Acts 21:1
Outline:
I. \\#Acts 1:1-8:4\\ God’s Work in Jerusalem
A. \\#1:1-3\\ The Introduction
B. \\#1:4-26\\ Jesus’ Departure
C. \\#2:1-8:4\\ The Holy Ghost’s Coming
II. \\#Acts 8:5-12:24\\ God’s Work in Judea and Samaria
III. \\#Acts 13:1-28:31\\ God’s Work in Uttermost Parts of the World
A. \\#13:1-14:28\\ The First Missionary Journey
1. \\#13:1-3\\ The Calling
2. \\#13:4\\ Seleucia
3. \\#13:5-12\\ Cyprus
4. \\#13:13\\ Perga in Pamphylia
5. \\#13:14-52\\ Antioch of Pisidia
6. \\#14:1-5\\ Iconium
7. \\#14:6-19\\ Lystra
8. \\#14:21\\ Debra
9. \\#14:22-25\\ Retracing the Journey
10. \\#14:25\\ Attalia
11. \\#14:26-28\\ Antioch of Syria
B. \\#15:1-35\\ Judaism or Grace
1. \\#15:1-3\\ The Issue
2. \\#15:4-29\\ The Council At Jerusalem
3. \\#15:30-35\\ The return to Antioch
C. \\#15:36-18:22\\ Paul’s Second Missionary Journey
1. \\#15:36-40\\ Problems in Preparation
2. \\#15:41\\ Syria and Cilicia
3. \\#16:1-5\\ Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium
4. \\#16:6-9\\ "they had gone throughout"
5. \\#16:11-40\\ On to Philippi
6. \\#17:1-9\\ Thessalonica
7. \\#17:10-14\\ Berea
8. \\#17:15-34\\ Athens
9. \\#18:1-18\\ Corinth
10. \\#18:19-21\\ Ephesus
11. \\#18:22\\ Caesarea
D. \\#Acts 18:23-21:17\\ Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
1. \\#18:23\\ Galatia and Phrygia
2. \\#18:24-28\\ Apollos in Ephesus
3. \\#19:1-23\\ Paul Returned to Ephesus
4. \\#20-1-6\\ Paul in Greece
5. \\#20:7-12\\ Paul in Troas
6. \\#20:13-16\\ Paul in the Coastal Cities
7. \\#20:17-38\\ Paul Bids the Elders of Ephesus Farewell
8. \\#21:1-3\\ Paul in more Costal Cities
9. \\#21:3-7\\ Paul in Tyre
10. \\#21:8-14\\ Paul in Caesarea
11. \\#21:15-17\\ Paul arrived in Jerusalem
E. \\#Acts 21:18-28:30\\ Paul’s Arrest and Journey to Rome
1. \\#Acts 21:18-23:30\\ Paul in Jerusalem
a. \\#Acts 21:18-25\\ Paul before the Church
b. \\#Acts 21:26-30\\ Paul in the temple
c. \\#Acts 21:31-22:23\\ Paul on the steps
d. \\#Acts 22:24-22:30\\ Paul to be examined
(1) \\#Acts 22:24-29\\ By the Whip
(2) \\#Acts 22:30-23:11\\ By the Council
(3) \\#Acts 23:12-30\\ An Attempt to Kill Paul
I. \\#Acts 18:23-21:17\\ Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
A. \\#21:1-3\\ Paul in more Costal Cities Map
1. The ship Paul was sailing was obviously stopping at many
cities to load and unload cargo, sometimes spending
several days to do so. \\#2\\ Paul changed ships. All
of this was probably normal in all of Paul’s journeys
but if so, this is the only time Luke chose to give us
all the details.
2. \\#1\\ "Coos"
3. "Rhodes"
4. "Patara"
5. \\#2\\ Phenicia" - Here Paul changed ships. Phenicia
was an ancient kingdom along the Mediterranean Sea coast
of Israel.
6. \\#3\\ "Cyprus" - The ship sailed past Cyprus on their
left.
7. They "sailed into Syria and landed at Tyre" - This is the
first time we are specifically told of Paul stopping in
Tyre although he had probably passed through it many
times in his journeys from Jerusalem north.
B. \\#21:3-6\\ Paul in Tyre
1. \\#4\\ "finding disciples" - There were Christians there.
Is it not interesting how they were called "disciples"?
2. "we tarried there seven days" - It would seem that Paul
would catch a different ship. Why did Paul stay?
Knowing this was his last time to pass through these
areas, Paul was probably visiting friends and giving
last exhortations.
3. "who said to Paul through the Spirit that he should not
go" Paul had said in \\#Acts 20:23\\ "that the Holy
Ghost witnesseth in EVERY city" that bonds awaited him.
Perhaps that is why Luke described the journey in such
detail.
