Act 21:16 | KingComments | STEP | Everything is prepared for the last part of the journey. Although Paul’s companions tried to stop him from going to Jerusalem, they go with him. They are convinced that it fits the Lord’s will that Paul should go after all. Although in their opinion it is better that he does not go, they still go with him. They also see that there is no question of his own will. The same goes for the local believers. They too have urged Paul not to go. If he does go, some disciples from Caesarea go with him. This shows great trust, not in Paul, but in the Lord of Paul. They see that the Lord is going with Paul and therefore they can go with him as well. It means that it is not a question of who is right, but of whether we acknowledge the will of the Lord in a matter. If they see that they cannot convince Paul not to go, they surrender the matter to the Lord. This is a great example for us. We can sometimes see that someone in his love for the Lord and His own goes a way that we are convinced he should not go. We can even be instructed by the Lord to point out to others not to go that way. If we then see that the other person is going that way after all, while we also notice that there are really selfless motives behind it, we must be able to come to the sincere statement: ‘The will of the Lord be done!’ This is a test for our view of the matter. It may just be that we become irritated because the other does not want to listen. We do not notice this in the travel companions of Paul and the local believers of Caesarea. On the contrary, they accompany him further to Jerusalem. This means that they also expose themselves to the dangers that were foretold for Paul. They go with him and bring him to Mnason of Cyprus. He is “a disciple of long standing”, which means that he is a disciple who has been a follower of the Lord Jesus for a long time. Paul and his travel companions lodge with him. It is remarkable how Paul and his companions have received hospitable reception and accommodation from believers time and time again. This can only be worked by the bond of faith. Faith has gained access not only to the hearts of believers, but also to all their possessions that they have put at the disposal of the gospel. Thus, many believers unknown to us have contributed to the spreading of the gospel and to the promotion of the Lord’s work. This way of contributing to the gospel is still open to every believer today.

‏ Acts 21:16

From Caesarea to Jerusalem

Everything is prepared for the last part of the journey. Although Paul’s companions tried to stop him from going to Jerusalem, they go with him. They are convinced that it fits the Lord’s will that Paul should go after all. Although in their opinion it is better that he does not go, they still go with him. They also see that there is no question of his own will. The same goes for the local believers. They too have urged Paul not to go. If he does go, some disciples from Caesarea go with him.

This shows great trust, not in Paul, but in the Lord of Paul. They see that the Lord is going with Paul and therefore they can go with him as well. It means that it is not a question of who is right, but of whether we acknowledge the will of the Lord in a matter.

If they see that they cannot convince Paul not to go, they surrender the matter to the Lord. This is a great example for us. We can sometimes see that someone in his love for the Lord and His own goes a way that we are convinced he should not go. We can even be instructed by the Lord to point out to others not to go that way. If we then see that the other person is going that way after all, while we also notice that there are really selfless motives behind it, we must be able to come to the sincere statement: ‘The will of the Lord be done!’

This is a test for our view of the matter. It may just be that we become irritated because the other does not want to listen. We do not notice this in the travel companions of Paul and the local believers of Caesarea. On the contrary, they accompany him further to Jerusalem. This means that they also expose themselves to the dangers that were foretold for Paul.

They go with him and bring him to Mnason of Cyprus. He is “a disciple of long standing”, which means that he is a disciple who has been a follower of the Lord Jesus for a long time. Paul and his travel companions lodge with him.

It is remarkable how Paul and his companions have received hospitable reception and accommodation from believers time and time again. This can only be worked by the bond of faith. Faith has gained access not only to the hearts of believers, but also to all their possessions that they have put at the disposal of the gospel. Thus, many believers unknown to us have contributed to the spreading of the gospel and to the promotion of the Lord’s work. This way of contributing to the gospel is still open to every believer today.