Acts 19-21

It took me 17 minutes to read this passage.  Jesus put a burden on Paul to return to Jerusalem (20:16).  Paul had his heart set on Rome (19:21) but in obedience to the Lord’s leading kept that plan in place for after he visited Jerusalem.  On his “farewell tour” through Macedonia and Asia Paul offered his good bye to each group of believers.  And he would not be deterred from Jerusalem.  Even when God sent Agabus to Caesarea to explain to Paul what would happen in Jerusalem.  God gave Paul a choice, but Paul understood that God would gain the greatest glory because of Paul’s obedience, regardless of the cost.  Paul did not give up on life, but rather he gave up his life to Jesus.  He gave it up first in Damascus, and then every day after that.  It was not an easy choice.  Paul saw the hurt in the eyes and on the faces of those who begged him to travel away from Jerusalem.  Paul knew that his decision to obey Jesus would bring emotional pain to many of those who were close to him.  I can imagine Trophimus blaming himself for Paul’s abuse by the Jews(21:29).  Paul was hurt by their hurt, but it was more important to be obedient to Jesus.  That is part of the cost of dying to self.

Stuart