Acts 21:8-14

CAESAREA. Acts 21:8-14.

Acts 21:8

And on the morrow we departed, and came unto Caesarea: and entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we abode with him.

Acts 21:9

Now this man had four virgin daughters, who prophesied.

Acts 21:10

And as we tarried there some days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.

Acts 21:11

And coming to us, and taking Paul's girdle, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, Thus saith the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

Acts 21:12

And when we heard these things, both we and they of that place besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.

Acts 21:13

Then Paul answered, What do ye, weeping and breaking my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 21:14

And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

Acts 21:8-9 It was some thirty or forty miles from Ptolemais to Caesarea. One day's journey would see them within the city gates.

Here we meet an old friend, Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven. How long it has been and what a multitude of experiences have taken place since we were with him on that road that goeth down from Jerusalem to Gaza. But we did read that Philip was found at Azotus and passing through he preached the gospel to all the cities till he came to Caesarea. (Acts 8:40)

And here he is in this same city, still the evangelist of Christ. It must have been eight or ten or even more years since he made his home here. The reason for his stay could possibly be found in the family of four virgin daughters who prophesied. These young ladies must have been but small girls when he first came to this wicked town.
Philip must have had quite a house to accommodate this whole evangelistic party. However much Paul and his company were anxious to go to Jerusalem, they could not leave Philip without visiting and even helping out in the work of the Lord in this place.

822.

What old friend do we meet in Caesarea? How long had he been there?

823.

How did Philip's daughters become prophetesses?

Acts 21:10-14 Speaking of old friends in the narrative of the book of Acts, who is this one who comes as a prophet from Jerusalem? Can this be the same man that came once before from the Holy City? Remember the visit of one Agabus to Antioch of Syria? He there reported that a famine was coming over the whole world. The circumstances seem to be somewhat similar for the disciples in Judea are again in want. Whether this is right or wrong we do know that Agabus has a dramatic method of delivering his divine message.

Picking up a girdle that is lying nearby he binds it around his feet, then taking it off he attempts to tie up his own hands. Upon so doing he makes his divine prediction in these words:
Thus saith the Holy Spirit: So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him unto the hands of the Gentiles.
His actions remind us of the prophets of the Old Testament days.
Upon this announcement a great concern took hold of the hearts of Luke and Aristarchus as well as the other brethren. They had all learned to love Paul very dearly and to hear of his being bound pained them greatly. The only recourse was to stop Paul from going to Jerusalem. This was a divine warning to deter him from this purpose, so thought the brethren in Philip's house. They besought him with the strongest words and emphasized them with the tears that streamed down their faces.
These words were not without effect on the apostle, but he did not so interpret them. Paul felt and knew that God wanted him in Jerusalem and to Jerusalem he would go. This word of Agabus and the other warnings were but to better prepare him for the experience.
And so it was that the apostle expressed in emphatic words his determination. The love and sympathy of his friends touched him, but he had a higher call that he must answer.
What do ye, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
To these words there was only one right response: The will of the Lord be done.

824.

Tell where and when you heard of Agabus before.

825.

Who foretold that Paul was going to be bound in Jerusalem?

826.

What was the interpretation placed upon the words of Agabus by Luke and Aristarchus?

827.

How did the brethren attempt to hinder Paul from going to Jerusalem? Did it affect Paul? In what way?