Acts 21:1-16 "Paul's Third Missionary Journey Concludes"
Acts of the Apostles • Sermon • Submitted
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Good Morning Calvary Chapel Lake City! Please turn in your Bibles to Acts 21. Acts 21:1-16 today.
We left off where Paul was in Miletus… a town a little less than 30 miles South of Ephesus.
Paul was set on going to Jerusalem, but before he departed Asia… modern day Turkey… he called for the Ephesian Elders.
Paul encouraged them to remain faithful and to be on guard for wolves and false teachers would arise.
The church would face attacks from without and from within.
So, they were to steward the church… which Paul reminded them was God’s church for He purchased it with His own blood.
Don’t ever forget that! This is not my church or our church… it’s God’s church.
He purchased you and I- the church… we are blood bought.
Paul also reminded them of the good model he set… the good example he lived…
Paul was not out for selfish gain, but worked as a tent-maker… serving with humility.
Despite tears, trials, and plots against him, he still served.
He taught them faithfully… declaring the whole counsel of God. The word of God that he entrusted them to as he departed.
A departure he didn’t expect to be easy… because leaving them was hard, and looking forward was hard.
Paul shared how the Holy Spirit warned him that chains and tribulations awaited him in Jerusalem, yet this did not move him.
Paul’s only concern was to finish his race with joy… to be faithful to the ministry and calling set before him by God.
And, so with some final prayers, tender embraces and weeping… knowing this may be their last time together… the Ephesian Elders accompanied Paul to his ship to see him off.
Today, we look at Paul’s final leg of his third missions journey, and the warnings along the way.
The title of our message today is “Paul’s Third Missionary Journey Concludes.”
Let’s Pray!
Acts 21:1-4 “Now it came to pass, that when we had departed from them and set sail, running a straight course we came to Cos, the following day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2 And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo. 4 And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.”
Let’s pause there and pull up a map of Paul’s missionary journey.
Follow along starting at #1. Paul was in Miletus where he exhorted the Ephesian Elders… and departed from them.
Some bible translations state, “After we tore ourselves away from them…” because of the Greek word used for “set sail” in the NKJV… the Greek suggests emotional turmoil in this departure.
Because of their love, they had great difficulty departing from one another.
I felt this was the first time I moved away from my family.
I’m sure Ed & Debbie felt the same sending their son Seth to Israel for the next three months.
We laid hands on prayed over Seth last Sunday… good news… he arrived safely where he will be serving at a Bible College. Please continue to lift him up in prayer.
When you have a deep love for someone, and that day of departure comes… it’s normal to feel like you have to tear you yourself away from them… to have an emotional farewell… and that was the level of connection Paul and the Ephesian Elders had for one another.
And, not only Paul… but V1 says “we.” There are a number of “we” and “us” words ahead… referring to Luke… the author of Acts.
And, at the beginning of Acts 20, seven other men were listed… so this is probably a party of nine men minimum… who are transporting a collection to support struggling saints in Jerusalem according to Rom 15:26.
From Miletus, they arrive in Cos (#2 on our map).
This island is mentioned in the historic writing 1 Maccabees 15:23 where Lucius, a consul of the Romans, wrote to several cities… including Cos… prohibiting persecution of the Jews.
Sailing on, they come to Rhodes (#3 on our map)…
Where formerly the Colossus of Rhodes… one of the seven wonders of the ancient world stood… until it collapsed during the earthquake of 226 B.C.
This was an approximate 100 foot bronze statue of the Greek false sun god Helios.
A statue like those depicted in the Lord of the Rings.
From Rhodes, they sailed to Patara (#4 on our map) a significant port city… where Paul’s team changed ships.
Up to this point, a smaller boat would have been sufficient… one designed for coastal waters… but, now they must find a larger ship for their Mediterranean voyage.
Thus, V2 begins “And finding a ship...” meaning they had to secure a place on a ship.
Now, this was not like a Royal Caribbean cruise…
They would have traveled on a merchant ship… one transporting goods for trade.
