A Captive of the Spirit
I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. - Acts 20:23-24
Paul was determined. But as we hear the story of Paul’s difficult journey to Jerusalem and what faced him, I have to ask “Why was he so determined to go to Jerusalem - what motivated him?”
Just travelling by ship and by land was difficult. Yet it was made more difficult by the warmth of the love and fellowship of the believers. Why couldn’t he stay longer? He was so loved and appreciated by the disciples he had made, and by the disciples who had never met him but who had encountered Jesus through disciples made by disciples made by disciples made by Paul!
As if that was not enough, he had so many prophetic words shared about imprisonment and persecutions ahead (20:23). Agabus, a noted prophet, used a dramatic and imaginative picture to share the same message. Even his team members like Luke, the author, tried to persuade him not to go on to Jerusalem. After all, the Holy Spirit was revealing this for a purpose .. surely it was to warn him away!
Paul was not determined out of awkwardness. There are indications in various passages of how he submitted to his team and other apostles. He knew that as a teacher he must be teachable and accountable.
Paul also knew the place of prophetic words is to encourage and apply to particular contexts what God has revealed already through scripture, prayerful reflection and the community of the Spirit.
Paul knew from the start he would suffer persecution. So it was not to be avoided because, through it, Paul could fulfil his calling.
He was determined because he was single minded in his love for God.
So Paul was prepared to suffer anything for the sake of following Jesus. He describes himself as “a captive of the Spirit” (20:22) on the way to Jerusalem and in verse 24 Paul declares why he was so determined. He wanted to finish the ministry Jesus gave him, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.
Paul’s mission was to do this first by preaching and teaching, often with tears from compassion, to make disciples who would make disciples.
Second, he testified to the good news transforming Gentiles to Jewish believers who could hardly believe it possible! We sense the potential tensions in his discussion with James and Paul’s grace in submitting to a suggestion that led to his imprisonment. (Paul never blamed James for this!)
Delivering the Gentile disciples’ gifts of money for the Jewish disciples was hugely important to Paul (and to God) in promoting unity.
Third, as a prisoner he was able to testify to God’s grace to visitors, captors and ultimately to the Emperor’s court and household.
He was fruitful in his ministry as a free man. He was fruitful when persecuted. And he was fruitful as he managed to proclaim the good news in the centre of power in the empire, challenging the spiritual and political powers at all levels.
- Chris Horton
Just travelling by ship and by land was difficult. Yet it was made more difficult by the warmth of the love and fellowship of the believers. Why couldn’t he stay longer? He was so loved and appreciated by the disciples he had made, and by the disciples who had never met him but who had encountered Jesus through disciples made by disciples made by disciples made by Paul!
As if that was not enough, he had so many prophetic words shared about imprisonment and persecutions ahead (20:23). Agabus, a noted prophet, used a dramatic and imaginative picture to share the same message. Even his team members like Luke, the author, tried to persuade him not to go on to Jerusalem. After all, the Holy Spirit was revealing this for a purpose .. surely it was to warn him away!
Paul was not determined out of awkwardness. There are indications in various passages of how he submitted to his team and other apostles. He knew that as a teacher he must be teachable and accountable.
Paul also knew the place of prophetic words is to encourage and apply to particular contexts what God has revealed already through scripture, prayerful reflection and the community of the Spirit.
Paul knew from the start he would suffer persecution. So it was not to be avoided because, through it, Paul could fulfil his calling.
He was determined because he was single minded in his love for God.
So Paul was prepared to suffer anything for the sake of following Jesus. He describes himself as “a captive of the Spirit” (20:22) on the way to Jerusalem and in verse 24 Paul declares why he was so determined. He wanted to finish the ministry Jesus gave him, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.
Paul’s mission was to do this first by preaching and teaching, often with tears from compassion, to make disciples who would make disciples.
Second, he testified to the good news transforming Gentiles to Jewish believers who could hardly believe it possible! We sense the potential tensions in his discussion with James and Paul’s grace in submitting to a suggestion that led to his imprisonment. (Paul never blamed James for this!)
Delivering the Gentile disciples’ gifts of money for the Jewish disciples was hugely important to Paul (and to God) in promoting unity.
Third, as a prisoner he was able to testify to God’s grace to visitors, captors and ultimately to the Emperor’s court and household.
He was fruitful in his ministry as a free man. He was fruitful when persecuted. And he was fruitful as he managed to proclaim the good news in the centre of power in the empire, challenging the spiritual and political powers at all levels.
- Chris Horton
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