As we have mentioned before, Paul wrote several great Church epistles prior to heading toward Jerusalem. Under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit Paul wrote, among other Books,  Romans. The epistles that Paul wrote were not, as the hyperdispensationalists state, addressed to a Gentile Church, but were addressed to the WHOLE Church, as Peter’s commendation reflects:

Paul, along with Peter and the other Apostles, were Apostles to the whole Church, but their evangelistic thrusts were directed along completely different lines. Peter, James, and the other Jewish Apostles, though they evangelized among both Jews and Gentiles, directed most of their evangelistic efforts among Israel. Paul, on the other hand, his ministry of evangelism was clearly to be focused toward the Gentiles, for he was rejected of the Jews but had a ministry among the Gentiles that overshadowed any of the evangelists since.

The ministry that Paul was called to, to evangelize the Gentiles, was a ministry that God had predestined Paul to follow. Paul described his calling in detail in Galatians when he wrote:

(Galatians 1:15-16 KJV) "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, {16} To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:"

From the point of his calling Paul did something extraordinary, something unheard of among preachers of any era. Rather than run off and join the nearest seminary, rather than trot to the headquarters of the Church or of some denomination and beg the authorities - the "big names" in religion - to validate his ministry, Paul focused on the Word of God and God's leading and grew as a believer. He spent three years in God's seminary studying the Word ...

(Galatians 1:17-19 KJV) "Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. {18} Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. {19} But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother."

... and ministering among the Gentiles before he ever went to Jerusalem. After THREE YEARS he went to Jerusalem and presented himself to Peter, the chief Apostle, and James the Lord's half brother (who ministered the Church at Jerusalem). This was an act of graciousness on his part. God is NOT the Author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), Paul wanted to let Peter and James know of his impending ministry - but he did NOT approach the Church at Jerusalem.

(Galatians 1:21-24 KJV) "Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; {22} And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: {23} But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. {24} And they glorified God in me."

The "churches of Judaea", predominantly Jewish Churches founded under the preaching of Peter and James and headquartered and Jerusalem, these Churches had heard of Paul but had never seen him. The "grapevine" among these beloved believers all passed word of Paul's ministry - "Did you hear about Saul of Tarsus? He who once persecuted us, Jesus saved him, and now he witnesses to the Gentiles - praise Jesus!" - yet never laid eyes on Paul. Why? Because Paul knew he was to minister among the Gentiles, not among the Jews, and for this reason stayed out of Peter and James' pulpits. What a wonderful mental attitude, and so refreshing when compared to the competitive attitude of the average preacher today. Paul had a ministry and stayed within the bounds of his ministry. He stayed out of Jerusalem until legalism reared its ugly head in the Judean Churches, teaching that you "must be circumcised to be saved". When this lie - that a ritual that we could do must be added to the wonderful work of salvation that Christ alone purchased with His blood - started to rear its ugly head the Lord led Paul to go to Jerusalem fourteen years after his ministry began. Paul records this fateful meeting in Galatians 2 whereas Luke, the blessed physician, records the same meeting in Acts 15.

Paul knew that he was to go to the Gentiles, to Rome to preach. That was his ministry, that was his calling in the Body of Christ. Nearly everytime that Paul followed his calling, evangelizing the Gentiles, he saw the fruit of his labor. Yet the times when Paul attempted to witness Christ to the Jews, when he attempted to speak the Gospel to those whom he was most intimately acquainted with, on those times he saw no fruit - only anguish and anger:

No, Paul was an Apostle, equal with all the other Apostles in their authority in the One Church of Jesus Christ, yet his evangelistic thrust was to be focused toward the Gentiles, not the Jews. Paul knew this, and knew of the dangers of quenching the Holy Spirit of God:

For he had written of this to the Thessalonians before now. He had written to the Galatians, teaching against Judaizers and keeping of the Law of Moses for salvation.

But, Beloved of God, Paul was oh so human. He loved his people, the Jews, these hardheaded people. He felt that he would be willing to suffer damnation for them if they would only see the truth of Christ their Messiah. As Paul said:

(Romans 9:3-5 KJV) "For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: {4} Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; {5} Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen."

