Acts 21:13
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.
~ Acts 21:13
Paul had set his face to go to Jerusalem. He had spent much time receiving an offering for the poor saints in Jerusalem and was determined to deliver it personally. He hoped to relieve some of the afflictions of the church and to show the generosity and gratitude of the Gentile churches, which, he hoped, would go a long way in easing the strained relations between the Jewish and Gentile Christians. This task could have been taken care of by one of his fellow laborers, a point obvious to most of those that had contact with Paul. In our text, the disciples at Caesarea, along with his traveling companions, have sought to dissuade Paul from going to Jerusalem himself, and Paul makes his response to their plea.
Paul says, “What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart?” The disciples were persistent and sought to persuade Paul to leave his present course. Paul questions why they would seek to weaken his resolve. Why would they want to hinder him from finishing the course that has been marked out for him? He could understand their sorrow; no doubt, he had some sorrow himself. However, he does not understand why they would try to overrule the leadership of the Spirit. Let us consider this verse and receive instruction.
The Holy Spirit gave a revelation concerning Paul’s trip to Jerusalem on at least three different occasions. Once in Miletus the revelation was given to Paul himself, “And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me” (Acts 20:22-23). The second revelation came to the disciples in Tyre, who spoke to Paul “through the Spirit” (Acts 21:4) concerning his visit to Jerusalem. The third revelation came to the prophet Agabus and he related it to all those that were at Caesarea, “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” (Acts 21:11).
We are not given the content of the revelation in the second instance. We are told that the disciples acted on the revelation of the Spirit. However, we have every reason to believe that it was consistent with the other two. These three instances were essentially the same revelation. We have the same message, but at least two different interpretations.
The disciples at Tyre reacted in much the same way the disciples at Caesarea did when they heard the message. Of the disciples at Tyre, it is said, “And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem” (Acts 21:4). Of the disciples in Caesarea, we are told, “And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem” (Acts 21:12). They heard the same message and interpreted it in the same way, although those at Caesarea were more fervent in their persuasion responding to the dramatic presentation of Agabus. These parties all agreed, after hearing the message that Paul should not go to Jerusalem.
Several different factors had an affect on the groups. Their intentions were good and sincere. They had a great love for Paul and wanted him to continue to be with them. The Ephesian elders at Miletus experienced the same emotions when Paul departed from them, “Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more” (Acts 20:38). They were concerned for Paul’s safety and well-being.
Still yet, the Holy Spirit never said that Paul should not go. Why were they so insistent that Paul was wrong? What the Spirit did reveal was that the way was extremely difficult and fraught with hardships. They believed that it was too hard and Paul would be risking his life. Like many Christians, upon understanding that the way was difficult and would involve personal sacrifice, they assumed that that meant he should not go.
Paul received the revelation from the Spirit and understood the same things concerning the hardships attending that course. However, he reacted very differently. Instead of being discouraged, he was resolute and convinced that this was the course marked for him by God. “And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there” (Acts 20:22). Acknowledging the great difficulty, Paul said, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24).
Paul knew that the task was hard and he said, “But none of these things move me.” Paul sought to explain, “For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Paul confessed the way would be difficult. He admitted that he did not know what all would happen. He acknowledged that it will probably not end well. Despite all these things, Paul was determined to go, believing it to be the will of God.
Long ago, Paul had resigned his own will, ambitions, and agenda in order to become the bond-slave of Jesus Christ. The Apostle that told others, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) was willing himself to be a living sacrifice.
In the end the disciples showed wisdom in conceding to Paul, “And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done” (Acts 21:14). They thought Paul was making a mistake. They feared that he would fail, so they tried to prevent him from venturing on the enterprise. However, when they saw Paul’s determination, they ceased trying to persuade him and left it to the will of God.
Their intentions were good and they did what they did out of love and concern for Paul. However, on closer inspection, we find an evil in what they did. Peter had once sought to persuade Jesus not to go, and the Lord rebuked him calling him Satan. In essence, these well-meaning disciples were actually seeking to hinder the will of God and persuade another Christian not to follow his calling and were really being selfish. Let us be as Paul willing to go and to do whatever God bids us do and let us never put a stumbling block in the way of one who is seeking to do the same.
1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am:
and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain;
but I laboured more abundantly than they all:
yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
~ 1 Corinthians 15:10
A party spirit had developed in the church at Corinth that grieved Paul. “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:12). The church was divided into different factions that touted their favorite preacher. They cried up the passion of Paul, the eloquence of Apollos, or the boldness of Peter. They pitted Paul against Apollos and Peter against Paul. Paul wrote to rebuke them for their carnality. “For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” (1 Corinthians 3:4). None of these preachers strove for preeminence over the other, so why should the church argue over the greatest?
In our text, Paul speaks about his own case. “But by the grace of God I am what I am.” Paul readily owned that Apollos was a great preacher. Luke said of Apollos, “And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John” (Acts 18:24-25). Apollos was a very able speaker. He had a great command of the scriptures. He was diligent and passionate in preaching. After Aquila and Priscilla helped to complete his knowledge, “he mightily convinced the Jews.” I believe that Paul rejoiced in Apollos and the fact that he used his great gifts in the service of the Lord.
However, Paul states, “But by the grace of God I am what I am.” Apollos was many things but Paul says, “I am not him.” Paul said, “My preaching was not with enticing words.” (1 Corinthians 2:4). He admits that his own speech was rough and plain. He was not the polished preacher that Apollos was, but his preaching was “in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4). It would be a mockery to try to imitate Apollos. Paul says, “I am what I am.”
No doubt, Paul would commend the ministry of Peter. Peter had companied with the Lord during His earthly ministry. He was drawn into an inner circle of fellowship with Jesus along with James and John. Peter could be fiery and wax bold in preaching. He possessed a great ability in the ministry. Paul would rejoice in these things and would not seek to copy Peter. Paul says, “I am what I am.”
Paul condemned the over-comparison that led to division. Each minister has his own work. “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6). Often one man enters into the labors of another “reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed” (Matthew 25:24). It is foolish to heap praise on the laborers and set them up as some great one. “So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:7). Paul’s goal was to exalt Christ not Paul. All true preachers want Christ to be exalted and lament if they themselves are lifted up. They say with the Baptist, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
As every one has his own work, every one has his own gifts to suit his work. “If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:11). Paul could not use the eloquence of Apollos or the boldness of Peter. He recognized “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (1 Corinthians 12:11). Every one has their own gifts of the Lord. Paul said, “But by the grace of God I am what I am.”
In the last place, we see that Paul did not seek credit for all his labors. Paul states the facts saying, “I laboured more abundantly than they all.” He is not bragging, just stating the truth. However, Paul does not glory in himself. He says, “Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” Paul rejoices in the grace of God.
But for the grace of God, where would you be today? You and I might be the worst lot of sinners the world has ever known, but for the grace of God. Instead of seeking to do His will and glorify Christ with our lives, we could be serving the flesh and wasting our substance with riotous living. Praise God! Who saved me and washed me from my sins in Jesus’ blood! What do you know of the grace of God at this hour? Flee from the wrath to come and seek to lay hold of Christ through faith!
