HUMAN ADVICE VS. DIVINE DIRECTION
ACTS 21:1-17
NASB
1 When we had parted from them and had set sail, we ran a straight course to Cos and the next day to Rhodes and from there to Patara; 2 and having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we came in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left, we kept sailing to Syria and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload its cargo. 4 After looking up the disciples, we stayed there seven days; and they kept telling Paul [a]through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem. 5 When [a]our days there were ended, we left and started on our journey, while they all, with wives and children, escorted us until we were out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying, we said farewell to one another. 6 Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home again.
7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting the brethren, we stayed with them for a day. 8 On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses. 10 As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” 12 When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!”
15 After these days we got ready and started on our way up to Jerusalem. 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea also came with us, taking us to Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple of long standing with whom we were to lodge.
17 After we arrived in Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
21:4 [a]I.e. because of impressions made by the Spirit 21:5 [a]Lit we had completed the days
NLT
1 After saying farewell to the Ephesian elders, we sailed straight to the island of Cos. The next day we reached Rhodes and then went to Patara. 2 There we boarded a ship sailing for Phoenicia. 3 We sighted the island of Cyprus, passed it on our left, and landed at the harbor of Tyre, in Syria, where the ship was to unload its cargo.
4 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. 5 When we returned to the ship at the end of the week, the entire congregation, including women[*] and children, left the city and came down to the shore with us. There we knelt, prayed, 6 and said our farewells. Then we went aboard, and they returned home.
7 The next stop after leaving Tyre was Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters[*] and stayed for one day. 8 The next day we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven men who had been chosen to distribute food. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy.
10 Several days later a man named Agabus, who also had the gift of prophecy, arrived from Judea. 11 He came over, took Paul’s belt, and bound his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, “The Holy Spirit declares, ‘So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles.’” 12 When we heard this, we and the local believers all begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
13 But 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.” 14 When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
15 After this we packed our things and left for Jerusalem. 16 Some believers from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to the home of Mnason, a man originally from Cyprus and one of the early believers. 17 When we arrived, the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem welcomed us warmly.
[21:4] Greek disciples; also in 21:16. [21:5] Or wives. [21:7] Greek brothers; also in 21:17.
The longer I live, the more I wish it were easier to determine the will of God. I usually have less difficulty following God’s instructions than determining exactly what He wants. To be candid, I’ve found that receiving counsel from others often creates more confusion than clarity. Paul, too, faced this tension in following the Spirit’s direction.
At times I long for God to speak as He did before the Bible was complete. Joshua stood before the walls of Jericho, knowing that he had to invade and that God had guaranteed success. He knew exactly what to do because the historical account specifically says, “The LORD said to Joshua . . .” (Josh. 6:2). Joshua followed the Lord’s instructions without hesitation, and of course, it worked!
Elijah stood before King Ahab, the wimpy, weak-willed ruler of Israel who had a habit of issuing rash, violent edicts. After the prophet delivered the Lord’s condemnation, he received clear instructions: “Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan” (1 Kgs. 17:3). How’s that for specific? No need to ponder his next move; Elijah went where he was told, did as he was instructed, and his ministry continued as God intended.
In the New Testament era, which continues today, God doesn’t typically communicate this way. Even during the apostolic period, when God spoke miraculously through apostles and prophets, He rarely issued specific instructions. On the Day of Pentecost, He began to administer His kingdom differently. Jesus hinted at this in the upper room on the eve of His crucifixion, saying, “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15). A little later, Jesus continued, “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you” (John 16:13-15).
In the Old Testament era, God administered His kingdom by speaking His instructions audibly and issuing His commandments in writing. Unfortunately, this only revealed the depths of our depravity; even when humanity knows the will of God for certain, we still struggle to obey it. The Lord used the old covenant to prove that hearing the word of God isn’t our primary problem; heeding the word of God is our constant challenge. With the inauguration of the new covenant (Jer. 31:31-34; Acts 1:8), our Master has taken a different approach. Instead of standing before us to issue orders, He now lives within us to transform our minds (Rom. 12:1-2) so that we begin to think His thoughts. As the Spirit gradually takes over, defeating our old, selfish, vain, foolish manner of life, we begin to cherish what God cherishes, make decisions according to His values, and view life from His eternal perspective.
