Acts 21 - 22

Paul Goes To Jerusalem

After leaving Ephesus, Paul and his party travel through the islands and lands near Greece visiting believers.  When they stopped in Tyre of Syria, the found local believers who were concerned about Paul's trip to Jerusalem.  Verse 4 states, "These believers prophesied through the Holy Spirit that Paul should not go on to Jerusalem." 

Several days later we find the group in Caesarea and the prophet Agabus binds his hands and feet with Paul's cloak and prophesies that "the owner of this belt [will be] bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles."

These two prophecies greatly concerned those traveling with Paul to the point that "all begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem."  But Paul knew the will of the Lord, even if the road ahead was difficult and would cost him his life.  Luke writes in verse 14, "When it was clear that we couldn't persuade him, we gave up and said, 'The Lord's will be done.'"  And Paul went on to Jerusalem.

Not much time elapsed before trouble began. While Paul was attending an purification ritual, some of the religious leaders caused an uprising and incited a mob to attack and beat Paul. The riot was so bad, Roman soldiers had to come in a break it up.  Paul was arrested.  In chapter 22, after receiving permission from the commander, he addressed the crowd, telling them his testimony of meeting the Pillar of Fire.  When he told the part about the Lord sending him to the Gentiles (22:21) the crowd went into a frenzy again.  This enraged the Romans and they prepared Paul to be scourged.  Only Paul's mention of his Roman citizenship prevented the beating.  This all set the stage for Paul's appearance before Caesar.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.