You get the sense of this in V3 where it mentions the ship was ‘unloading it’s cargo.’
They likely slept and voyaged on the deck… where they would need to fasten a tent (which would have been easy for Paul as a tentmaker)… or bear the elements.
From Patara… they find a ship sailing to the Region of Phoenicia… and V3 ‘sighted and passed the Island of Cyprus’ (#5 on our map).
Cyprus is the Island where Barnabas was from… and the first destination of Paul’s First Missionary Journey.
They don’t stop at Cyprus… as they are on a non-stop voyage to the City of Tyre, in the Region of Phoenicia (#6 on our map)… which they reach in V3 … where they find disciples and stay for seven days… according to V4.
Now… we don’t know who these disciples are. We do know there have been disciples in Phoenicia for over a decade though… Acts 21 is somewhere around 56 A.D., and around 43 A.D. is the first mention of the disciples going to Phoenicia in Acts 11:19… which states, “Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only.”
The Book of Acts tells us much about the early church… BUT, there were way too many details of how the Spirit moved, and the works of ALL the disciples… to include in this one Book of Acts.
Similar to how John 20:30 records, “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book”
Or John 21:25 “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.”
What we have in the Gospels and Acts… are exactly what the Holy Spirit inspired writers to give to us… the exact amount of detail needed… and for what?
Well according to John 20:31 “…but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”
In this lifetime, we don’t need all the details about every trip… we’ll find out all the details in the ages to come… when we get to heaven. It will be glorious.
But for now… the word we have in the Bible is purposed for you to BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ… the Anointed One… the Messiah.
During this seven day stop in Tyre, we read at the end of V4, “They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.”
Always UP to Jerusalem. Even though Paul travelled from North to South… they don’t say, ‘don’t go down to Jerusalem.’
Because, in Jewish reckoning, you always go up to Jerusalem… because you climb in elevation, and it is a spiritual ascent up to Jerusalem…
What they commonly call, “making Aaliyah.”
Now their advice “through the Spirit not to go up” has caused confusion and debate amongst Bible scholars, because who is hearing the Spirit correctly?
In Acts 19:21, Paul was “purposed in the Spirit... to go to Jerusalem…”
In Acts 20:22-23 Paul was, “...bound in the spirit to Jerusalem…” and the Holy Spirit even testified “...chains and tribulations” awaited Paul.
So, the debate is did Paul go to Jerusalem inside or outside the will of God?
Was Paul in his love for the Jews… being headstrong in going to Jerusalem?
I don’t want to get bogged down on this debate, so I’m just going to tell you how I see it… and if you want to grab coffee sometime and talk about it further… call or text me and we will set up a time.
But, here’s how I see it… I think Paul is absolutely acting in the will of God by going to Jerusalem… and these disciples from Tyre are hearing a warning from the Holy Spirit about Paul’s “chains and tribulations” to come… and in their humanity and love for Paul… they speak out of turn.
Kind of like what we read in Matt 16:21-23 “From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” 23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Peter loved Jesus… no doubt… but, his protest against the Lord’s suffering and death was a comment in the flesh and against the will of God.
Peter taking Jesus aside and rebuking Him were the words of a forked tongue. They were Satanic… they were in the flesh.
Sometimes in our love and concern for others, we need to be careful about the words we say. We may console a person telling them… with all good intent… “It’s ok… things will work out in the end.” But, how do we really know?
Sometimes holding back our wise counsel is the best thing we can ever do. Sometimes our words, and desire to help our friends… may actually be getting in the way of God’s will.
Consider Jobs friends. They were perfect friends as they sat with him in silence. Things went awry the moment they spoke.
Peter would have been better off to pray for Jesus… that He had the strength to walk through what was ahead. And, sometimes that exactly what our friends need from us as well.
What do we know about these disciples in Tyre?
Nothing except they received some word of knowledge (most likely) from the Spirit, and they told Paul not to go to Jerusalem.
What do we know about Paul?