Oh, the agony to know the truth of Christ and see so many, whom you love, step down into the pit of Hellfire. Oh to know the beauty and wonder of the resurrected Christ, to feel that wonder in your own life, to partake of that Water that quenches all thirst and that Bread that satisfies all hunger - then see those whom you love reject the Bread of Heaven for death and destruction. The times I have wished, Beloved of God, that I could shake the sinner and make him or her see the Christ! I understand, dear Apostle, I understand. Yet we cannot believe for others. Like Noah, we cannot force humans on the boat of salvation. Like Lot, we cannot stop our relatives from looking back to sin and, in so doing, bring about their own destruction. Paul would, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, write the Book of Galatians, a fantastic treatise against legalism. Paul would stand strong against legalism, especially against ritual legalism for salvation (such as circumcision). Yet Paul would later violate the very truths God wrote through him in Galatians when he goes to Jerusalem contrary to God's Will.

The absolute peak of Paul’s ministry was reflected in Acts 19:20. This was after Paul had written six of the Church Epistles, after Paul had received confirmation and direction from God that he was to go to the Gentiles. Yet, even with all of the clear indications of assignment that he was given, even with the clear direction of God the Holy Spirit, Paul still decided within himself to head toward Jerusalem. When he went to Jerusalem on an earlier date under the leading of God the Holy Spirit, that visit would help combat legalism in the Church, would straighten out Peter's aberrant view of circumcision and the Grace of God, and would bring public support for Paul's calling among the Gentiles from the pillars of the Church. When he goes to Jerusalem outside of the leading of God - that's when trouble comes:

(Acts 19:20-21, NET Bible) “In this way the word of the Lord continued to grow in power and to prevail.  19:21 Now after all these things had taken place, Paul resolved to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia.”

(Acts 19:21 KJV)  "After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, (the human spirit, not the Holy Spirit) when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying,  After I have been there, I must also see (Aorist Active Infinitive horao, to visit, see as if a tourist. Paul’s will was changed, from what God wanted [to go and stay in Rome] to what he wanted [to just visit Rome]) Rome."

There are some who interpret Acts 19:21 as "Paul was told by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem". Yet such an interpretation is only a reading into the text of what is not there. Up to this point Paul's ministry, as outlined by God the Holy Spirit (Whom, we know, divides the gifts to every man as He wills - 1 Corinthians 12:11), has been for Paul to preach and evangelize among the Gentiles. He has had an amazing amount of fruit from among the Gentiles, yet little to no fruit among the Jews. Every indication of Paul's calling has shown that he is to focus on the Gentiles, not the Jews. Why, based on the context of Scripture up to this point, would we suddenly believe that God the Holy Spirit changed His mind and said, "All right, Paul, let's go to Jerusalem and vow a Nazarite vow in the Temple. Let's leave Grace and compromise with the Judaizers, and maybe trick them into accepting Jesus as Savior. Let's go, Paul!" HOGWASH! Robertson says of eteto en ti pneumati, "Second Aorist middle indicative for mental action and "spirit" expressed also. A new stage in Paul's career begins here, a new division of the Acts." That is true, for this section does denote a new stage in Paul's career, but not necessarily a good stage. Paul made a fateful decision that would impede the fantastic Gospel ministry that he had among the Gentiles - yet God would use this poor choice to accomplish a greater good nonetheless.

We would all be wise, Beloved of God, to understand that our Creator works with us to try and bring us to a place of greatest good for both ourselves and His Plan. We can choose to follow our own will apart from His Will. When we do so, our Creator will often "take the lemons that our actions have created, and make lemonade". God would do this with Paul's poor decision to go to Jerusalem - but first He would warn the Apostle against going to this barren fig tree (Mark 11:13-14). Israel had already decided to reject Messiah for the Law. Israel was destined to suffer dispersion under Rome in 70 AD for its disobedience, to be "cut off" for a time (Romans 9:31-10:3). They had made their bed, and there was nothing that Paul could do to correct the situation. Thus, when he made this fateful decision, God would warn him against going to Jerusalem not once, but repeatedly.

