Warnings of Persecution In Jerusalem
Acts chapter 21 quickly follows Paul on his journey back to Jerusalem. On his way back Paul and his group say with a variety of past friends that they had made during their missionary journeys. Paul is being let by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem, but at the same time he receives many warnings that persecution awaits him there. Verse 4 is the first recorded example:
… Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem
And again in verse 10-14:
… a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 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 Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’
When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 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.” When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
The remainder of the chapter tells us again of the trials that constantly follow Paul. The leaders in the Jerusalem church warn that many people are being told that Paul is instructing Jews to reject the laws and traditions of Moses, when in fact Paul teaches the fulfillment of the law through Christ, and that one can accept the gift of salvation offered through the cross whether Jew or Greek. A Jew does not need reject his Jewishness and become like a Greek, nor does a Greek need to carefully follow all the ceremonial laws of the Jews.
Nevertheless, in an effort to subdue the rumors, Paul agrees to take part in a ceremonial cleansing along with four other Christian Jews. But Some men from the Asian province recognized Paul and used slander against Paul to rally the people into a frenzy and began to beat Paul (verses 27-32). Roman soldiers broke up the riot and rescued Paul from the mob, then arrested him.
Once again, the officials could not get a strait answer from the mob about who Paul was or what wrong he had done. Paul asks to address the crowd (verses 33-40), which begins chapter 22.
Chapter 21 Summary
We see once again that spreading the Gospel of Christ has caused Paul much pain and persecution. But Paul is determined through the encouragement and strength of the Holy Spirit to preach the importance of knowing the truth of who Christ is and how He’s the only way to God. If there were any other way to God other than through Jesus Christ then Paul would be a fool and his suffering pointless. But Paul is filled with the love of God to all the people who constantly attack him, and continues to preach the forgiveness of sins through Jesus to the very crowd that hates him.