Over and again… while not infallible… Paul was tried and proven faithful. We have volumes of Books testifying of Paul being led by the Spirit.
Is there anyone who can testify to “break the tie” if you will?
Yes there is. Agabus. Agabus we know to be a true Prophet of God for in Acts 11:28 he testified there would be a great famine and it was so. He was tried and found to be true.
And, in just a few verses… Acts 21:11, Agabus will take Paul’s belt and say, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”
Agabus warned Paul of a coming trial, BUT NEVER said “Don’t go to Jerusalem.”
For that matter, we could call the Holy Spirit to the witness stand as well… as already mentioned in Acts 20:23 Paul wrote, “… the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.” But, the Holy Spirit never said, “Don’t go.”
And, later in Acts 23:11 even Jesus Himself appears to Paul seemingly in approval of Paul’s trip to Jerusalem. We read, “But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, [And my Bible has these words in red] “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”
Feel free to side with these disciples from Tyre… I’m siding with what I see conclusively from Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Paul, and Agabus. Four against One in my reckoning… and two of them are God.
And, let’s not miss the application… Church, we need to be really careful NOT to get ahead of the Holy Spirit. Not to speak unless we are sure what we are saying is in alignment with the will of God.
With all the best intentions and love for Jesus, Peter spoke the very words of Satan himself… and offended the Lord Jesus. Peter was not mindful of the things of God.
And, I don’t think these disciples in Tyre were either. Let’s not make the same mistake.
Before moving on to V5, one last observation… scholars see a parallel between Paul going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus going up to Jerusalem to face the cross.
When I read the Gospels, and I come to the section about Jesus ascending to Jerusalem for that final Passover… knowing His passion and cross loom ahead… and all the predictions Jesus made of His suffering, and death… even knowing He will rise again… still there’s a heavy feeling.
And, knowing Paul has been warned repeatedly that “chains and tribulations” await him… even knowing he will make it through this time, but will be imprisoned and shipped to Rome… still there’s a heavy feeling.
Expositors would add to this parallel that there is a similar plot by the Jews; a handing over to the Gentiles; a triple prediction on the way to Jerusalem of coming suffering; and a steadfast resolution by both Jesus and Paul to die and to remain faithful to the will of God.
A very interesting parallel indeed.
Coming to V5… this week in Tyre is coming to a close…
Acts 21:5-6 “When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed. 6 When we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned home.”
Despite whatever happened in the previous verses… with either the disciples of Tyre speaking out-of-turn… or Paul going to Jerusalem in disobedience… whichever the case.... what is for sure is Paul does NOT heed their counsel.
The disciples said, “not to go up to Jerusalem” and yet Paul does not heed their advice.
Paul thinks he is being led by the Spirit… they think they are being led by the Spirit… we will find out in heaven… but for now what we conclusively observe is they do not divide over their difference opinion.
There are times you’re may not agree with another believer. You may not agree with the direction and approach I have as a leader.
I move slow… waiting on the Lord… waiting for Him to clearly open doors… waiting for Him to confirm His direction… waiting for Him to give peace in the hearts of myself and the Elders.
The Holy Spirit has led us this far, and I’m not going to take my eyes off Him.
Now, despite their difference of interpreting the will of God… what we see in VSS 5-6 is a sense of unity and love despite disagreement.
The disciples of Tyre turned out en masse… with their wives and children accompanying Paul and his party out of the city to the port where they will board their next ship.
This send off was a demonstration of the love and respect they had for Paul.
Now… even people of the world will send off someone they deeply respect and admire in like fashion to V5…
What the world doesn’t do is what we read at the end of V5, “we knelt down on the shore and prayed.”
Again, despite a difference of opinion, they still are unified in the spirit through prayer.
There are many words used for prayer in Greek. This word in V5 is one for Corporate Prayer.
Gathering together with other believers to pray.
This is uniquely Christian, and this paints us yet another beautiful departure picture… as in V6 Paul’s party boards the ship… the the disciples of Tyre return home.