God gave Paul several warnings as he moved toward Jerusalem and away from Rome. The earliest warning came from God Himself while Paul was newly converted, not yet in disobedience, and in Jerusalem. God told him:

(Acts 22:17-21 KJV)  “And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; {18} And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. {19} And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: {20} And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. {21} And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. “

Paul recounts this revelation from God later in his ministry, as he stood before an unruly mob in Jerusalem – a mob he incited by his very presence. This earliest warning was not recorded when it happened in Acts, but several years later from Paul’s own mouth. God told Paul to leave Jerusalem – and Paul understood why – because of the mischief he brought on the Church as a worker for the Sanhedrin. Listen Beloved of God: It is true that first impressions are lasting impressions. When Saul of Tarsus persecuted Christians under the guidance of the Sanhedrin, he put an image of himself in the mind of every Jew that came to Christ in that Jerusalem Church. Paul would have no fruit in Jerusalem. God told Paul in that first vision that he was going to preach to the Gentiles, not the Jews.

As Paul moved toward Jerusalem it became evident that he was being warned NOT TO GO any further. In Ephesus there was nearly a riot, brought on when Paul wanted to preach there. Demetrius, a silversmith, had become rich by making small statues of the goddess Diana and selling them in Ephesus. Demetrius got all the other merchants to stage a riot against Paul, lest he, by preaching Christ, harm their trade. Were it not for the intervention of the town's clerk Paul could have been killed there. Yet Paul did not heed this warning. Rather than rethink his position,  after the riot Paul went to Macedonia:

(Acts 20:1-2 KJV)  “And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. {2} And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,”

Then he went to Philippi, then to Troas (Troy):

(Acts 20:6 KJV)  “And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.”

Then he took a ship to Miletus, the port of Ephesus, and sent for the elders there:

(Acts 20:17 KJV)  “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.”

(Acts 20:22 KJV)  “And now, behold, I go bound (Passive Voice, having been bound) in the ^ng  spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:”

Paul, as a younger man, had been to Jerusalem. As a Jew among Jews, trained by Gamaliel the Jewish scholar, Paul was commissioned to work with the Sanhedrin while in Jerusalem. After his salvation, Paul went to Jerusalem to see Cephas (Peter) and James, the half  brother of Jesus and Bishop of the Church there. Paul had been told by the Apostles, and by God, that he was to be the Apostle to the Gentiles – and Paul had a phenomenal ministry, up to this point, among the Gentiles. Because his ministry was so successful among the Gentiles Paul was anxious to take the message to Israel, to preach the Gospel from the Temple.

(Acts 20:23 KJV)  “Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth (solemnly tells, like a Judge would tell) in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions (desmon:G1199 + thlipsis:G2347 = chains and affliction. God the Holy Spirit DID warn Paul prior to the other warnings [later in this text]) abide me.”(This was NOT a good thing, but was a warning of impending judgment if Paul went to Jerusalem)

Paul would go through five different trials under Festus and Felix Antonius in the province of Judea. Finally Paul would appeal to Caesar, which was his right as a Roman citizen – and at that point he was no longer to be judged under the Judean Court, but had to be shipped to Rome for judgment.

Then from Miletus, he sailed to Troy (Acts 21:1-3), received a warning not to go to Jerusalem (Acts 21:4-19).

(Acts 21:4 KJV)  “And finding (Aorist, culminative, Participle, looking them up) disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said (Imperfect Active Indicative lego, kept telling Paul) to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.”

(NET Bible: Acts 21:4) After we located the disciples, we stayed there seven days. They repeatedly told Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem.

(1833 Webster, Acts 21:4) "And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem."

(Revised Standard Version, Acts 21:4) "And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go on to Jerusalem."

(International Standard Version, Acts 21:4) "So we looked up the disciples and stayed there for seven days. Through the Spirit they kept telling Paul not to go to Jerusalem"

God the Holy Spirit TOLD PAUL to not go to Jerusalem, which is clearly indicated in this passage. Why would God the Spirit tell Paul, "Go to Jerusalem", then tell others around him "tell Paul not to go to Jerusalem"? God is not the Author of confusion, but of Peace (1 Corinthians 14:33). God the Spirit does not change His mind, nor is He wishy washy – He clearly directed the Apostle away from Jerusalem in the first warning, and, now that Paul is NOT paying attention, God the Spirit starts speaking to Paul through others around him. God does not change His mind like a befuddled old man. He knows all things, for He looks at the hearts of men, and had already determined that Paul would be ineffective in Jerusalem. As the Scripture states::

(Numbers 23:19 KJV)  "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"

(1 Samuel 15:29 KJV)  "And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent."

