"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: And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth. 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.
And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem. 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. And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.
And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. 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. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 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. And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
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. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem. 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. And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. " Acts 21:1-17
Luke, as is his wont, gives us a blow by blow breakdown of the last legs of Pauls 3rd missionary journey. Coos, Rhodes, Patara, Tyre, Ptolemais, Caesarea by ship, and then Jerusalem.
At Tyre, and Caesarea, Paul is told again (confirming Pauls words to the elders at Ephesus in the last episode) by the Spirit, that imprisonment in the hands of the Romans, is what awaits him in Jersualem, Pauls adamant refusal to heed these prophecies may seem strange at first reading... why would he ignore the warnings of the Holy Spirit?
Answer : This is what is PREDESTINED to happen...and there are exact parallels with the Crucifixion - Christ KNEW that he would be crucified in Jerusalem, yet He was obedient to what God would have Him do! Similarly Paul, rightly understood the warnings not as a reason to avoid Jerusalem, but as prophecies signifying what was to befall him there. He was going to be obedient to what he KNEW was being asked of him! With the benefit of hindsight, we can see the plan of God to use the letters written by Paul during his imprisonment to edify his people, and his will to touch the lives of others in that time as well!
The love the church at Tyre had for Paul is evident, in the send off given to him, all the family of Tyre journeying to the port to see him off, and conducting a prayer meeting at the shores of the port outside the city. When the ship lands at Caesarea, they find refuge in the house of Philip... it is noted that he is "one of the seven"... Phillip was one of the original seven deacons appointed to oversee the distribution of food to the early church in Jerusalem.
"And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. " Acts 6:5-6
Phillip had a significant ministry of his own in Judea and Samaria, and here we see him happily settled, with his wife and four daughters in Caesarea. The blessing of God was on his family, and his household, for not only did his daughters prophesy, Agabus, visits them from Judea... and he was undoubtedly a disciple of Phillip as well, blessed with the same gift of prophecy. What a wonderful thumbnail of a godly household, and how different from the forced celibacy enforced by the Catholic church!!
The arrival of Paul at Jerusalem puts a final stop to his itinerant mission, and we will look at his experiences moving forward, in our next episode!