Continuing on… let’s pull up our map again…
Acts 21:7-9 “And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day. 8 On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.”
In V7, Paul and his party have now sailed from Tyre, south to Ptolemais (modern day Acre)… #7 on our map.
This city was named after Ptolemy II… the son of Ptolemy I of Egypt… one of Alexander the Great’s four generals.
After greeting the believers in this city, the voyage continues…
Now in V8, they arrive in Caesarea Maritima… one of my favorite cities to visit in Israel, as there are many archeological cites from magnificent structures Herod the Great built.
It’s amphitheater, aqueducts, it is the home of the Pilate stone (as this was Pontius Pilate’s headquarters)… the hippodrome…
We first encountered this city back in Acts 8, as Philip settled down here after his ministry work in Samaria and to the Ethiopian Eunuch.
In Acts 10, we encountered the Roman Centurion Cornelius in Caesarea. There was a turning point, where God gave Peter a vision to not consider Gentiles an unclean people.
God would move on the household of Cornelius… they would be saved… the Holy Spirit fell on them… they spoke in tongues… magnified God… and were baptized.
Here… in Acts 21, there is no mention of Cornelius, so it’s thought that as a Roman Centurion… his post has been reassigned. And, prayerfully he took the Gospel wherever he went. Look out for him in heaven to hear the rest of his story.
Who we do re-encounter here is Caesarea in V8 is Philip the evangelist. This word evangelist appears only 3x in the Bible… 1x in Acts. The word means, “one who announces glad tidings.”
Certainly Philip earned this title from the evangelistic work he did in Samaria, and with the Ethiopian, but this title also differentiates Philip the evangelist from Philip the Apostle.
Philip is also called “one of the seven” which looks back to Acts 6 where the Apostles committed themselves to the teaching of the word and prayer, and appointed deacons for practical matters.
The seven men appointed were men of “good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.”
I’m under the belief that all believers in the church should take hold of some deacon service AND have a good reputation, and be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.
And, notice… as Philip proved himself faithful as a deacon in Acts 6… later the Lord used him as an Evangelist in Acts 8… and title that has maintained itself here in Acts 21.
Now, V8 is an interesting scene… Philip has been living in Caesarea now for some 20-21 years since Acts 8. Before Caesarea, Philip lived in Jerusalem… until Acts 7… his fellow deacon and friend, Stephen, was stoned to death in Acts 7 by the Jewish Sanhedrin… and who was there holding their cloaks as they stoned Stephen?
A young man named Saul (Acts 7:58)… the same young man who according to Acts 8:3, “made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.”
And, it was because of this persecution that the church in Israel was scattered everywhere preaching the word… fulfilling part of Acts 1:8 to be witnesses not beyond Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria… which is where Philip went preaching.
Now… fast forward 20 years… and who is knocking at Philip’s doors? The formerly young man named Saul, who encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus… and was transformed into Paul the Apostle.
No doubt Philip had heard of this transformation in Paul’s life, but still… would you have it in you to invite the man who consented to your friend Stephen’s death, and made havoc in the lives of many of you other friends…
The man who essentially threw a grenade into the church causing it to blow up in Jerusalem and scatter everywhere?
Would you have it in you to have the murderer of your friends into your home? With you four daughters?
Can you imagine what Philip felt that day upon seeing Paul… and yet… Philip had it in him to invite Paul into his home displaying a level of forgiveness that is reminiscent of Jesus on the cross, when He said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
And, like Jesus, Philip without being asked… seems to forgive Paul for his past transgressions… allows him into his home, and allows him to to stay the night… “many days” in fact, according to V10.
To be like Philip in this act of forgiveness is something beyond the natural… it’s supernatural.
As a comparison… It seems Paul did NOT master forgiveness like Philip did… as least not to unbelievers who resisted the words of truth.
For in 2 Tim 4:14 Paul wrote, “Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works.”
