After Paul said Farewell to the Leaders of Ephesus
As Paul and his companions left Miletus, Luke records the emotional farewell. They shared this moment with the Ephesian elders. Luke also details the next stages of their journey. They sailed to Cos, then Rhodes, and Patara—significant ancient ports along the coast. At Patara, they switched to a larger vessel. This vessel was capable of sailing across the Mediterranean, covering approximately 400 miles in five days, if the weather permitted. Luke, with a keen eye for detail, narrates as if standing on the ship’s deck. He describes their view of Cyprus and their arrival at Tyre, a major port in Phoenicia, where the ship likely unloaded a substantial cargo.
At Tyre
At Tyre, Paul connected with a group of disciples. These disciples had likely been influenced by the Hellenistic believers who were scattered after Stephen’s death (Acts 11:19). Paul unexpectedly stayed for seven days, possibly due to the shipping schedules. During that time, the believers urged Paul not to go to Jerusalem. This prompted questions about how the same Holy Spirit could lead Paul toward danger while warning others to dissuade him from doing so. This is their emotional response to anticipated suffering, not a contradiction of the Spirit’s guidance. Their deep love is evident when the entire group, including children, walked with Paul and his team to the shore to bid him farewell. They knelt together in prayer before his departure.
At Caesarea
Continuing their journey, they stopped in Ptolemais (modern-day Acre). There, they spent a day with believers before reaching Caesarea. At Caesarea, they stayed with Philip the evangelist, last seen in Acts 8, who was still actively engaged in ministry. Philip had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy. Luke includes this as another example of Spirit-empowered women in the early church. It’s similar to Anna in Luke 2 and the prophesying daughters mentioned in Acts 2:17.
While in Caesarea, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. He reenacted a dramatic prophecy, binding his hands and feet with Paul’s belt. He declared, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles’” (Acts 21:11, NLT). This stirred deep concern among Paul’s companions and local believers. They pleaded with him not to go. But Paul responded, “Why all this weeping? You’re breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus” (v. 13). Like Jesus in Gethsemane, Paul stood resolved to follow God’s will. Even if it meant suffering, the believers, acknowledging his resolve, finally said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
Paul and others prepared to go to Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost. The third missionary ends here; Paul and the missionaries do not make it back to Antioch. The ministry in Greece is over, and now we will see how Paul makes it to Rome.
Paul Arrives in Jerusalem
Paul’s arrival in Jerusalem marked the end of his third missionary journey. James and the elders warmly received him and the team. Paul gave a full report of what God had done among the Gentiles. He likely delivered the collected offering as well (see Romans 15:25–27). Yet tension lingered. Though thousands of Jews had come to believe in Jesus, many remained zealous for the law. They were concerned by rumors that Paul taught Jews to abandon Moses and Jewish customs.
To dispel this misunderstanding, the elders advised Paul to publicly participate in the purification rites. He joined with four men under a Nazirite vow, covering their expenses to demonstrate Paul’s respect for Jewish law. Paul agreed, aligning with his principle of becoming “all things to all people” (1 Corinthians 9:20-21), without compromising the gospel.
Paul Arrested in Jerusalem
This strategy, however, backfired. Some Jews from Asia recognized Paul in the temple and falsely accused him of defiling it. They claimed he brought in Gentiles—specifically, Trophimus from Ephesus—though Paul had done no such thing. These accusations incited a riot. The instigators dragged Paul out of the temple, and the gates were shut. Roman troops, stationed nearby in the Fortress of Antonia, responded swiftly. As the mob attempted to kill Paul, soldiers intervened just in time. They arrested him and put him in chains—just as Agabus had foretold.
Despite the chaos, Paul remained calm. As he was being carried away by soldiers, he politely addressed the commander in Greek, surprising him. The commander assumed Paul was an Egyptian rebel who had led a failed insurrection years earlier. Paul clarified, “I am a Jew and a citizen of Tarsus in Cilicia, which is an important city. Please, let me talk to these people” (Acts 21:39, NLT). Granted permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned for silence. As the crowd quieted down, he began to speak to them in Aramaic—their native tongue.
Though falsely accused and beaten, Paul now stood ready to testify—not just to the crowd, but as part of God’s sovereign plan to send him to Rome.
Truths and Lessons for Today
1. The Holy Spirit Can Lead Us Into Suffering—Not Away From It
The same Spirit who urged Paul to go to Jerusalem also revealed to others that suffering awaited him. But this wasn’t a contradiction—it was preparation. The Spirit doesn’t promise safety; He promises presence.
🡲 Application: Don’t assume hardship means you’re off course. Sometimes the clearest sign of God’s will is difficulty met with courage.
📖 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me…that jail and suffering lie ahead” (Acts 20:22–23, NLT).
2. God’s Will May Be Painful for Us and Confusing for Others
Paul’s companions tried to talk him out of going to Jerusalem—not because they lacked faith, but because they loved him. Still, Paul obeyed the Spirit, even though it hurt them and him.
🡲 Application: Sometimes obedience to God will break your heart or those around you. Follow Him anyway—loving others doesn’t mean pleasing them.
📖 “Why all this weeping? You’re breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed…but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13, NLT).
3. Misunderstanding and Persecution Often Follow Public Obedience
Paul joined in a temple ritual to show respect for Jewish customs. Yet, he was still falsely accused of breaking the law. His efforts to bridge cultural gaps didn’t prevent hostility.
🡲 Application: Doing what’s right won’t always protect you from criticism. Be faithful anyway—God sees and uses your integrity, even when others don’t.
📖 “Paul went to the temple the next day…Then some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul in the temple and roused a mob against him” (Acts 21:26-27, NLT).
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