4. "through the Spirit" - It was the Holy Ghost who revealed
this truth to others who then revealed it to Paul. From
this, some think the Holy Ghost was telling Paul not to
go—and the verse is most convincing—but Paul took it as
a test from God. So do I. Paul was not out of God’s
will but seeking to stay within it.
5. \\#5\\ "we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed" - The
Christian families in Tyre followed Paul to the beach
and they prayed together before he boarded the ship.
C. \\#21:7\\ "Ptolemais" - Paul connected with the Christians
there as well and stayed "one day."
D. \\#21:8-14\\ Paul in Caesarea
1. \\#8\\ "entered into the house of Philip the evangelist
…one of the seven" - This was the same Philip who more
than twenty years before was selected to serve as a
deacon in Jerusalem \\#Acts 6:5\\ and was used of the
Lord to bring salvation to Samaria \\#Acts 8:5\\,
baptized the eunuch near Gaza \\#Acts 8:26\\, and was
last reported in Caesarea \\#Acts 8:40\\.
2. "abode with him" - Paul stayed with Philip.
3. \\#9\\ "the same had four daughters, virgins, which did
prophesy" - God had blessed Philip with a spirit-filled
family.
4. \\#10\\ "as we tarried there many days" - Paul spent a
long while there.
5. \\#10-11\\ "Agabus …came down from Judea …took Paul’s
girdle …bound his own …So shall the Jews bind the man
that owneth"
a. Yet another prophet illustrated to Paul what would
happen to him in Jerusalem.
b. Is this the same prophet mentioned in \\#Acts 11:28\\,
who had foretold of the famine to coming upon
Jerusalem? Perhaps so.
6. \\#12\\ "when we heard these things" - Luke numbered
himself with Paul’s group.
7. "besought him not to go" - Being friends, they attempted
to continence Paul not to go. Again, being friends, they
had not experienced the Holy Spirit’s leading that Paul
had felt about going to Jerusalem.
8. \\#13\\ "I am ready …to die at Jerusalem" - Paul was not
afraid of the bonds or of death.
9. \\#14\\ "The will of the Lord be done." And Paul’s friends
accepted the fact that God’s will was going to be
accomplished in Paul’s life.
E. \\#21:15-17\\ Paul arrived in Jerusalem
1. \\#15\\ "took up our carriages" - The carriages were not
for riding! The word means "baggage."
2. "went to Jerusalem." - They probably walked.
3. \\#16\\ Friends
a. "certain disciples of Caesarea"
b. "Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciples" - Mnason must
have lived in Jerusalem and had been visiting
Caesarea for he was one "with whom we should lodge."
4. "we were come to Jerusalem" - And so Paul’s third
missionary journey ended.
a. Paul had spent most of the time in Ephesus and re-
visiting cities he had already been.
b. If Matthew McGee’s estimates are correct, Paul
accomplished all three journeys in 13 years.
II. \\#Acts 21:18-28:30\\ Paul’s Arrest and Journey to Rome
A. \\#Acts 21:18-23:30\\ Paul in Jerusalem
1. \\#Acts 21:18-25\\ Paul before the Church
a. \\#18\\ "James, and all the elders" - James continued
to have a place of preeminence \\#Acts 12:17, 15:13\\
\\#Gal 2:9\\.
b. \\#19\\ "he declared" - Paul reported back to the
church what God had done.
c. \\#20-22\\ "when they heard it"
(1) "they glorified the Lord" - The church leaders
rejoiced to hear what things God had
accomplished through Paul’s ministry.
(2) \\#20-22\\ BUT - The church was concerned that
that the Jewish people would react to Paul being
in Jerusalem for a false rumor was being spread
that Paul was teaching the people "to forsake
Moses …not to circumcise their children …
neither to walk after the customs" \\#21\\.
d. \\#20\\ "how many thousands of Jews there are which
believe" - Interestingly, the leaders made reference
to the believing Jews.
(1) Praise the Lord! There were many thousands of
them.
(2) \\#21\\ "they are informed" - The leaders were
concerned how the BELIEVING Jews would
react. It does not seem that they were
considering how the UNBELIEVING Jews
might react.
e. \\#22-25\\ Their plan
(1) \\#23\\ "We have four men which have a vow"
(a) This seems to be talking of four Christian
men who separated themselves to know and to
serve the Lord better for a period of time.
(b) The vow is the same as a Nazarite vow
\\#Num 6:1-21\\ with the exception that it
was not made for life. Vows were often
made to be kept for 30, 60, or even 100
days.
(c) Those taking such a vow were called
"Nazarite of days."
NOTE - Jews who become Christians do not cease to be Jews! All of
the Old Testament that was given to them is still their heritage and
except for offering sacrifices which were unneeded after accepting
Christ, any Jew was free to keep whatever part of the Law he/she
desired or to walk in liberty as free as any Christian Gentile.
