Post by Zac Loh on Jun 4, 2010 4:05:14 GMT -5
The Importance Of Context And Background
Acts 21:3 – 23:11
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. And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. (Acts 21:3-4)
Paul was on his way to Jerusalem on his third missionary journey. Take out a map charting Paul’s course of travel, and you will see that Tyre was on the route to Jerusalem. After Tyre; was to Ptolemais; then Caesarea; finally, Jerusalem.
At Tyre, the above portion of scripture, the disciples sensed the persecution waiting to happen to Paul at Jerusalem. They had a prophetic inside knowledge of the future through the Holy Spirit. So they told Paul not to go to Jerusalem.
But the disciples were wrong. They sensed correctly of the revelation given to them by the Holy Spirit. But they interpreted it wrongly. They shouldn’t have interpreted it in the first place. They should have shared the revelation, and left to Paul to decide the next course of action.
The lesson here is that one should not interpret unless the interpretation is given by the Holy Spirit. One should only deliver the revelation as received. This is a mistake to avoid.
How do I derive this understanding? By reading through, and referring to the map. The historical map tells me that Paul was heading towards Jerusalem by going to Ptolemais, then to Caesarea.
Paul did not change his course. Paul did not heed the guidance of the disciples. Paul was made aware of the danger later on as you will realize. But Paul was listening to the Holy Spirit himself.
I gather all these by continue reading. Herein is the problem of basing one’s action on one verse of scripture and not reading through. This seems to be a main problem with Christians. We fumble over this, over and over again. Let us continue.
And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 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.’”
Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 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.” So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.” And after those days we packed and went up to Jerusalem. (Acts 21:10-15)
Paul left Tyre, went to Ptolemais. From Ptolemais, Paul now arrived at Caesarea. Agabus, the established prophet came. Agabus demonstrated vividly the persecution Paul will have to endure at Jerusalem, if Paul chose to continue his journey. Notice one thing. Agabus, the seasoned prophet, in his spiritual maturity and experience, did not interpret what the next course of action should be, because the Holy Spirit did not reveal it.
Only that the others took it as a warning from the Holy Spirit - not to go to Jerusalem. They were overwhelmed by emotion. Paul was a man of prayer; he discerned the will of God, and he was prepared to pay the price. He did not disobey the Holy Spirit.
A spiritually mature man does not choose to be there just because he was willing to sacrifice. A spiritually mature man will not let gungho overtake him; he will not allow ego to cloud his judgment. No, Paul discerned that the Holy Spirit was leading him to count the cost, AS JESUS TAUGHT. Paul counted the cost, and he was willing.
But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” (Acts 23:11)
Jesus Himself expressed His pleasure of Paul. Jesus Himself encouraged Paul. Jesus confirmed that it was God’s will for Paul to be at Jerusalem.
Acts 21:3 – 23:11
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. And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. (Acts 21:3-4)
Paul was on his way to Jerusalem on his third missionary journey. Take out a map charting Paul’s course of travel, and you will see that Tyre was on the route to Jerusalem. After Tyre; was to Ptolemais; then Caesarea; finally, Jerusalem.
At Tyre, the above portion of scripture, the disciples sensed the persecution waiting to happen to Paul at Jerusalem. They had a prophetic inside knowledge of the future through the Holy Spirit. So they told Paul not to go to Jerusalem.
But the disciples were wrong. They sensed correctly of the revelation given to them by the Holy Spirit. But they interpreted it wrongly. They shouldn’t have interpreted it in the first place. They should have shared the revelation, and left to Paul to decide the next course of action.
The lesson here is that one should not interpret unless the interpretation is given by the Holy Spirit. One should only deliver the revelation as received. This is a mistake to avoid.
How do I derive this understanding? By reading through, and referring to the map. The historical map tells me that Paul was heading towards Jerusalem by going to Ptolemais, then to Caesarea.
Paul did not change his course. Paul did not heed the guidance of the disciples. Paul was made aware of the danger later on as you will realize. But Paul was listening to the Holy Spirit himself.
I gather all these by continue reading. Herein is the problem of basing one’s action on one verse of scripture and not reading through. This seems to be a main problem with Christians. We fumble over this, over and over again. Let us continue.
And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 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.’”
Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 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.” So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.” And after those days we packed and went up to Jerusalem. (Acts 21:10-15)
Paul left Tyre, went to Ptolemais. From Ptolemais, Paul now arrived at Caesarea. Agabus, the established prophet came. Agabus demonstrated vividly the persecution Paul will have to endure at Jerusalem, if Paul chose to continue his journey. Notice one thing. Agabus, the seasoned prophet, in his spiritual maturity and experience, did not interpret what the next course of action should be, because the Holy Spirit did not reveal it.
Only that the others took it as a warning from the Holy Spirit - not to go to Jerusalem. They were overwhelmed by emotion. Paul was a man of prayer; he discerned the will of God, and he was prepared to pay the price. He did not disobey the Holy Spirit.
A spiritually mature man does not choose to be there just because he was willing to sacrifice. A spiritually mature man will not let gungho overtake him; he will not allow ego to cloud his judgment. No, Paul discerned that the Holy Spirit was leading him to count the cost, AS JESUS TAUGHT. Paul counted the cost, and he was willing.
But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” (Acts 23:11)
Jesus Himself expressed His pleasure of Paul. Jesus Himself encouraged Paul. Jesus confirmed that it was God’s will for Paul to be at Jerusalem.