and know the same God we know, have to be begged to come be with God's people. I have a sneaking suspicion they really do not know and love the God we love, so they do not have a thing in common with US.
Paul wasted no time when he got to a town to seek out others of like faith.
Illus: When a Christian moves to a new town, he should not waste any time finding others of like faith, that he has SOMEONE in common with.
These disciples in verse 4, "...through the Spirit...”, told Paul that he should not go up to Jerusalem. Paul decided he would not listen. Again, I want to remind you that Paul had a heavy burden for his fellow Jews. He had been seeing all those Gentiles getting gloriously saved, and now he wanted to go to Jerusalem to try and to reach his people. We are almost hesitant to say Paul made a mistake, but as great a man of God as he was, we must remember he was human.
Illus: We sometimes forget that when we read about these great men of God. The human side of Peter revealed itself when he was at Antioch, and he withdrew himself from the Gentiles because he saw some Jewish brethren, who had come down from Jerusalem, knowing that they considered it to be unlawful to fellowship the Gentiles. We also see the human side of Paul and Barnabas, as they quarreled about John Mark's going with them. These were the best that God had to work with, but still they were not perfect.
Paul's calling was to the Gentiles, and here he seemed to be getting out of the plan of God for his life by going to the Jews.
The Bible clearly reveals that those disciples, through the Spirit of God (Who never makes mistakes), said, "...that he should not go up to Jerusalem.” It seems clear from the Scriptures, that Paul, out of a good desire, got out of the will of God. Those good Christians tried to warn Paul, in the Spirit, not to go.
B. THE DESTINATION
Verses 5-6, “And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed. And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.”
Though Paul did not take their God given advice, still they had unity. The Psalmist said in Psalm 133: 1, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
Some Christians feel that every time Christians have a disagreement they should have a church split. We all know people who have joined practically every church in town, and still are not happy. They change jobs constantly, and have been in and out of the divorce courts all their adult lives. Why? Because when any little thing pops up, they are ready to turn a mole hill into a mountain.
Illus: Someone said, “One of the things we need to realize is that people can disagree with us without being crazy, rude, and crude.”
Notice how these mature Christians conducted themselves. Look at verse 5. Even though they were right to say what they said, because the Spirit of God inspired them to say it, and even though Paul chose to ignore their advice, at the end of the seven days the entire congregation, men, women, and children walked Paul down to the ship, and before he got on the ship, they knelt on the shore and prayed together. Then Paul got on the ship and they went home.
II. THE DETERMINATION (VERSES 7-14)
Paul, who was determined to go to Jerusalem, left Tyre and as he headed toward his destination, he made a few more stops.
(1) Ptolemais - (Verse 7)
Notice again this format that he followed when he got to a town, they, “...saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.”
(2) Caesarea - (Verse 8)
Notice again, this format that he followed when he went to a town. “...and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.”
Notice this also about the Apostle Paul, once he made up his mind he was going to Jerusalem, he would not let anything sidetrack him. This is one of the strong points useful in leadership - determination. God never could have used Paul the way He used Him, had he not been a man of determination. People who are weak in determination very seldom ever accomplish anything. Their whole life consists of starting things and never finishing them. Paul could have very easily been sidetracked in Ptolemais and Caesarea. There was plenty for him to do, but he had made up his mind that he was going back to Jerusalem to witness to his people.
A. THE DAUGHTERS
Verses 7-10, “And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. "
Philip, the evangelist, is noted for several things in the Bible:
(1) This Philip was one of the seven original deacons that God had placed in the church.
(2) This was the Philip that was once used in Samaria to bring about a great revival.
(3) This was the Philip that was used to win the Ethiopian in the desert to the Lord.
The Bible lists these things about him, but we do not know how many more ways God may have used him. We believe it is significant, that as the Bible talks about Paul arriving at Philip's home, verse 9, it states, “And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophecy.”
If you had asked Philip, the evangelist, what was his greatest joy and source of pride in life, he would have probably said, “These four daughters God gave me.”
The Bible says in Psalm 127:3, “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord...” There is nothing that can bring sadness to us like a disobedient child, and there is nothing that make us rejoice, like an obedient child. It is significant that among the things that the Lord mentions about Philip, the evangelist, is the fact that he had four godly daughters. I want every parent who has children to listen to me closely. You had better take your parenthood seriously! God gave you those precious children. He has entrusted them to you, to raise them up for Him. Once those children reach a certain age, they are going to break your heart, or they going to make you proud. Philip and his wife did a great job with their four daughters, and now notice, the Bible says they are virgins, and notice, they also had the gift of prophecy.
Before this, we find in the Scriptures that on a few occasions God had used women. For example, Miriam, Ex. 15:20; Deborah, Judges 4:4; Isaiah's wife, Is. 8:3; Huldah, 2 Kings 22:14; and Anna, Lk. 2:36.
These four daughters of Philip, the evangelist, were the last ever mentioned in the Scriptures that God ever used like this.
B. THE DISCLOSURE
Verses 10-14, “And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.”
While Paul was at Philip's house, the prophet Agabus arrived from Judea. While he was there, this prophet of God showed him something about the apostle Paul. God showed him the same thing that He showed the Christians at Tyre, that Paul's life was in danger. He took Paul's belt and bound his own hands and feet, and said in verse 11, " Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”
The Psalmist said, in Prov. 11:14, “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” This is the apostle Paul's second warning not to go, but still he would not see things from their view point for some reason. (Could it be, he was willing to die that his people have the gospel?)
In verse 12, the Christians who loved him, did not want to see his great ministry for the Lord be shortened, and they pleaded with tears in their eyes for him not to go.
He responded in verses 13-14, “...What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.”
This was the second time Paul ignored the warning. He was not trying to be rebellious or a know-it-all. To him, it was a small thing for him, as he said, to die for the Jewish people that he loved. Paul went against the advice of God fearing and God loving people, and what they said was to happen. He was captured in Jerusalem and never was freed again.
Conclusion:
I. THE DISCOVERY (VERSES 1-6)
A. THE DISCIPLES
B. THE DESTINATION
II. THE DETERMINATION (VERSES 7-1
A. THE DAUGHTERS
B. THE DISCLOSURE
