Gospel – Acts 21-22
Bible Passage: Acts 21-22
From Chapter 20, Paul has begun to make clear his intention to go to Jerusalem with the expectation of never to return.
And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.
Acts 20:22-23
In Chapter 20, we see two more instances of how the Spirit revealed to the disciples that Paul will suffer in Jerusalem, firstly in Tyre, and secondly in Caeserea.
One interesting point is that it is written, “They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.”
It may sound like it is not the will of God for Paul to go up to Jerusalem, or at least that was how the disciples interpreted the revelation of the Holy Spirit. Yet that was not how Paul interpret the revelations to him, and I believe these revelations only make him more resolute and prepared to testify for Christ facing tribulations. He understood his purpose to be chosen. How do we process what we see and hear into what we interpret as the will of God? Are we witnesses of things but not able to make a judgement of what really is the message of the Holy Spirit?
Don’t we sometimes wish so much for a Paul to appear in our midst to preach Christ so bravely? Don’t we wonder sometimes how he could be such a great preacher of the Word and have no fear for persecutions and death?
Nothing beats hearing the testimony of a convert from his own mouth. We get to read about Paul talking about his own conversion the first time here, and later again when he bears witness to Agrippa.
When Paul was arrested in Jerusalem and even after all that beating, he mustered his strength to speak to the Jews in Jerusalem. And in his words we get to know a bit more about his exchange with Ananias when he was blind.
Paul also shared about how Jesus spoke to him in a trance when he was in Jerusalem, telling him to depart and preach the gospel to gentiles. Here brings us back to the recordings in chapter 9 – when Paul first tried to join the disciples in Jerusalem but they were afraid of him… how he preached courageously but was plotted against to be killed and how the brethren sent him away. Paul also revealed about how remorseful he was towards his past actions including consenting to the stoning of Stephen, which also becomes his motivation to preach to all his fellow Jews and to suffer to Christ.
Keep reading, and we will see for ourselves how Jesus fulfils His words that Paul shall be His witness to gentiles and kings.
“Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.”
Acts 9:15
One Comment
PS
i think one of the traits of Paul which made him a great worker of God is Paul was zealous toward God (Acts 22:3)
Yes, the testimony of a convert from his own mouth may touch people bec they are sharing their own stories.
Equally important is that the blessed brethren who are born in families of believers to develop a personal relationship with Lord Jesus and testify their walk with Lord Jesus.
God is the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.
Paul also had deep reverence for God.
When Lord Jesus asked Saul why was he persecuting Him, Saul replied with a question,”Who are You, Lord?” (Acts 22:7-8)
Saul asked bec he knew that he did not know the God whom he was zealous for. He needed to know the God whom he was serving.
Paul testified that he obtained mercy because he did it ignorantly in unbelief. (1Tim 1:13)
For us who have tasted the grace of heaven, both converts and 2nd generation and onward believers, do we have the margin of error to say that we are ignorant in unbelief? May be not.