That is potentially the same Alexander from Acts 19… the Jew brought forth during the Ephesian riot… if so, that was also a 20 years time lapse… and Paul is committing Alexander to the Lord for justice.
Forgiveness is no small thing… and Philip extends Paul a tremendous act of grace.
V9 mentions Philip had four virgin daughters…
And, this tells us that Philip had many expenses in his future.
And, he didn’t need a prophet to tell him that… four unmarried daughters… the wedding cost alone! Plus, women love to spend money.
Now, my wife has corrected me on this idea… she says while she purchases a greater quantity of smaller items… I have a tendency to buy one expensive item that costs even more… I’ve not fact checked her theory against the bank account though, so this is up for debate.
What V9 actually tells us is Philips daughters were all prophetesses… they had the gift of prophecy which Paul in Acts 14:1 said, “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” Because this is a gift that edifies and encourages and comforts others.
And, this was a gift available… like all spiritual gifts to both men and women.
What is interesting though, is that while God could have used any of these four daughters to prophecy over Paul, he brought in an out-of-town prophet to share a message with Paul.
And why… we don’t know… maybe they were busy engaging Luke… the author of Acts… telling him about the details of Philips work in Samaria and with the Ethiopian Eunuch.
Well… let’s take a look at VSS 10-14 and the prophecy that comes by the mouth of Agabus…
Acts 21:10-14 “And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down [in elevation] from Judea. 11 When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”
Interesting prophecy… and a true prophecy. Again, Agabus was found to be a true prophet for predicting the Spirit that there would be a famine in the land (Acts 11:27-28).
And, now… he comes from Judea to Caesarea… From Jerusalem, that is a 68 miles walk… about 23 hours.
And, in the same spirit as Old Testament prophets… Agabus uses some theatrics to act out his prophecy.
In V11, we see Agabus take Paul’s belt and bind his own hands and feet… must have been a long belt… perhaps a sash…
And he prophesies boldly, “Thus says the Holy Spirit...” … like prophets said of old… “Thus says the Lord...”
And, the prophecy is the owner of the belt would be bound by the Jews in Jerusalem and delivered into the hands of the Gentiles… meaning the Romans… just like what happened to Christ.
Now, if I were Paul… I would have said, “Funny… I just borrowed that belt the other day from Luke.”
I’d want no part in this prophecy. You can keep the belt and your prophecy with it.
In V12, when Luke, Paul’s party, and those from Caesarea hear this prophecy… they all plead with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
No doubt they loved Paul, and didn’t want to see harm befall him, but as we discussed earlier… were these words helpful?
I don’t read any prohibition from the Spirit in going to Jerusalem… only a warning. And, once again it would seem Paul’s friends misinterpret a warning as a prohibition.
But, Paul is not moved… again in V13, Paul responds, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Not only are the other disciples pleading with Paul verbally, but they are pleading with tears in their eyes. This word weeping is not a silent cry (which is a different Greek word). The word for weeping here means “to sob, to wail aloud.”
The disciples are really tore up. They are heart broken at the thought that their brother Paul would be imprisoned and delivered over to the Romans. It’s an all too familiar story.
But, like the disciples in Tyre… I believe they are speaking out-of-turn and not in the will of God.
And, I gotta tell you… it’s really difficult when you are being led by the Lord, and you’re fairly confident you heard Him right… but other believers are speaking contrary.
I remember when we were called to the Philippines, and my Pastor recommended a sending organization. Things were good at first, but later they wanted us to wait longer and we felt like the Lord was leading us to go.
Had we waited, most likely we never would have gone. So, I went to my Pastor for counsel… and he released us. He said, “If you feel like you are supposed to go, and they are telling you to stay. Well, you knock on every other door and if another door opens… you go.”
And, the next door I knocked on was an open door and we went… and without the constraint of a sending organization. They can be an advantage in some ways, but they can also hinder your finances and your freedom to be led by the Holy Spirit.
Now… this advice from my Pastor was also backed by scripture. He cited to me Gal 1:15-17 looking at when Paul was first called into ministry. Paul wrote, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.”
