What happened in Acts 21-13?

Answer 1

Acts 21:13, "Then Paul answered, "What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."

Paul was on his way to Jerusalem after his third missionary journey as he wanted to be at Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. He had decided to by pass Ephesus and instead sailed to Miletus and from there he sent messengers to Ephesus for the church leaders to meet him at Miletus.

One thing he tells them is (Acts 20 22-23), "And see now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me."

Understand this: In Christian circles love is the key and is demanded of Christians to love one another. And this happens all the time. The members of a church loves their pastor and the pastor loves the people and parting is a sad occasion not only between a pastor and his flock but between members also. Christian brothers and sister are a family and there are strong bonds between each one. God has put this into our hearts.

In Acts 20:37-38 we can see the love between Paul and these believers and parting is a very sad occasion.

After Paul leaves this group he sails on toward Jerusalem stopping in several other places and while at Caesarea a prophet, Agabus, comes to see Paul and, "he took Paul's belt. bound his own hands and feet, and said, " Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'"

(v12) "and when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem"

This trip to Jerusalem has been a heart wrenching trip for Paul , and finally in verse 13 he utters his heart feelings.

Parting from loved ones is a sad and hard thing to do emotionally. But God has promised the believer that a day is coming (in eternity) when all tears will be wiped away, Revelation 21:4, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."