Pray Today
Day 21: Ch.21. Paul returns to Jerusalem despite the hardships he knows he will face. Paul had an amazing resolve to seek God’s honor, even in difficult circumstances. Pray that you reflect Christ in every situation and learn to daily seek God for direction.
JESUS today YOU will SAVE me.
Eat This Book
Read Proverbs Chapter 30
Acts 21
1 And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:
2 And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.
3 Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.
4 And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
5 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
6 And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.
7 And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.
8 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.
11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
15 And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.
16 There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.
17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
21 And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;
24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,
28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.
29 (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
30 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.
31 And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
32 Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.
33 Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.
34 And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.
35 And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.
36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.
37 And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?
38 Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?
39 But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.
40 And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,
The POFW Daily Bible Reading 
Thank you Jesus!!!
13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
In our time or rather where we live, we do not face death as a Christian. However the death we encounter is of our fallen nature. We still have some struggle with our own desires to do things with our own comfort as the main objective. As a follower of Christ we must slay our wants and seek the will of Jesus.
13But he said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.” 14When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
The warnings of danger came from the Holy Spirit and were meant to prepare Paul. The request to turn backwas understandable, even logical; yet it wasn’t of God. They recognized as much when they here attributed Paul’s insistence to go to Jerusalem despite the danger as the will of the Lord. Many may not want to serve God, but will eventually give in to God’s will. Am I or are you willing to suffer to speak the Word to others?
13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
Two things are clear: First, Paul did not think his salary was the main consideration in serving the Lord. Second, the Lord overruled all these events for His glory.
A.L.M.A.S.
amen 🙏
Verses 12-13 MSG “When we heard that, we and everyone there that day begged Paul not to be stubborn and persist in going to Jerusalem. But Paul wouldn’t budge: “Why all this hysteria? Why do you insist on making a scene and making it even harder for me? You’re looking at this backward. The issue in Jerusalem is not what they do to me, whether arrest or murder, but what the Master Jesus does through my obedience. Can’t you see that?” Sometimes we have to as Rev. Merriman said “Ignore The Sights”! The key I believe was what they did before “…We all kneeled together on the beach and prayed….” as we read in verses 5-6 MSG. ReVIVE and ReMEMBER what Ephesians 5:17 AMP says “Therefore do not be foolish and thoughtless, but understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is.” Also Proverbs 16:3 AMP “Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him], And your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].”
32. He immediately called out his soldiers and officers and ran down among the crowd. When the mob saw the commander and the troops coming, they stopped beating Paul.
33. Then the commander arrested him and ordered him bound with two chains. He asked the crowd who he was and what he had done. NLT
Instead of arresting people for assault and battery, he arrested the victim! Let’s put not one, but two chains on him, then find out who he is and what they think he’s done. Don’t trust your future to the legal system; all these years later, people are still people.
Acts 21: 4-5 [ amp] After we had sighted Cyprus , leaving it on our left we sailed on to Syria and put in a Tyre,for there the ship was to unload her cargo.
4] And having looked up the disciples there, we remained with them for seven days. Prompted by ( Holy ) Spirit they kept telling Paul not to set foot in Jerusalem.
Another purpose in his trip to Jerusalem was to keep a vow he had made. The Jews placed great emphasis on keeping a vow and doing what was taught according to the law.
He was warned by the Holy Spirit not to go, But Paul was determined to go,even if it meant his death.
We are on a mission, we have purpose and a plan to do what God has laid out for us.
Thank you Jesus.
”Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.“
Acts 21:13 KJV
Dying for the passion of Christ is the greatest goal any of us Christians can accomplish in our life.
We can never be grateful enough for what Jesus Christ has done and given for us all.
This is love. This is living. And people will never understand how or why pofw does what it does in the community of ftw.
I’m reminded of “Peter do you love me?” This question applies to us all.
”And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.“
Luke 9:23
13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done
We may not all be called To go out like paul did and start churches or preach the gospel everywhere, But we can live our lives according to the gospel with the same tenacity and love that he did. Ready to talk to anybody about Jesus and ready to die for it
sabemos de antemano que el servir a JESUS no es nada facil pero al final serà bien remunerado.
The seven days were almost ended when some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul in the Temple and roused a mob against him. They grabbed him, yelling, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who preaches against our people everywhere and tells everybody to disobey the Jewish laws. He speaks against the Temple—and even defiles this holy place by bringing in Gentiles.” (For earlier that day they had seen him in the city with Trophimus, a Gentile from Ephesus, and they assumed Paul had taken him into the Temple.) The whole city was rocked by these accusations, and a great riot followed. Paul was grabbed and dragged out of the Temple, and immediately the gates were closed behind him. As they were trying to kill him, word reached the commander of the Roman regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. He immediately called out his soldiers and officers and ran down among the crowd. When the mob saw the commander and the troops coming, they stopped beating Paul.”
Acts of the Apostles 21:27-32 NLT
Let’s face it! Compromise never gets us what we think we’re going to get from it. There is always a price to pay in the end and in Paul’s case, the above led to disaster. Lord, help me to never compromise the principles of your Word for the convenience of the hour.
4 NLT ”We went ashore, found the local believers, and stayed with them a week. These believers prophesied through the Holy Spirit that Paul should not go on to Jerusalem.“
Paul was not being disobedient to God’s will by going to Jerusalem. He was very sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and understood the warnings of what to expect in Jerusalem. He was more concerned about doing God’s will than his own life.