As Paul continued his journey, steadily closing the distance between himself and Jerusalem, this new covenant dynamic became ever more evident. He began to experience a growing tension between the leading of the Spirit and the advice offered by godly people who cared deeply for him. His experience, therefore, is worth close scrutiny.
— 21:1-2 —
After his tearful departure from Miletus, Paul and his team “ran a straight course” to the island of Cos (21:1), meaning the wind was at their back and they made good time. The following day, their ship threaded the islands off the southwestern coast of present-day Turkey to reach Patara by the end of their third day at sea. This seaport in the Roman province of Lycia (on the southern coast of the Turkish mainland) was one of the largest and most prosperous in the region.[191] The winds favored ships departing for the eastern part of the Mediterranean. Here Paul and his men changed ships.
The region known as Phoenicia was a narrow strip of land along the coast northwest of Galilee, surrounded by the province of Syria. Paul had originally intended to visit Syria, specifically his adopted hometown of Antioch (20:3), but time was running short. He hoped to be in Jerusalem in time to celebrate Pentecost. He also carried a large sum of money donated by the Gentile churches he had visited in Macedonia and Achaia (Rom. 15:26). Having found a ship bound for Tyre, the men set sail.
— 21:3-6 —
Luke explains that their ship avoided the dangerous lane between Cyprus and Pamphylia, running a course south of the island straight for Tyre. The vessel had to unload its cargo before carrying Paul south to his disembarkation at Caesarea Maritima. Apparently, unloading the ship took a full seven days. Paul used this time to summon the nearby believers for a conference and undoubtedly strengthened the churches as he had in Miletus.
Throughout his time with them, however, the Christians kept telling him to avoid Jerusalem. The phrase “through the Spirit” (21:4) is troublesome, because it appears Paul received conflicting instructions from the Holy Spirit. Acts 20:22 and 21:14 both suggest Paul went to Jerusalem in obedience to God’s command. Luke’s grammar here doesn’t solve the problem; throughout his narrative, he uses this phrase[192] to indicate authentic communication from God (cf. 1:2; 4:25; 11:28).
Though some may dispute this interpretation, I don’t think Paul made a mistake going to Jerusalem; Acts 20:22 and 21:14 cannot be discounted. Paul had earlier demonstrated his willingness to avoid unnecessary suffering and to escape imminent danger, especially when he saw little to be gained. On a few occasions, he faced certain affliction head-on when he thought his suffering might accomplish greater good than self-preservation. In other words, Paul demonstrated uncommon bravery in the face of hardship, but he was no fool. This was an unusual situation. By the Spirit’s revelation, Paul knew that suffering awaited him in Jerusalem (20:23), but he couldn’t deny the prompting of the Spirit to go forth and face the danger.
So, how should we interpret the warning of the believers in Tyre? Like the many concerned voices before them (20:23), they accurately saw Paul’s future as revealed by the Spirit —persecution and suffering in Jerusalem —but then they gave him advice based on their own desires. They faithfully foretold Paul’s suffering, but they advised him “not to set foot in Jerusalem” (21:4), where Paul, by the Spirit, felt compelled to go. I don’t think I’ve ever made a major decision in my adult life that some individuals did not say was wrong. That makes tough decisions even tougher, but I’ve learned to expect some poor advice given in love; our closest family members and friends mean well and want the best for us. Still, we need people who will look out for God’s good, people who will say to us, “Let God be God.”
Paul listened to the believers’ warnings but continued his journey to Jerusalem undeterred. As in Miletus, the believers in Tyre accompanied Paul to his ship, prayed with him, and said goodbye, never expecting to see him again.
— 21:7-9 —
Ptolemais, also known as Acco, was a short, 25-mile trip down the Phoenician coast. Paul and his men didn’t have to stop, but they chose to spend a day with Christians in the area. The next day, they sailed another 30 miles south to the port of Caesarea Maritima, where Peter had first learned to accept Gentile believers as brothers. It’s fitting that the last leg of Paul’s missionary journeys should take him from Caesarea to Jerusalem.
