Articles
Paul Going To Jerusalem - Acts 18
Paul Going To Jerusalem - Acts 18
After Paul was confronted by Jesus on the way to Damascus, the Lord then sends Ananias to him, saying: "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (Acts 9:15-16). What a way to begin a new path in life, being told that it leads down a path of suffering. Paul chooses to follow this path anyway! Come what may! And it COMES.
As he goes on his first journey, he is met with persecution in Pisidian (Acts 13:50), Iconium (Acts 14:5), and then was stoned in Lystra (Acts 14:19). After being dragged out of town and left for dead, he rose up and then HE strengthens “the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22)
Here in Acts 18, having traveled on to Corinth, he writes to the Romans: “I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company” (Romans 15:30–32 (Written from Corinth – Acts 18)
As he travels on toward Jerusalem, he meets and talks with the elders from Ephesus and tells them: “And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me” (Acts 20:22-23). Having experienced so much trouble already, and knowing that more lay in front of him, he faithfully continues his path of discipleship.
Upon arriving in Tyre, “and having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem” (Acts 21:4). Yet, the next verse tells us that “When our days there were ended, we left and started on our journey.”
When he arrives in Caesarea, a prophet named Agabus meets with him. “And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” (Acts 21:11). Whereupon 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.”
The story continues as Paul is arrested, beaten, falsely accused, sent to stand in trial before Caesar, is shipwrecked, spends the winter the island of Malta, and finally arrives in Rome and is put under house arrest where he remains for two years.
If YOU were faced with such, would you remain steadfast in your faith? One of the things that impress me is just asking WHY would Paul do this? Why be willing to suffer in this manner? The answer is that Jesus WAS RAISED from the dead, He DID appear unto Paul, and Paul confidently trusted that through Jesus he would live forever in the presence of God. Seeing Paul’s manner of faith should encourage each of us to greater faith and steadfastness.
Are you willing to follow Jesus – no matter what befalls you as a disciple?
Hugh DeLong