(James 1:17 KJV)  "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

This was not just a simple warning, but Paul was told REPEATEDLY by these brothers, filled with the Holy Spirit, not to go to Jerusalem. Most commentaries dance around this verse, trying to make it seem that Paul did NOT disobey God in going forth, but that he somehow went on anyway within God’s Will. One commentary, Expositor’s Bible Commentary, page 516 does this waltz:

????? What ????? I have never heard a clearer presentation of hogwash in all my life. A more twisted dance of logic I have never seen, yet this commentary – in this text – seems bent on twisting the plain sense of Scripture out of context in order to negate Paul’s error. This seems to be the trend, I have noticed, among all commentaries of note concerning this passage - even though the clear context of Scripture, in this passage and up to this point - makes it plain that Paul's work was to be among the Gentiles. Even though Paul had been called to be the missionary to the Gentiles  three years prior to this, even though his place in the Body of Christ was to lead the Gentiles into that Body, even though all the Apostles – Paul himself included – agreed that Paul was more effective toward the Gentiles, and needed to stay in  this venue, and, even with the clear warning of this Scripture, commentators and Biblical scholars excuse and ignore the Apostle’s failure so clearly illustrated here. Says Henry Alford in Alford’s Greek Testament, page 235:

Though I have the greatest of respect for Alford’s work, the dance that he performs around this text boggles the mind. To go with his declaration or supposition is to make the blessed Holy Spirit of God subject to each man’s whims at least,  a highly ineffective Guide that each man can overrule and color with his own superior emotions. Or, the text almost seems to suggest, the Spirit of God seems almost schizophrenic, suggesting one thing to one man, Paul, and an entirely different scenario to the others. Yet such treatment of God’s Holy Word and impeccable Person must surely be  rejected.

The plain sense of the Scripture is that God the Holy Spirit told Paul, through these Tyranian believers, that he was NOT to go to Jerusalem. This prohibition follows the special revelation that had been given to Paul and the other Apostles that he, Paul, was to focus his ministry toward the Gentiles, not toward the Jews. As I went through my commentaries and saw the twisting that so many did around what I believed was a clear prohibition to Paul against going to Jerusalem, I nearly despaired. Was I reading too much into the text, and into the general tenor of Paul’s ministry up to this point? Yet, thank God, in Wilmington’s Guide To The Bible , pages 390-391, I found a commentator who would clearly state the truth of this text:

It is clear, from any normative reading of the text, that Paul is warned and directed by the Holy Spirit NOT to go to Jerusalem. I understand and sympathize with his reasoning, his great love for his fellow Israelites. There are times when I, as a minister of the Gospel, a teacher of God’s Word, want to take a stick and knock some sense in the unbeliever’s head, to force them to see the truths of God’s Word and live by them. There are heathen that I would love to force to the foot of the Cross, to save them in spite of themselves. Yet, even with the desire, even knowing what Scripture says is best, many will reject the Word, reject the message, live lives of quiet stupidity while heading toward eternal damnation. And I - we all - have to learn to accept that. Paul had to learn to accept that truth. The Apostle, blessed man that he was, was human. He loved Israel, and wanted her to find the Christ that found Him. Even though, as Wilmington notes, Paul was warned early on in his ministry by God Himself, while in a trance, that his ministry among those of Jerusalem would be fruitless:

(Acts 22:17-22 KJV)  “And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; {18} And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. {19} And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: {20} And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. {21} And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles. {22} And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.”

Just as we noted at the beginning of this section. Yet there  he went, onward to Caesarea, the port for Jerusalem which Herod the Great built. Driven by love, but not by good sense or God the Holy Spirit, Paul was intent on reaching Jerusalem, just as a salmon is intent on moving upstream to his place of birth. Neither logic nor Spirit led him, and the blessed Apostle would live to regret his decision.

(Acts 21:8 KJV)  “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; (initial deacons that tended to tending of the poor) and abode with him.”

(Acts 21:9 KJV)  “And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.” (note that not one of these virgins warned Paul. See 1 Timothy 2:11-12; 1 Corinthians 14:34. The women were never to teach men in the spiritual life)

(Acts 21:10 KJV)  “And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus.”

