Here is the situation: Paul is traveling back to Jerusalem and making several stops along the way. One of the stops is in the city of Tyre, where the "believers prophesied through the Holy Spirit that Paul should not go on to Jerusalem" (21:4). However, Paul continues on his journey to Jerusalem in spite of the Holy Spirit's warning...or was it a prohibition?
Paul later encounters a prophet named Agabus. He goes over to Paul, takes Paul's belt, and binds Paul's hands and feet with it. Agabus then says, "The Holy Spirit declares, 'So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles'" (21:11). The rest of the believers beg Paul not to go to Jerusalem.
So my question is why did Paul go to Jerusalem? It seems the Holy Spirit, prophets, and all the other members of the church are telling Paul not to go. I can't understand why Paul ignored them. It would even be one thing if it was just the members of the church asking Paul not to go, but the Holy Spirit, God Himself, warned that Paul "should not go on to Jerusalem." And He didn't just do it once but twice!
So was Paul the Apostle disobeying God when he continued on his journey to Jerusalem? I know that God said that he would testify in Rome, but do you think God could have gotten him there another way besides imprisonment- especially since He (the Holy Spirit) warned him not to go on to Jerusalem?
I read Proverbs 22:3 the other day and it made me think about this situation with Paul.
"A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences."I am not saying that Paul is a simpleton...but I wonder why Paul didn't take more precautions considering the danger that everyone foresaw. Clearly Paul suffered the consequences.
What do you think?
Jesus, thank you for giving me Your Holy Spirit. Help me to be sensitive to Him as He guides and directs my life.
Shane, I think you're on to something here. I've never really thought of it this way, but it does look like he disobeyed God. Of course we admire him for being willing to give his life for the gospel, but that doesn't mean it had to happen when it did. Seems to me that this is a great example of the fact that the Bible does attempt to hide the frailties and sin of even the heroes of our faith. That's just one more reason we know it's a reliable account - it shows us the real Paul, even in his (noble and brave) disobedience. Good thoughts.
ReplyDeleteYeah I think it's really difficult for us to imagine Paul doing anything wrong, but we know obviously that he was a person just like the rest of us. Really interesting thoughts.
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