Today, I am reading and commenting on  Acts 21-22.

In yesterday’s passage, when Paul addressed the elders of the Ephesian Church, he told that that he was compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, but  also that the Holy Spirit warned him in every city that hardship and prison waited for him in Jerusalem.  In today’s passage, Luke recounts how disciples in Tyre urged Paul through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem.  Then, how the prophet Agabus came down to Caesarea to warn Paul that he would be bound by the Jewish leaders and handed over to the Gentiles.  Paul refused to listen to any of the attempts to dissuade him from going to Jerusalem.  As I read this again and again, I become more and more convinced that Paul chose to go to Jerusalem in part because he sought the opportunity to suffer for Christ.  Each year I go through a debate within myself as to whether the repeated warnings which the Spirit gave Paul were intended to discourage him, or to make sure that he knew what he would face in Jerusalem.  The only evidence we have that the Spirit was guiding Paul to Jerusalem is his statement to the Ephesian Elders.  I am torn as to whether or not Luke agreed that Paul was interpreting the leading of the Holy Spirit correctly.  In either case, we should strive to emulate Paul’s willingness to face suffering and persecution in order to remain faithful to God.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.