Devotional Acts 21: Paul's Arrest and Surrender to God Discover in Acts 21 Paul's courage in the face of persecution, the importance of prayer during trials, and how to accept God's will without resistance. Topics: Devotional, New Testament.

Devotional Acts 21: Paul’s Arrest and Surrender to God

Today’s devotional is found in the book of Acts, chapter 21, and this is what happened.

Synopsis: In this chapter, Paul makes his journey back to Jerusalem and passes through two locations (Tyre and Caesarea) where he is warned by the people not to go up to Jerusalem. In Tyre, the disciples exhorted him through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem, but Paul and his companions continued on their way. In Caesarea, they met Philip, one of the seven evangelists, his four prophetess daughters, and Agabus, a prophet who had come down from Judea. Agabus came to share a vision he had regarding Paul’s imprisonment through Jewish influence. Everyone in that region (including the Christians) advised Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Even so, Paul did not stop and insisted that he must go to Jerusalem, for he was ready to sacrifice everything for Jesus Christ. When they arrived in Jerusalem, the Christians welcomed them warmly and suggested that Paul join four men who had a vow of purification and pay their expenses to shave their heads. For although many Jews had converted to Christianity, they still clung tightly to the Law of Moses, and they knew Paul advised Jews living among Gentiles not to follow the Mosaic Laws strictly. Paul accepted the suggestion and went with them. But when the Jews from Asia saw Paul in the temple with non-Jews, they stirred up the city and dragged him out of the temple. They beat him and intended to kill him until the commander accompanied by centurions took him into custody. Nevertheless, Paul asked the commander for permission to address the crowd before being imprisoned, and he agreed.

Observations

These were my observations.

1. Praying in times of tribulation. In this chapter, after warning Paul not to go up to Jerusalem because of what awaited him, the disciples prayed for God to protect him from the prophesied imprisonment. Paul demonstrated in this chapter how to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer (Romans 12:12 NIV). But not all of us are like Paul, who possessed the capacity to endure trial after trial without distress and fear. In most instances, we will need strength and refuge in moments of anguish. Therefore, as Christians, we must always remember that God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1 NIV). Furthermore, if we are frightened and unable to react according to God’s will, we must seek God and ask in prayer for Him to deliver us from all our fears (Psalm 34:4 NIV). For without God’s help, we cannot press forward as we ought.
2. Accepting tribulations without resistance. Paul demonstrates a great example of this in this chapter. Despite the disciples’ exhortations warning Paul of the imprisonment that awaited him (Acts 21:4, 12 NIV), Paul responded to tribulation just as Jesus had said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24 NIV). Paul possessed the spiritual discernment in affliction to faithfully follow Jesus’ example and sacrifice his life for Him if necessary (Acts 21:13 NIV). At no point did Paul lament the predicament he was in, for his heart was at peace because he trusted in Christ, the One who has overcome the world (John 16:33 NIV). Even when he was dragged out of the temple and beaten by the crowd, he did not retaliate in kind nor resist—he preferred to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39 NIV). Nor can we forget Jesus’ words that a servant is not greater than his master, for we will be persecuted just as He was (John 15:20 NIV).