Sometime after the Jerusalem Council, Philip the evangelist, one of the first seven deacons (6:5) and the first to carry the gospel into Samaria (8:5), moved to the Roman stronghold of Caesarea and made his home there. Luke states that he had “four virgin daughters who were prophetesses” (21:9). The fact that they had not yet married has nothing to do with their prophetic gifts; Luke merely indicates that they were present in Philip’s home while Paul and his companions stayed in Caesarea. It is likely that they gave Paul more of the same warnings he had received since leaving Corinth.
From My Journal
Tough Love
ACTS 21:4
I remember when the Lord called me to move from a pastorate in Texas to one in California. When the day came for us to depart Irving and drive to Fullerton, some people came by to say a final farewell. We exchanged tears and hugs and promises to stay in touch as Cynthia, the children, and I took our places in the car. Just before we pulled out of the driveway, one woman bent down, looked through Cynthia’s window at the four kids, then Cynthia, and then me. “You keep saying the Lord is in this,” she said. “But the Lord gets blamed for a lot of things He has nothing to do with.” She held my confused gaze for a moment, and then walked away. Tough words to hear.
As I pulled out of the driveway, I said, “That’s a rough final memory.” Cynthia didn’t say anything; she just cried as we drove down Finley Road. One of the children asked, “What does that mean?” I replied, “Oh, it doesn’t matter.” But the woman’s words rang in my ears all the way to Abilene. Not because I doubted our decision. I had asked the Lord to grant a few other requests on behalf of the church and He had fulfilled them in remarkable fashion. Any doubts I had were washed away by these tangible assurances that the Lord would take care of Irving Bible Church. The woman’s words stung because I didn’t want to leave with anyone thinking anything but the best. But that’s unrealistic. I’ve learned that when people lose a pastor, they often say things they later regret. I refused to let those words cloud the four great years of ministry in Irving.[193]
— 21:10-12 —
Sometime during their stay, the prophet Agabus visited from Judea (21:10). He had earlier predicted the famine that took place around AD 46 during the reign of Emperor Claudius (11:28), and he had ample opportunity to observe the political climate in Jerusalem; no one could offer clearer information concerning Paul’s safety than this man. In a dramatic gesture reminiscent of the great Old Testament prophets (e.g., 1 Kgs. 11:29-31), he bound his own hands and feet with Paul’s belt, which was not a leather strap with a buckle like modern belts, but a long cloth sash that would have been wrapped several times around the midsection and tied in a knot to hold the outer garment in place.
During his demonstration, the prophet made it clear that he spoke on behalf of God. “This is what the Holy Spirit says . . .” (Acts 21:11) leaves little room for misunderstanding. He stated unequivocally that Paul would be arrested and handed over to the Gentiles. His choice of words closely resembles the Lord’s prediction of His own arrest (Luke 18:31-32).
A natural response to all the warnings might have been for Paul to board a ship and sail for Spain immediately. From a purely human standpoint, that would be the implied message from God: “Danger awaits you in Jerusalem; don’t go there!” But Paul couldn’t ignore the divine compulsion within, even when Luke himself and others in Paul’s company joined in urging him to avoid Jerusalem (Acts 21:12). Paul knew he had been called to Jerusalem to accomplish a yet-unknown divine purpose. The warnings merely gave him the opportunity to count the cost of obedience before his ordeal began and to prepare himself mentally for what he would face. If he had gone to Jerusalem and his arrest took him by surprise, he might have responded differently to the injustice and failed to see opportunities for ministry.
Luke had at least three reasons to document the many warnings about Paul’s visit to Jerusalem: (1) to establish Paul’s ordeal as a grave injustice, (2) to characterize Paul’s ministry as following in the Lord’s footsteps, and (3) to show that God was in control of His plan. Luke had earlier asserted Paul’s innocence of any wrongdoing (20:26) and would later refute the allegations against him (21:29). The false accusations were simply the culmination of a long-running plot by unbelieving Jews to silence their former colleague.