(Acts 21:11 KJV)  “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, (the Holy Spirit knew the will of God for his life, but Paul rejected this will for emotion) So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”

(NET Bible: 21:11) He came to us, took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it, and said, “The Holy Spirit says this: ‘This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man whose belt this is, and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”

(Acts 21:11 New International Version) "Coming 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 Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'""

(Acts 21:11 New Revised Standard) "He came to us and took Paul's belt, bound his own feet and hands with it, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'""

(Acts 21:11 New American Standards) "And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, "This is what the Holy Spirit says: 'In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'""

Do you see a common theme here, even among all the translations of the same Holy Text? Paul's ministry would be fruitless in Jerusalem. When he goes to Jerusalem he will NOT see fruit nor blessing from God, but he will be bound and turned over to the Gentile authorities.

Now let me ask you this question. If Paul had a fruitful and prosperous ministry among the Gentiles, how does it serve God's best interests for him to go to Jerusalem only to be bound over to the Gentile authorities? Paul could have stayed where he was, among the Gentiles, and continued to have fruit. He could have avoided Jerusalem and went to Rome under his own power. Yet, by going to Jerusalem outside of the Will of God, Paul would do nothing but incite riot and trouble among the Jews. In the end he would be bound over to the authorities, imprisoned, and carried to Rome for trial - where he should have went in the first place.

When we all - even those of rank within the Church - learn that God's Will will triumph in the end, our lives would be much better off. Better to do as God commands in the first place, than to try and do as we please and - in the end - be forced into His Will in the second place. Paul would learn this lesson the hard way, for this third warning was VERY clear. Paul was not to go to Jerusalem. His ministry was among the Gentiles, not among Israel – yet Paul was still blinded by emotion.

Those who were with Paul, in addition to Agabus, warned Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Yet he ignored the warnings of the Spirit of God, the Prophet from the Spirit, and the general counsel of the Church.

(Acts 21:12 KJV)  “And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought (parakaleo:G3870, begged, called him alongside to warn) him not to go up to Jerusalem.”

(Acts 21:13 KJV)  “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.”

(Acts 21:14 KJV)  “And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.”

Was Agabus a false prophet? No, for if he were then the things which happened to Paul would not have come to pass. Paul was warned by God's man Agabus to avoid Jerusalem, yet Paul ignored the warning. Next those who were with Paul recognized the spiritual truth in what Agabus said, and joined in the cry of warning. "Don't go, Paul - heed God!" Yet Paul was intent on following his own will, his own concern for Israel.

The final statement that these believers made to Paul, “The will of the Lord be done”, was not stated in recognition of God’s will being carried out by Paul going to Jerusalem. This was not the will of God, but an action that God repeatedly warned Paul against taking. The brethren made a statement that showed their own surrender to Paul’s decision, much as I have often used when counseling hardheaded people who will not listen. There comes a time when, having done all and said all, the believer must be left alone to find his own way in Christ. As Paul wrote:

(Ephesians 5:16-17 KJV)  “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. {17} Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”

We as believers need to seek out and know what the Will of God is for our lives, per God’s Spirit and His Holy Word. We must not be hard headed when God is trying to lead us down one path, or away from another path. No, we need to heed the counsel of God … and of those brothers and sisters in Christ around us, the Church of God, for God often speaks to us through the congregation of the Church. Paul had made up his mind, and was obsessively driven toward Jerusalem regardless as to the consequences of his action.

When we see the Apostle’s action and words we are tempted to applaud him, to cheer him on. “Very good, Paul, let nothing stand in your way. Lay down your life for Jerusalem, just as Jesus laid down his life for us all”. I have read commentaries that likened Paul’s unselfish action of going to Jerusalem with Christ’s unselfish action of going to the Cross. Hogwash! The two cannot be equated, cannot even pretend to be the same. Yes, the action would be unselfish – if that was what God wanted Paul to do. Yet we have seen that God, from the very start, in fact, has told Paul that his ministry in the capital city of Jerusalem would be fruitless. He was told, from the very start, that the very history of who he had been before Christ would drive him into a position where he would HAVE to witness among the Gentiles. He was warned that, if he persisted, that he would be bound and imprisoned in Jerusalem, and eventually this action would lead to his death. He was told, and he agreed, that he was to go to the Gentiles, and leave Jerusalem to Peter, James, and John. Yet he persisted, and his going to Jerusalem did nothing but imprison him, incite riots, and generally bear no fruit whatsoever for God.

