Acts 21:1-40
A young woman attended a well-known, popular Christian university. During her freshman year she was surprised at the large number of students who claimed, "The Holy Spirit told me...." After repeatedly hearing this remark or similar statements, she commented, "You would think that the only thing God did was talk!"
God did more than talk in the book of Acts, but He did have a prophetic word for the apostle Paul. On his way to Jerusalem the apostle spent seven days in Tyre, where the disciples "told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem." Acts 21:4.
He continued his journey anyway. Two days later the apostle and his traveling companions arrived in Caesarea at the house of Philip the evangelist. "Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied." Acts 21:9.
After many days "a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea." He is the same prophet who prophesied in the church at Antioch about a great famine throughout all the world. Acts 11:27. This time he bound his own hands and feet with Paul's belt, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'" Acts 21:11.
At Tyre Paul was told by the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem. In Philip's house in Caesarea he received a warning to stay away. Now everyone urged Paul not to go there. The apostle answered, "What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." They pleaded with him, saying that it was not God's will, but to no avail. He would not be persuaded.
Paul and his friends went up to Jerusalem, where his presence in the temple created an uproar throughout the city. He was nearly beaten to death, but rescued by Roman soldiers, numbering in the hundreds. Assuming Paul to be an Egyptian terrorist, they bound him in chains, and carried him away to their barracks.
The prophetic word of Agabus came to pass. Paul was bound and delivered into the hands of Gentile soldiers, just as he had predicted.
Are there prophets in the church today? On the Day of Pentecost Peter quoted the prophet Joel, saying, "And it shall come to pass, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy...." Acts 2:17. However, take heed to the words of Jesus, who said, "Beware of false prophets.... You will know them by their fruits." Matthew 7:15, 16.
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the leading of Your Spirit. Help us to be spiritually discerning. We just want to do Your will, and glorify Jesus. In whose name we pray. Amen!