06/19-20/0213 The Family that Prays Together…: Acts 21:4-6 Acts 21:4-6 And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there [in Tyre of Syria] for seven days. And 4 And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5 When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed 6 and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home. 5 When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed 6 and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home. Comments / Questions: - Although the disciples at Tyre were telling Paul through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem, this seems to be from their understanding of what suffering awaited Paul, and a desire to protect him. a) It was not a command from the Holy Spirit to avoid Jerusalem, but possibly a preparation (see scriptures below) - Notice that the men of Tyre brought their wives and children along with them to say good-bye to Paul and friends. a) This is one of the few examples in the New Testament of a church gathering. b) Whole families were together, knelt down on the beach, and prayed as they sent off Paul. - What value is there in having wives and children present in a church gathering? 1 Corinthians 14:29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. ESV Acts 16:6-10 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. ESV Acts 20:22-24 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. ESV Acts 23:1 And looking intently at the council, Paul said, "Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day." ESV Acts 23:11 The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome." ESV Nehemiah 8:1-3 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. ESV What got to my heart? Prayer, Action, Thoughts.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Jun 2013 16:03:41 +0000