— 21:13-14 —
The response of Paul’s friends caused him to feel hurt and misunderstood. He undoubtedly felt isolated, even betrayed, by the very people who should have appreciated better than anyone why he had to go to Jerusalem. He had a destiny to fulfill that required his walking into certain danger. Just like Jesus, he walked his path without his companions understanding his purpose (cf. Luke 18:34). He wasn’t the last to do such a thing!
As on every occasion when Paul suffered, the Lord would use the situation to accomplish His plan. In fact, Luke’s narrative demonstrates that every circumstance, from the ascension of Christ to the imprisonment of Paul in Rome, had unfolded according to God’s design.
The final statement of the people in Acts 21:14 shows them submitting to the Lord’s agenda, just like their leader, Paul.
— 21:15-17 —
With everyone in sync with the Lord’s plan, Paul and his helpers began their march toward Jerusalem, joined by some of the believers living in Caesarea. The procession therefore must have been sizable, not unlike the Lord’s final ascent from Jericho to Jerusalem. Upon their arrival, they got settled in the home of Mnason, a Christian from Cyprus, and they met with the leaders of the Jerusalem church.
APPLICATION: ACTS 21:1-17
Offering and Receiving Wise Counsel
Although some New Testament instructions for believers are as straightforward as the Ten Commandments (e.g., Rom. 12:19; 1 Thes. 5:14), in many matters there are no specific instructions. Rather, we have the Spirit of God living within us, transforming us to think and behave like Christ. He has given us a great privilege that comes with immense responsibility. How do we know the difference between the prompting of the Spirit and our own slanted manner of thinking? Obviously we need to check everything against Scripture, but our own reading can become skewed by wishful thinking, personal blind spots, pet issues, or hidden fears. Therefore, we need wise advice from godly counselors.
Paul’s experience suggests three guidelines for seeking and giving advice.
Guideline 1: When you seek advice, be discerning. If you’re seeking the mind of God, choose your counselors wisely. You need the perspective of mature Christians who have demonstrated a pattern of good decision making. They should be people whom you admire, who show signs of having their priorities straight, and who always put the will of God before their own. These counselors should be experienced in the spiritual life, know their Bible well, and have a good reputation within their Christian communities as well as among nonbelievers.
Seek out several counselors in order to gain a well-rounded perspective, and find them early so you have as much time as possible to think, discuss, pray, and weigh options. Take time away from your normal routine to spend time in solitude, to pray, and to discuss the decision multiple times with your advisors.
Guideline 2: If you give advice, be restrained. God gave you two ears and one mouth. That suggests a good ratio when counseling someone making a significant decision! Listen twice as much as you talk. We never learn while talking, but we always do while listening. But don’t simply take in facts; force yourself into the shoes of the person so you can understand the issue from his or her perspective. Then, before you offer a response, ask for some time to think, if that’s possible. Use that time to think about the issue from God’s point of view, thinking of what He values. Draw some principles of your counsel from Scripture. That’ll never lead you astray. God never contradicts His Word. So, when you seek to counsel a friend, base everything on biblical insights. In Knowing God’s Will and Doing It!, J. Grant Howard writes, “When we give Word-oriented counsel, it will be instructive. When we give experiencecentered counsel, it may be nothing more than opinion.”[194]
Guideline 3: Whether you give or receive advice, remember that humans are fallible. That’s obvious, I know. Even so, when the desire for clear direction becomes intense, we seem to expect that if we find the right person or listen to enough advice, a message from God will come through. Unfortunately, we rarely get the kind of certainty we want most. It’s possible for wise people to give bad counsel with the best of motives. (I know; I’ve done it.) And it’s possible to make a decision based on a broad consensus of wise advisors, only to discover they were mistaken. (I’ve been on that end of the dilemma as well.) The fact is, people are fallible, so expecting 100 percent accuracy isn’t realistic. In the end, we simply have to make the best decisions we can with the information we have available, accepting the possibility that we might make a wrong move.
Rather than become paralyzed with indecision, use the time you have available to determine the best course of action, commit it to the Lord, and then move ahead. If you make a bad move in good faith, the Lord will honor your trust in Him, and as always, He’ll use the circumstance for your good. Regardless, remember that there’s no such thing as a decision without a downside, and sometimes, the tradeoff is significant no matter what you do.