NLT Illustrated Study Bible - Book of Acts - Flipbook - Page 64
A cts 2 1 : 9
2020
went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home
of Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven men
who had been chosen to distribute food. 9 He
had four unmarried daughters who had the
gift of prophecy.
10 Several days later a man named Agabus,
who also had the gift of prophecy, arrived
from Judea. 11 He came over, took Paul’s belt,
and bound his own feet and hands with it.
Then he said, “The Holy Spirit declares, ‘So
shall the owner of this belt be bound by the
Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over
to the Gentiles.’” 12 When we heard this, we
and the local believers all begged Paul not to
go on to Jerusalem.
13 But he said, “Why all this weeping? You
are breaking my i heart! I am ready not only
to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for
the sake of the Lord Jesus.” 14 When it was
clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave
up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
15 After this we packed our things and
left for Jerusalem. 16 Some believers from
Caesarea accompanied us, and they took
us to the home of Mnason, a man originally
from Cyprus and one of the early believers.
17 When we arrived, the brothers and sisters
in Jerusalem welcomed us warmly.
5. PAUL IN JERUSALEM AND CAESAREA
(21:18–26:32)
Paul in Jerusalem (21:18–23:35)
Paul’s Meeting with the Jerusalem
Church Leaders
18 The next day Paul went with us to meet
with James, and all the elders of the Jerusa
lem church were present. 19 After greeting
them, Paul gave a detailed account of the
things God had accomplished among the
Gentiles through his ministry.
20 After hearing this, they praised God.
And then they said, “You know, dear brother,
how many thousands of Jews have also be
21:9
Joel 2:28
Acts 2:17
21:10
Acts 11:28
21:11
Acts 20:23; 21:33
21:13
Acts 20:24
i kardia (2588)
Rom
10:9
21:14
Matt 26:39
21:19
Acts 15:12
21:20
Acts 15:1, 5
Gal 3:1011
The Gift of Prophecy
Acts 21:911
Exod 15:20
Deut 13:15
Judg 4:4
1 Kgs 11:2932
2 Kgs 22:1420
Isa 20:26; 44:25
Jer 13:111;
23:2532
Ezek 4:117; 13:29
Joel 2:2832
Matt 7:15; 24:24
Acts 2:1721;
11:2728; 13:1;
15:32; 19:6; 20:23
Rom 12:6
1 Cor 11:5; 12:411;
14:140
Eph 4:1113
1 Thes 5:1921
2 Pet 2:1
1 Jn 4:13
Rev 2:2023; 19:10
As Peter had declared at Pentecost, the gift of prophecy was one of the results of the out
pouring of God’s Holy Spirit (2:1721; see Joel 2:2832). The book of Acts names a few Chris
tian prophets (Acts 11:2728; 13:1; 15:32; 21:911; see also Martyrdom of Polycarp 12:3;
16:2). One of the prophets was Agabus, whose function was similar to that of an OT prophet,
performing symbolic acts (Acts 21:1011; see 1 Kgs 11:2932; Isa 20:26; Jer 13:111; “Pro
phetic Sign Acts,” Ezek 4:1-17) and predicting events to come (Acts 11:28; 21:1011).
Philip the Evangelist was the father of four young women who “had the gift of prophecy”
(21:9). The apostle Paul also acknowledged the prophetic gift of some Christian women (1 Cor
11:5). In the OT, most prophets were men, but several women are described as prophets:
Miriam (Exod 15:20), Deborah (Judg 4:4), and Huldah (2 Kgs 22:1420; 2 Chr 34:2228). In the
NT, the gift of prophecy is given to both men and women, and both young and old, as Peter
signaled in his sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:1718).
Although prophecy sometimes involves foretelling the future (20:23; 21:1011; see Rom
9:2326; 1 Thes 4:1317; 2 Thes 2:34), at its core prophecy is proclaiming God’s word by
preaching, exhorting, and explaining the will of God (Acts 15:32; 19:6; Rom 12:6; 1 Cor
14:34, 2933; Rev 19:10). The gift of prophecy is clearly mentioned in 1 Corinthians and
Ephesians as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and of Christ to the church (1 Cor 12:411;
Eph 4:11). It is to be used for the benefit of believers (1 Cor 14:22).
Prophecy is always in need of testing (1 Thes 5:1921), and the church is strongly warned
against false prophets (1 Jn 4:1; Rev 2:2023). When used faithfully and in submission to God’s
word and his Spirit, courageous proclamation of God’s truth helps the church to determine
what God’s will is and inspires God’s people to do it.
21:9 Philip’s daughters’ gift of prophecy
demonstrated the fulfillment of Joel’s
prophecy, as Peter had preached at Pen
tecost (2:1721; Joel 2:2832).
21:10 Luke juxtaposes female prophets
(21:9) with a male prophet (see note on
17:34). Agabus, like the OT prophets,
used symbolic actions to proclaim his
message (see “Prophetic Sign Acts,” Ezek
4:117).
T H E P E N TAT E U C H
21:1114 Despite Agabus’s prediction
of suffering and the believers’ begging
Paul not to go to Jerusalem, Paul was
resolutely ready even to die for the sake
of the Lord Jesus. Luke stresses Paul’s
courage, determination, and heroism
as a Christian missionary who would let
nothing interfere with his mission. See
note on 21:46.
21:1819 It was important for James and
ISRAEL’S HISTORY
all the elders of the Jerusalem church to
hear of Paul’s successful mission among
the Gentiles and for the mother church
to continue to endorse this effort (21:20;
see 15:721). Paul’s report communi
cated that God had accomplished his
purposes among the Gentiles through
Paul’s ministry.
21:2025 The Jerusalem church leaders
urged Paul to strengthen his credibility
POETRY & WISDOM
