Destination: Jerusalem
The Apostle Paul is on his way back to Jerusalem with the famine relief offering for the church there. He's wrapping up his third missionary journey. He doesn't want to waste the time stopping in Ephesus but he truly desires to pass along encouragement to one of his favorite churches. So he invites the Ephesian elders to pop in for a quick visit as he passes through Miletus, some 30 miles away.
Paul reminds these church leaders of his amazing stay in Ephesus. How he lived among them (Acts 20:18). The hard times (Acts 20:19). How he held nothing back (Acts 20:20). How he proclaimed Jesus to both Jew and Gentile (Acts 20:21).
The apostle now explains that it is Jerusalem or bust. "And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there" (v22). The past expedition has lasted four years. Paul knows the people of Jerusalem are suffering greatly and there is no time to waste. It's interesting that Luke never mentions the collection of the relief offering as part of the purpose of this third journey. But a quick reading of 2 Corinthians 8-9 makes it clear this was a main thrust of the mission. Much earlier, Agabus does predict a "great famine all over the world" that Paul and Barnabas will eventually gather (Acts 11:28-30). But that is years before Paul hits the road a third time.
The man from Tarsus tells the Ephesian elders that he is "constrained by the Spirit" (v22). First of all, notice the appearance of the Trinity in v21-23. Paul proclaims "repentance toward God" and "faith in our Lord Jesus Christ" (v21). Without missing a beat, he speaks of the work of the Holy Spirit in driving his return to Jerusalem. While impossible to truly wrap our minds around, the Trinity is incredibly important to believers. Three "Who's." One "What."
Much of the book of Acts centers on average folks under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Over and over we read of God's Spirit falling, filling and empowering ordinary people to extraordinary things. As a matter of fact, most of these folks are fatally flawed. Peter bailed on Jesus when He needed him most. Paul was originally a one-man wrecking crew named Saul, overseeing the persecution and murder of Jesus' followers. Yet God got ahold of them. Filled them with His Spirit. Incredible things soon followed.
We read that the Holy Spirit constrained Paul to get back to Jerusalem (v22). The Greek verb here is deo. It means to tie up, put in chains, imprison, bind up, wrap up, compel, or force. Through the Third Person of the Trinity, God has a hold on the apostle and is driving him back to the Jewish capital. As long as he is filled with the Spirit and walking by the Spirit (Gal 5:16, 25), he will submit to God's desires and obey. But he could certainly "grieve the Holy Spirit" (Eph 4:30) or "quench the Spirit" (1Th 5:19) through disobedience.
What is the Holy Spirit compelling you and me to do? What particular burden has He placed on your heart? What do you feel that MUST be done that you truly feel God is shoving and pushing you to do? First of all, make sure that it lines up with what the Bible says. The Spirit will not lead us to do something outside of Scripture. He certainly will not lead us into sin. Second, have you sought the counsel of others regarding this compulsion? It's never a bad idea to talk things over with trusted ministry leaders.
Back in Miletus, Paul tells the elders that while he knows for certain the Spirit is sending to Jerusalem, he does not know "what will happen to me there" (v22). God hasn't revealed the details. He hasn't clued Paul in on the specifics. Yet he is obedient. He trusts the Lord and His leading. Paul's willingness to follow despite a lack of important details is reminiscent of God's call of Abram "to the land that I will show you" (Gen 12:1). For both Abram and Paul, the important detail is that God is with them.
Don't worry about where God wants you to go or what He wants you to do. Be confident in Him. If He truly is the Almighty Sovereign God of the universe, He'll handle the details. If He wants it done and wants to use you to do it, He'll make it happen. Trust in God. Trust in His plan. Trust in His provision. Trust in His protection. Not the details. Let's face it, if we knew many of the specifics, we probably wouldn't go.
The apostle simply knows "that imprisonment and afflictions await me" (v23). As he traveled on this most recent journey, God's Spirit made it clear. Prison. Oppression. Paul didn't know who or where. He simply knew what awaited him. Prison. Oppression. Jesus made it clear this was what he would face from the very beginning. "He is a chosen instrument of Mine...I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of My name" (Acts 9:15-16). Paul had already been stoned (Acts 14:19), beaten (Acts 16:23), imprisoned (Acts 16:23-24) and target for assassination (Acts 14:5; 20:3). Soon he would hear Agabus predict that Jews would arrest him and turn him over to the Romans (Acts 21:11). Prison. Oppression.
Yet, Paul pressed on. Destination: Jerusalem.
The apostle pressed on because his life was not his own. "But I do not account for my life of any value nor as precious to myself" (v24). Just as He has done for each of His followers, Christ has purchase Paul with a price (1Cor 6:20; 7:23). He is offering his body and his life as a living sacrifice to his Lord. It's the only logical thing he can do because of what Jesus has done for him (Rom 12:1). Is that my attitude? Am I willing to go wherever He calls? Even when I know prison and oppression are in my future?
Paul's only desire: "If only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God" (v24). The word "course" is the Greek noun dromos. Its the term that describes the course or track for a race. It can also describe an assignment or a mission. The Apostle Paul understood that what Jesus called him to is no fun run. It's a marathon. And he is convinced that Christ will sustain him in order to finish the race. He would echo his words to the Ephesian elders in the final days of his life. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2Tim 4:7).
Destination: Jerusalem.
Created 4 months ago
