Acts 21

You may notice that this chapter has a lot of "we" statements in it. It's worth noting that the book of Acts was written by Luke, and in fact he went with Paul on this journey. Paul goes through some crazy stuff by this account so it is nice to know that it was written by someone who was actually there.

Remember that Paul already made known to his friends who were accompanying him that the Holy Spirit had testified to him that persecution and imprisonment awaited him in Jerusalem. Now he has confirmation from a prophet that the Holy Spirit is saying he will be imprisoned. And his friends urge him not to go. Paul, knowing it is the will of God for him to suffer for the sake of Jesus, responds by saying, "What are you doing?" He's saying in effect, "I know that I am appointed to suffer and I am determined to go, so you ought to encourage me and strengthen my heart; but with your tears you discourage me, has not our Master told us to take up our cross?"

God doesn't give us the specifics of the future, but by his word he tells the Christian this: trouble will come. This is promised time and again in the New Testament to faithful followers of Christ. So, when trouble comes, will we say with Paul that we are ready even to die for the name of the Lord Jesus? We may not know what lies ahead, but underneath all of our decisions may we resolve to say with Paul and his friends, "Let the will of the Lord be done."