(d) During those times, they did not do three
major things:
i. \\#Num 6:3-4\\ They did not drink
anything of the vine or eat grapes
(things that might ferment).
ii. \\#Num 6:5\\ They did not cut their
hair.
iii. \\#Num 6:6-8\\ They did not do anything
that might make them unclean.
(e) Once the separation was fulfilled….
i. \\#Num 6:13-17\\ A series of offerings
were made.
aa. First year male lamb
bb. First year female lamb (ewe)
cc. Stronger male animal (ram)
dd. basket of unleavened bread
ee. cakes of flour mingled with oil
ff. wafers of bread anointed with oil
gg. meat offering
hh. drink offering
ii. \\#Num 6:18\\ The Nazarite would cut
his hair AT the door of the tabernacle
and put it in the fire of the peace
offering.
iii. \\#Num 6:19-20\\ The priest would offer
up a wave offering.
Bible Manners and Customs by James M Freeeman, D.D., New York: Eaton
& Mains, Cincinnati; Jennings and Pye, 1874, p. 452.
(2) \\#24\\ "Take them, and purify thyself with them"
(a) The church leaders encouraged Paul to join
these men in the last phase of completing
their vow.
(b) The last seven days of the separation were
often completed inside the temple to help
insure the Nazarite was not accidentally
made unclean.
(c) One source said that another could join
those in the Nazarite vow.
(d) "be at charges with them" - The only
condition being that he had to pay either
for his part in the offerings or perhaps
even help the others with theirs.
(e) This is apparently what Paul was being
encouraged to do.
i. If Paul were confined within the
temple, there would be less likelihood
he would be seen by the believing Jews
and even if he were, they would see
him obeying the law.
ii. Making such a vow was not new to Paul
for it is believed he may have cut his
own hair off for a vow earlier.
Ac 18:18 And Paul after this tarried there
yet a good while, and then took his leave of
the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria,
and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn
his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.
(f) Perhaps the church leaders though that they
might get the church prepared for Paul
before he finished his separation.
2. \\#Acts 21:26-30\\ Paul in the temple
a. \\#26\\ "Then Paul took the men…."
(1) Paul did as he was instructed.
(2) The only problem I see with the church leaders
plans is that it failed to take in account the
fact that the temple was filled with NON-
BELIEVING Jews!
(3) I do not want to second guess the church leaders
but I wonder if they had sought God’s direction
in this matter.
b. \\#27\\ "when the seven days were almost ended"
(1) Things worked well for several days.
(2) "Jews which were of Asia" - It is interesting
that Paul was not recognized by local Jews but
by Jews from where he had been ministering,
perhaps because it has been so long since he had
spent a lot of time in Israel.
c. \\#28\\ "This is the man" - The Jews had two charges
to bring against Paul.
(1) "…against the people, and the law, and this
place"
(a) The charge was not true. Paul was not
teaching "against" any of those things but
that Christ had come.
(b) Why did the Jews say that? Because Paul
taught both Jews and Gentiles were
welcomed into the family of God and that
the Gentiles did not have to become Jewish
to be saved.
(c) To the Jews, THAT was against the people,
the law, and the temple. That teaching
placed the Gentiles on an equal footing
with the Jews.
(2) "and hath polluted this holy place"
(a) \\#29\\ explains that the people had seen
"Trophimus an Ephesian" with Paul and they
had "supposed" Paul brought him into the
temple as well.
(b) That charge was also false.
(3) \\#30\\ "And the whole city was moved" - Soon,
all of the city was involved.
(4) "and drew him out of the temple" - The crowd
too Paul out of the temple and was in the
process of beating him to death.
3. \\#Acts 21:31-22:23\\ Paul on the steps
a. \\#31-32\\ "the chief captain of the band"
(1) The captain of Romans stationed in Jerusalem
heard the commotion and came, their presence
stopping the people from beating on Paul.
(2) This man will be named in \\#Acts 23:26\\,
Claudius Lysias. He will prove to be an
honorable and just man.
b. \\#33\\ The officer bound Paul, hands and feet, and
demanded to know he was and what he had done. Paul
never gets to answer.
c. \\#34\\ To which the multitude attempted to answer,
causing confusion so that the officer decided to take
Paul with him back into their "castle."
d. \\#35-36\\ "was borne of the soldiers" - To protect
Paul, the soldiers literally had to carry him through
the crowd.
e. \\#37\\ As they are moving up the steps, Paul asked
the captain, "May I speak unto thee?"
(1) "Who said, "Canst thou speak Greek?"
(2) \\#38\\ "Art not thou that Egyptian…?" The
captain had assumed Paul was an Egyptian who
previously had lead a revolt against Rome.
(3) \\#39\\ Paul explains who he is and repeated his
request.
f. \\#40\\ "when he had given him license" - The captain
allows Paul to speak and choose to speak in "Hebrew,"
causing the crowd to hear him.
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