When Paul was first called, he didn’t look to man to lead him on where he was supposed to go. He didn’t go up seeking counsel from the Apostles in Jerusalem. He looked to the Lord… and went out to the desert of Arabia for a couple years. He got his marching orders directly from God.
And, these verses freed me to fix my eyes on God, and Him alone.
Still to this day… while I am surrounded by Elders and Regional and Territory Pastors for Calvary Chapel… because in a “multitude of counselors there is safety” (Pro 11:14)… ‘and plans are established’ (Pro 15:22)… this is God’s church… it’s His bride… so what does He want to do next?
I like how James talks about the plans of man and rebukes man’s plans because we don’t know what the future holds. James 4:15 says, “Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
Don’t get me wrong, there’s wisdom in planning… and in being a good steward, but we must always yield to the Lord’s will… and not be led by man.
And, while these friends of Paul were breaking his heart… still he was led by the Lord… and with tremendous resolve even at personal peril.
Paul said, “For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
And, how do you stop a guy like that? You don’t.
Paul did not consider personal safety to be the top criteria for serving the Lord. Sadly, too many people today make personal safety their main consideration IF they will serve the Lord.
If our nation shifts and Christians face threats to their personal safety, finances, or freedoms… watch how many Christians fall away. It will be a great apostasy.
Many people will serve the Lord so long as life is good and the status quo remains the status quo, but if there is persecution… they want to re-negotiate with God.
That certainly wasn’t Paul’s mindset and it shouldn’t be our either.
Since Paul was fully yielded to the Lord’s will, even if he was imprisoned or died… this allowed God to use Paul to the fullest extent.
There’s great power in a life fully yielded to God… and look at the great yield of fruit from Paul’s life and ministry.
All the other disciples, in V14… they recognize Paul will not be moved… he will not yield to them… so they cease imploring him not to go to Jerusalem, and say the wisest words… and the words they should have said all along, “The will of the Lord be done.”
Wrapping up our message today, and wrapping up Paul’s Third Missionary Journey…
Acts 21:15-16 “And after those days we packed and went up to Jerusalem. 16 Also some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us and brought with them a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to lodge.”
Paul’s party now ascend to Jerusalem, ending this missionary journey that began 3-4 years prior.
Accompanying Paul’s team are some of the disciples from Caesarea, and a disciple named Mnason… who was from the the Island of Cyprus.
He is described as “an early disciple,” so perhaps an early convert from Paul and Barnabas’ First Missionary Journey.
Mnason, who name means “a diligent seeker”, now lived in Jerusalem… and his home will be the host home for Paul’s party.
Mnason and Philip must have had large homes to house this team of at least 9+ men.
You have to love this open-handedness they had. I know some of you would be excited to host a team of 9 men… others… not so much.
No judgment… if it were me, I’d probably send them to your house.
Remember what Pastor Chuck did in Jesus Revolution?… he rented a house for the hippies to get them out of his own home.
It’s not easy sharing space.
Read ahead… next time… Paul is bound in Jerusalem… just as prophesied.
Let’s Pray and then partake in communion.
Communion Reading:
1 Cor 11:23-29 “...the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”
Please distribute the elements...
Communion is a time for us to look three directions…
We look back remembering Jesus’ sacrifice… His broken body and shed blood for the remission of our sins.
His new covenant. Salvation by faith and in grace.
Look forward in hope of His imminent return… we proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. He is coming.
And, looking inward to examine yourself…and take communion in a worthy manner.
Time to do business with God.
Once you have prayed… take the communion elements individually.
Our worship team will play one worship song, and then close us in prayer.
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If you have never accepted Jesus as Lord...
...either let the cup pass and do not partake in communion -or- the better option...
...accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior today.
Pray to God and tell Him you believe in Jesus and accept Him as your Lord and Savior, and ask for forgiveness.
...then take communion. And, be sure to let us know. Salvation is something to celebrate!
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