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Acts 21

And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:

And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.

Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.

And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.

And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.

And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.

And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.

And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.

Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.

There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.

And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.

And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.

And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:

And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.

Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;

Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.

As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purifcation, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,

Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.

(For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)

And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.

And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.

Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.

And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.

And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.

For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.

And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?

Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?

But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.

And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,

What does Acts 21:14 mean?

Explanation

Acts 21:14 is a verse that captures the essence of surrender and acknowledgement of God's sovereignty in the Christian faith.

In this verse, the followers of Jesus are engaging in a heated discussion with the apostle Paul.

They are worried because Paul is insisting on going to Jerusalem despite numerous prophecies warning that he will face hardships and imprisonment.

After much argument and persuasion to prevent him from going, his companions finally accept that Paul is determined and that they should submit to what they perceive to be God's will, even if it means potential suffering for Paul.

Their words, "The will of the Lord be done," reflect a deep trust in God's plan and a surrender to His authority over their desires and plans.

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Historical Context

Acts 21:14 is part of the narrative in the Acts of the Apostles, written by Luke.

This passage occurs during Paul's third missionary journey, and the conversation takes place after numerous disciples, through the Holy Spirit, warned Paul of the dangers that awaited him in Jerusalem.

Despite these warnings, Paul felt strongly compelled to go to Jerusalem.

The early Christian community often experienced internal debates and decision-making processes, and this verse illustrates how they would eventually defer to what they believed to be God’s guidance.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse highlights several key insights:

The Lord’s Sovereignty: It reflects the belief that God has a plan that is ultimately good and must be trusted, even when it involves personal sacrifice.
Discernment: It illustrates the need for discernment in understanding and accepting God's will.
Submission and Obedience: This instance exemplifies the act of submission to God's will as a paramount virtue in the Christian life.

Different theological perspectives may analyze the acceptance of God's will from various angles. Calvinistic theology might see this as an example of God's providence, while Arminian theology could view it as human free will aligning with God's plan through willing submission.

Practical Applications

Acts 21:14 can be applied to modern Christian life in several ways:

Encouraging belief in God's greater plan.
Inspiring Christians to trust and not be paralyzed by fear when faced with difficult decisions.
Guiding Christians to seek collective discernment in community decisions.
Motivating believers to choose obedience to God over personal comfort or safety.

Cross-References

Matthew 6:10: “Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

Luke 22:42: “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”
Hebrews 13:17: “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

Language Study

The key phrase in the verse is "The will of the Lord be done" (Greek: γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημα τοῦ Κυρίου).

The word for "will" (θέλημα, thelema) indicates desire, choice, or intention.

The Greek verb "be done" (γενηθήτω, genēthētō) is an aorist passive imperative, which carries the sense of a command that something come to pass. When put together, the phrase reflects a command for God's desire or purpose to take place.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The notion of divine will and human submission to it can be found in other religious traditions.

To compare, in Islam, the concept of "Insha’Allah" (If God wills) echoes a similar resignation to the will of God.

In the Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu scripture, Lord Krishna advises Arjuna to act according to his duty (dharma) without attachment to the results, which can be seen as parallel to accepting divine will.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, the concept of divine will is generally beyond empirical scrutiny or verification.

However, the psychological aspects of believing in and submitting to a higher power's will could be subjects of scientific study in terms of their effects on human decision-making, stress, and coping mechanisms.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer various commentaries on this passage:

John Calvin commented on the submission of Paul's companions as a reflection of their reverence for Providence, although initially they resisted what seemed inevitable and undesirable.
Matthew Henry highlighted that when the brethren saw that Paul was determined and could not be persuaded otherwise, they submitted to God's will, leaving the event in His hands, showing an ultimate trust in God’s wisdom.
Contemporary scholarship, including the New International Commentary on the New Testament, often discusses the tension in early Christian communities between heeding prophetic warnings and embracing the challenging missions envisaged by leading figures like Paul.

Acts 21

Acts 21

What does Acts 21:14 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 21:14 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?