Do you think Paul was in the will of God when he went to Jerusalem, after he was told by Disciples in the Spirit "Don't go to Jerusalem " Acts 21:4,11 and Agabus the prophet "Thus saith the Holy Ghost...Jews at Jerusalem bind the man......" v.14 " And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased saying, The will of he Lord be done."?
Hi ED. I believe that this urge & urgency for Paul to go to Jerusalem began a long while ago. We read about his desire to be in Jerusalem, first in Acts 18:21. Though it seems that he didn't make it, as Acts 19:10 shows that he got caught up in ministry in Ephesus for over two years. But still he wanted to get to Jerusalem ( Acts 19:21) & then to visit Rome.
And then in Acts 20:16, Paul wanted to bypass Asia in his travels, so as to get to Jerusalem for Pentecost. But Paul knew beforehand what lay ahead of him there: Acts 20:22-25. And then we get to Acts 21:4 & then to Acts 21:10-12. So Paul already knew that something might happen at Jerusalem, yet he was "bound in the spirit" to go there, that "bounds & afflictions" were his lot wherever he went. So then in verse 4, could this be a further Word from the Spirit that sufferings lay before him at Jerusalem, even as Agabus had also declared? That this wasn't a direct command from God not to go but another message of warning of what lay ahead for him if he should go? Paul knew that he was close to "finishing his course" & felt the need to complete the ministry in Jerusalem. If the Lord wanted anything different for him, it would be certain that obstructions would have been placed before him or he would have received God's Word directly about his disobedience.
So, even without a full certainty, we should be assured that Paul was led of the Spirit & all that befell him throughout his ministry was not of his doing, but in line with the Plan & Purposes of God to reach those in Israel, Asia Minor & Greece. And of course, Paul eventually was taken prisoner to Rome - so he got to 'visit' that city after all & "received all that came unto him", albeit as a prisoner.
And then in Acts 20:16, Paul wanted to bypass Asia in his travels, so as to get to Jerusalem for Pentecost. But Paul knew beforehand what lay ahead of him there: Acts 20:22-25. And then we get to Acts 21:4 & then to Acts 21:10-12. So Paul already knew that something might happen at Jerusalem, yet he was "bound in the spirit" to go there, that "bounds & afflictions" were his lot wherever he went. So then in verse 4, could this be a further Word from the Spirit that sufferings lay before him at Jerusalem, even as Agabus had also declared? That this wasn't a direct command from God not to go but another message of warning of what lay ahead for him if he should go? Paul knew that he was close to "finishing his course" & felt the need to complete the ministry in Jerusalem. If the Lord wanted anything different for him, it would be certain that obstructions would have been placed before him or he would have received God's Word directly about his disobedience.
So, even without a full certainty, we should be assured that Paul was led of the Spirit & all that befell him throughout his ministry was not of his doing, but in line with the Plan & Purposes of God to reach those in Israel, Asia Minor & Greece. And of course, Paul eventually was taken prisoner to Rome - so he got to 'visit' that city after all & "received all that came unto him", albeit as a prisoner.
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