The Holy Spirit's Travelling Ministry
Afterwards, Paul left for Jerusalem, for he knew the Holy Spirit was leading him to go there. On his way to Jerusalem, he arranged for a meeting with the elders from the church in Ephesus, and shared with them his urge to go to Jerusalem, as we can read in Acts 20:22-23
And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.
It was very hard for these believers to let Paul go, as we can read in Acts 20:37-38 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was the statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.
The Holy Spirit had shown some of the believers in Tyre that Paul would have to face great challenges if he were to go to Jerusalem, so they tried to persuade him not to go there, as we can read in Acts 21:3-4
After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. Finding the disciples there, we stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
But Paul would not be persuaded. Even the words of a visiting prophet named Agabus could not stop him from going up to Jerusalem, as we can read in Acts 21:11-15 Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, "In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles." When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” After this, we got ready and went up to Jerusalem.
As predicted, once Paul arrived in Jerusalem, opposition followed very soon, including a plot to kill him, as we can read in Acts 23:12
The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
However, the plot was discovered and so Paul was taken to Caesarea, as we can read in Acts 23:31-33
So the soldiers carrying out their orders, took Paul with them during the night and brought him as far as Antipatris. The next day they let the cavalry go on with him, while they returned to the barracks. When the cavalry arrived in Caesarea, they delivered the letter to the governor and handed Paul over to him.
While in Caesarea, Paul appeared before the governor Felix, and he used that opportunity to share the gospel with the governor, as we can read in Acts 24:24-25 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgement to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”
For two years, Paul shared the gospel with Felix. After that period another governor took the place of Felix, a man named Festus. He too had Paul appear before him. Paul asked to be sent to Rome to appear before Caesar. However, Festus had some important visitors, king Agrippa and his wife Bernice. Festus told king Agrippa about his prisoner Paul. King Agrippa became quite curious about this man Paul, and so it was arranged that Paul would appear before him, as we can read in Acts 25:23
The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high ranking officers and the leading men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.
Paul used this opportunity to share the gospel, not just with Festus, but with king Agrippa and his wife Bernice as well, as we can read in Acts 26:1-3
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense. “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today, as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.”
Paul ended his sermon to king Agrippa with the words in Acts 26:29 …. I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am except for these chains.
Paul would have known that these events had been arranged by the Holy Spirit for they were in fulfilment of what the Lord had told Ananias Paul had to do, as we can read in Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.”
QUESTIONS
1.Where was the Holy Spirit leading Paul to go to next?
2. Who did Paul arrange to meet while on his way to Jerusalem?
3. According to Acts 20:22-23, what did the Holy Spirit warn Paul about was going to happen to him in Jerusalem?
4. According to Acts 20:37-38, did these believers from Ephesus find it easy to let go off Paul?
5. Which believers did Paul meet next?
6. Did these believers in Tyre know that Paul would be facing challenges if he were to goto Jerusalem?
7. Did these believers in Tyre want Paul to go to Jerusalem?
8. According to Acts 21:3-4, how long did Paul stay with these believers in Tyre?
9. Were these believers in Tyre able to persuade Paul not to go to Jerusalem
10. Which prophet came to see Paul?
11a. According to Acts 21:11-15, how did the prophet Agabus act out the difficulties Paul would be facing in Jerusalem?
11b. According to Acts 21:11-15, what prophecy did the prophet Agabus speak over Paul?
11c. According to Acts 21:11-15, Who had inspired the prophet Agabus to speak that prophecy over Paul?
11d. According to Acts 21:11-15, what was the response of everyone present as a result of these words?
11e. According to Acts 21:11-15, how did Paul answer these believers?
11f. According to Acts 21:11-15, did these believers continue to try and dissuade Paul from going to Jerusalem?
12. What happened to Paul as soon as he arrived in Jerusalem?
13a. According to Acts 23:12, who formed a conspiracy to kill Paul?
13b. How did the Jews show they were serious about killing Paul?
14. Was the plot to kill Paul discovered?
15. Where was Paul taken to?
16a. According to Acts 23:31-33, who took Paul with them?
16b. According to Acts 23:31-33, where did the soldiers take Paul?
16c. According to Acts 23:31-33, who took Paul to Caesarea?
16d. According to Acts 23:31-33, who did the cavalry go to in Caesarea?
16e. According to Acts 23:31-33, what did the cavalry deliver to the governor in Caesarea?
16f. According to Acts 23:31-33, who did the cavalry hand over to the governor of Caesarea?
17. Who did Paul come before in Caesarea?
18a. According to Acts 24:24-25, what was the name of the wife of governor Felix?
18b. According to Acts 24:24-25, what was the nationality of Drusilla?
18c. According to Acts 24:24-25, what did Paul speak about to governor Felix?
18d. According to Acts 24:24-25, what particular subjects did Paul focus on in his preaching to governor Felix and his wife Drusilla?
18e. According to Acts 24:24-25, was governor Felix pleased to hear the gospel message as preached by Paul?
18f. According to Acts 24:24-25, how did governor Felix show that he was afraid to hear the gospel as preached by Paul?
19. For how long did Paul share the gospel with governor Felix?
20. Who took the place of governor Felix?
21. Where did Paul request governor Festus send him to?
22. Before whom did Paul want to appear in Rome?
23. Why did governor Festus delay Paul’s departure for Rome?
24. What were the names of the visitors of governor Festus?
25. Was king Agrippa interested in meeting Paul?
26. According to Acts 25:23, who had gathered in the audience room to hear Paul speak?
27a. According to Acts 26:1-3, did Paul consider himself fortunate to stand before king Agrippa?
27b. According to Acts 26:1-3, why did Paul consider himself fortunate to stand before king Agrippa?
28a. According to Acts 26:29, what was Paul’s desire for king Agrippa as well as for all those listening to him that day?
28b. According to Acts 26:29, what was the one thing Paul did not wish for king Agrippa as well as all those listening to him that day?
29. Who would have arranged these events for Paul?
30. Why would Paul have believed that these events would have been arranged by the Holy Spirit?
31. According to Acts 9:15, what exactly had the Lord told Ananias Paul was to do?