Joel M Bradshaw

10After [Paul and his traveling companions] had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”

12When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”–Acts 21

1. The Messenger: A local prophet who was able to predict the future. Again, Acts is describing, not prescribing. Prophets were normal offices in a church whose Bible had not fully been written. We have the complete Bible today. The Word of God is complete and needs no additions.
2. The Message: Paul was going to be bound, arrested, and given to Rome to deal with. This would be what would eventually happen to Paul.
3. The Response: Paul once carried the church to extreme persecution. Now, he was willing to face that persecution. He was motivated to serve Jesus, no matter what the Lord’s will entailed.

How do you respond to this story? It causes me to look at the events of my own life and see to honor Jesus, come what may.–JMB