3 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;
24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
Paul was subject to those over him and followed their direction to purify himself and be ready to answer the people who thought he taught against Moses. We each need a Pastor who we are subject to and who will lead us, correct us and give us godly counsel whenever it is needed. We know our Pastor has a Pastor he is submitted to and this principle keeps us all in right standing before God.
vs-12
And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
Ready to die: Luke clearly draws a parallel between Paul’s commitment and that of Jesus. In both cases the Jews were hostile; the victim was to be handed over to the Gentiles and was to suffer. Like Christ, Paul remained committed to do God’s will. While this comparison highlights Paul’s heroism, it reminds us that we too are called upon to follow Jesus example.
14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours. He sees the end from the beginning and knows all the details in between. Are we as sold out as Paul to complete the will of God? Are we willing to continue sharing the gospel, knowing that persecution lies ahead? We must settle these things in our minds now, as we don’t know what the future for America holds at this moment.
It appears that false religions are gripping our young adults and we no longer are a nation that fears the one true living God.
REVIVE
FOLLOW THE FIRE – LEAD THE CHILDREN
8 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
While we are rejoicing in the LORD over what HE has done through The POFW Childrens Ministry. With our focus on Follow The FIRE of GOD. It excited my heart today to consider the potential and future of the children attending The POFW.
To know that Philip had 4 daughters that did prophesy reveals to us that our children will Follow us to The FIRE and that GOD will in fact use them for HIS Kingdom.
REVIVE
Throughout history, men and women of God have been falsely accused. This is very true with the Apostle Paul. Every where he went folks were falsely accusing him. The thing about it is, this life is only temporary. The life to come is far above and beyond anything this world has to offer.
Acts 21:10-11 (KJV), “10) And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 11) And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”
Acts 21:33-36 (KJV), “33)Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and demanded who he was, and what he had done. 34) And some cried one thing, and some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. 35) And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people. 36) For them multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.”
Acts 21:40 (KJV), “And when he had given him license, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying…”
The prophecy that Agabus spoke about Paul has come to pass. Paul was bound with two chains and delivered into the hands of the Gentiles. BUT… being Free or Bound (and in this case Bound), Paul takes every opportunity to Testify and be a Witness (as we will find out in the next chapter).
So today, whether you feel Free in the Spirit or Bound by situations or circumstances, take every opportunity to Testify and be a Witness!1
19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡
How wonderful it is that the Gentiles are included among those who have an inheritance in the kingdom of God. This cause a great disturbance among the Jews and their leaders, to think that those considered unclean were to share in this entitlement. Paul was even arrested for declaring such a thing as this combination of the Jews and Gentiles together, worshiping together, having eternity together. They found it hard to accept. Are we now going to exclude anyone, because of their race, their title, whether they are rich or poor? We, as Gentiles have been given this wonderful gift and we should extend it to all, for God sees us all the same and welcomes us all in as His children.
Acts of the Apostles 21:19 NLT
After greeting them, Paul gave a detailed account of the things God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry.
From your ministries and testimonies God will work and open doors. They can help so many people. Thank you Jesus
Not my will but your will Jesus
Acts 21
4 And finding disciples, we harried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
Whether Paul was right to go to Jerusalem at this time, this verse could be demonstrated that Paul was wrong in going. Yet, it’s possibly the right thing he did. The word Spirit here is capitalized which Paul may be saying “I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem”. Paul was very sensitive to the leading of the Spirit. Also, Paul’s reasons for going were proper (20:24). Paul felt he never made a mistake (Acts 23:1, 24:16) and he considered his life as well as his words ordained of God, which he states while in Roman bondage resulting from this trip to Jerusalem. Paul loved our Lord and he demonstrated how much he loved and followed him.
Thank you Jesus for this day.
Rosalind Ayers-Clark
Acts 21:14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
When I read this verse the word conviction came to mind. The apostle Paul had an undeniable conviction to fulfill God’s purpose even in the face of adversity. His life was a reflection of someone completely sold out and consumed by serving the Lord. He did not care about his own life, but rather that his Spiritual vision had no limits. He traveled and preached the gospel in all places even knowing beforehand that he would suffer. So that makes me wonder, what is my conviction? What am I doing for the cause of Jesus? Now we are no longer persecuted or mistreated, but it is still difficult for us to do God’s work. My wish is that every day God shakes us if we sleep and do what he tells us to do.
11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
This is a very interesting chapter. Now certainly also very prophetic. This certain prophet named Agabus definitely gave a word from the Holy Ghost. Now, did Paul disobey the warning of the Spirit? Was he told what he would suffer and what could come to pass to him if he would go? or was God confirming his first prophecy that he spoke to Ananias when she said that he, Paul, is a chosen vessel and will show him what things he must suffer for his name’s sake (the name of the Lord Jesus)…? Surely, Paul could have avided going to Jerusalem and not suffer. Surely the prophet Agabus was shaking truth in the Holy Spirit. Yet there was already that Word from God, the living word, that was still on his life. That is what I belive kept Paul going. That was the flame, that fire, that burned stronger than the love for his life. He had a word, a calling over his life, and he knew it, and was one with that calling.
25
25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
Thank you Jesus for the Holy Ghost!!!!!!!!!
As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
33 Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.
34 And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.
35 And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.
36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.
Hallelujah
Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
Paul was a true testament to what a sold out, on fire, die hard believer looked like.
Vs 16) see 1 Cor 6:11; Luke 24:47 Vs 24-28) see Rom 5:19