Act 21:13 | KingComments | STEP | The sea voyage ends in Caesarea. From there, the journey will continue over land. In Caesarea, Paul goes to see the evangelist Philip, who was one of the seven deacons ( ). After his preaching in Samaria and his meeting with the Ethiopian eunuch, Philip had come to Caesarea ( ). He continued to live there. He is married and has four unmarried daughters who all prophesy. The house is explicitly called “the house of Philip the evangelist” and the prophesying of his daughters is related to this. This is how Deborah prophesied at home ( ). The Lord also gives the gift of prophecy to women. The daughters of Philip spoke for edification and exhortation and consolation ( ). They did this at home and not in the church, because women are not allowed to do so there ( ). Therefore it is not the daughters of Philip who have a message for Paul in the church. Therefore Agabus is sent by the Lord from Judea to Caesarea. Agabus first visualizes his message. He takes Paul’s belt and binds himself with it, of course first his feet and then also his hands. The belt is a picture of service. Paul’s service to the Jews would lead him to be captured by them. Then Agabus pronounces as the mouth of the Holy Spirit what will happen to Paul in Jerusalem. What the so-called prophets say today when they say ‘so says the Lord’, we do not find with any New Testament prophet, but only with prophets in the Old Testament. The so-called contemporary prophets with such a statement are certainly not New Testament prophets. Agabus has a message that comes directly from the Holy Spirit. This message is not meant to persuade Paul to give up his plan to go to Jerusalem, but is a further interpretation of the earlier testimony given by the Spirit ( ). When the company accompanying Paul and also the local believers hear what Agabus says through the Holy Spirit, they want to stop Paul from going to Jerusalem. Paul’s response to their urgent request not to go is the response of an inwardly deeply convinced man. Where Paul has been warned in other places and has fled the danger, he does not do so here, because of his strong natural love for his people according to the flesh. God stands above this and uses all of this to achieve His purpose. Their tears may affect Paul, but they do not change him in his purpose. His motives are good, he is not selfish, he is interested in his blind compatriots to whom he would like to present the Lord Jesus as Messiah. He does not think of himself. It suits us not to blame Paul, but to admire him. This admiration does not apply to man Paul, but to his dedicated love. He talks about not only being bound, but even dying in Jerusalem, not for his people or his ideals, but “for the name of the Lord Jesus”. That is the only thing that drives him. That is why his determination is not to trust in the flesh, as it became visible with Peter in his denial of the Lord ( ). His concern in everything is the Name of the Lord Jesus. When it is clear that Paul will not change his mind, both the travel company and the local believers place the matter in the hands of the Lord. They remain silent. There is a time to speak, there is also a time to remain silent ( ). They realize that they cannot take matters into their own hands. God’s will is sometimes too complicated for us to understand. God’s will is always accomplished, but sometimes so much different than we would have thought. It is a testimony of wisdom especially then to say: “The will of the Lord be done!”

‏ Acts 21:13

With Philip and the Believers in Caesarea

The sea voyage ends in Caesarea. From there, the journey will continue over land. In Caesarea, Paul goes to see the evangelist Philip, who was one of the seven deacons (Acts 6:5). After his preaching in Samaria and his meeting with the Ethiopian eunuch, Philip had come to Caesarea (Acts 8:5 ; 40). He continued to live there. He is married and has four unmarried daughters who all prophesy.

The house is explicitly called “the house of Philip the evangelist” and the prophesying of his daughters is related to this. This is how Deborah prophesied at home (Jdg 4:4-5). The Lord also gives the gift of prophecy to women. The daughters of Philip spoke for edification and exhortation and consolation (1Cor 14:3). They did this at home and not in the church, because women are not allowed to do so there (1Cor 14:34). Therefore it is not the daughters of Philip who have a message for Paul in the church. Therefore Agabus is sent by the Lord from Judea to Caesarea.

Agabus first visualizes his message. He takes Paul’s belt and binds himself with it, of course first his feet and then also his hands. The belt is a picture of service. Paul’s service to the Jews would lead him to be captured by them. Then Agabus pronounces as the mouth of the Holy Spirit what will happen to Paul in Jerusalem.

What the so-called prophets say today when they say ‘so says the Lord’, we do not find with any New Testament prophet, but only with prophets in the Old Testament. The so-called contemporary prophets with such a statement are certainly not New Testament prophets.

Agabus has a message that comes directly from the Holy Spirit. This message is not meant to persuade Paul to give up his plan to go to Jerusalem, but is a further interpretation of the earlier testimony given by the Spirit (Acts 20:23).

When the company accompanying Paul and also the local believers hear what Agabus says through the Holy Spirit, they want to stop Paul from going to Jerusalem. Paul’s response to their urgent request not to go is the response of an inwardly deeply convinced man. Where Paul has been warned in other places and has fled the danger, he does not do so here, because of his strong natural love for his people according to the flesh. God stands above this and uses all of this to achieve His purpose.

Their tears may affect Paul, but they do not change him in his purpose. His motives are good, he is not selfish, he is interested in his blind compatriots to whom he would like to present the Lord Jesus as Messiah. He does not think of himself. It suits us not to blame Paul, but to admire him. This admiration does not apply to man Paul, but to his dedicated love.

He talks about not only being bound, but even dying in Jerusalem, not for his people or his ideals, but “for the name of the Lord Jesus”. That is the only thing that drives him. That is why his determination is not to trust in the flesh, as it became visible with Peter in his denial of the Lord (Lk 22:33-34). His concern in everything is the Name of the Lord Jesus.

When it is clear that Paul will not change his mind, both the travel company and the local believers place the matter in the hands of the Lord. They remain silent. There is a time to speak, there is also a time to remain silent (Ecc 3:7). They realize that they cannot take matters into their own hands. God’s will is sometimes too complicated for us to understand. God’s will is always accomplished, but sometimes so much different than we would have thought. It is a testimony of wisdom especially then to say: “The will of the Lord be done!”