Slices
Prepare
Ponder Romans 12:2: ‘Be transformed … Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.’
Bible passage
On to Jerusalem
21 After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. 2 We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. 3 After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. 4 We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5 When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. 6 After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.
7 We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day. 8 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, ‘The Holy Spirit says, “In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.”’
12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, ‘Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’ 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, ‘The Lord’s will be done.’
15 After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem. 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus and one of the early disciples.
Explore
We rejoin Paul as his third missionary journey ends, demonstrating reluctance to leave people he has become fond of (v 1). However, his compulsion ‘by the Spirit’ (20:22) to travel to Jerusalem is resolute – despite well-meaning companions stressing that trouble is brewing.
After boat-hopping around the eastern Mediterranean, Paul lands at Tyre, where the local disciples, through the Spirit (v 4), seek to dissuade him from onward travel. Mixed messages or an example of the Holy Spirit’s facilitation of free will? Choose your own adventure!
In Gentile territory, we encounter five prophets, including Agabus, who deploys visual aids to starkly emphasise his God-given words. Paul’s future includes physical hostility (v 11). One can imagine his companions’ sharp intake of breath when confronted with this envisioned reality (v 13a). How would we react? How should we react?
Paul speaks: he’s prepared to be ‘bound’, but ‘also to die’. Are we? His entourage has done everything possible to avert disaster. They now rally round, saying ‘the Lord’s will be done’ (v 14), perhaps through gritted teeth! How can we develop our spiritual acumen to become reliable arbiters of truth for our friends?
Respond
God’s plans can be difficult to discern. Loving, trusted, Spirit-filled friends distinguishing between danger and divine intention on our behalf can inadvertently hinder. Seek God’s perfect clarity.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 1 Chronicles 22,23; Galatians 2
Pray for Scripture Union
The team in the north of England have a heart to multiply the number of churches catching the vision of revealing Jesus. Pray that they will make the right contacts, see growth and experience increasing depth in regional partnerships.
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