On the other hand, our Lord Jesus Christ approached the Father THREE TIMES, seeking to see if  the Cross and its punishment could be avoided. You see this story in:

(Matthew 26:39, 42, 44 KJV)  “And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt….He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. … And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.”

Paul’s attitude in going to Jerusalem was “I will, I am, I am ready to be bound also, and to die”. Jesus’ attitude was, “Father, I am ready to do your will, not mine”. Paul went to Jerusalem and incited riots. Jesus went to Jerusalem, was crucified, died, and resurrected, bringing millions of both Jews and Gentiles to salvation in Him. Paul was warned in the Spirit by Agabus, many brethren, and by God in a vision to get out of Jerusalem. Jesus was told that He had to go so He could pay the penalty for our sins on the horrible tree. The two cannot be equated.

I am certain that the Apostle Paul moved toward Jerusalem with the best of intentions. I am certain that he had no intention of events turning out the way that they did. Good intentions, however, do not necessarily lead to good results. What leads to good results in the Christian walk is that we order our lives (1) by faith in Jesus, (2) by the applied truths of God’s Holy Word, the Bible, and (3) by the leading and filling of God’s Holy Spirit. If we  step away from these truths, allowing emotionalism and our own desires to drive our lives, then we are certain to fall, just as Paul fell. The Apostles taught us that from the very beginning, when they took a vote and made Matthias an Apostle (Acts 1:16-26). This was the height of arrogance, and the height of stupidity for Peter. You do not VOTE an Apostle into office – Jesus Christ alone determines who is and is not an Apostle – no more than you VOTE a Pastor or a Deacon into office. Oh, you may make a “democratic vote” on who you think is a good candidate, but unless God the Holy Spirit has given that person the GIFT

(1 Corinthians 12:11, 28 KJV)  “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. … And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”

GOD sets Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, and so forth in the Church, NOT MAN. And no matter how emotional we become, no matter how certain we are that our way is right, no matter what we “feel”, unless God establishes a person in that position, with the gifts needed to fulfill that position, then we can vote all we like. Our vote is in vain. Matthias faded out of the picture, and is never heard from in Scripture again for, though the Apostles voted for him, God did not set him in the Church as an Apostle. This is MOST important, and applicable to Paul and his error in going to Jerusalem. Paul wanted to go to Jerusalem to evangelize the lost sheep of Israel, but God had not placed him in this position. Paul was just as much an Apostle as was Peter, James, John, and the rest (minus Matthias), but his established ministry – the ministry that God gave specifically to him – was to the Gentiles. God alone sets members in the Body, God alone fills offices in His Church. Though his motivation was good, his actions were wrong, for his actions did not stem from God’s Word but from Paul’s emotion.

To this we need to take heed. If Paul fell, and went to Jerusalem without God’s blessing; if Peter fell, and tried to make circumcision a condition of salvation; if Moses fell, and struck the Rock rather than speaking to it; if Abraham fell, and tried to make out that his wife was only his sister; if David fell, murdering Uriah and taking Bathsheba to himself; if these great men fell, then we need to take heed lest we fall. We need to put aside our emotionalism, our own ways, our thoughts of how things ought to be, and focus on what God’s Word and God’s Spirit has for us in our lives. In America today the average Christian is weak compared to the Christian of yesteryear. Preachers in earlier times, the Spurgeon's, the Finneys, the Wesleys, could preach for over an hour and the Christian would remain focused on the good Word of God. Today the average believer expects to go to Church, sing for 30 minutes, watch an entertaining “special” attraction for 10 minutes, then expects the Pastor to preach the Word for 15 minutes - 15 MINUTES! Woe to the Pastor who goes over this time limit. Pastors, rather than refocusing their flocks on the Word, look for entertainment, PowerPoint presentations, purpose driven programs, anything to satisfy the emotionalism of their flock. The trend is ever moving downward, believer. We need to refocus on the Word, on God’s Will for our lives as reflected by both the Spirit and the Word.