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Chapter 37
Paul's Last Journey to Jerusalem
PAUL greatly desired to reach Jerusalem before the Passover as he would
thus have an opportunity to meet those who should come from all parts of
the world to attend the feast. Ever he cherished the hope that in some
way he might be instrumental in removing the prejudice of his
unbelieving countrymen, so that they might be led to accept the precious
light of the gospel. He also desired to meet the church at Jerusalem and
bear to them the gifts sent by the Gentile churches to the poor brethren
in Judea. And by this visit he hoped to bring about a firmer union
between the Jewish and the Gentile converts to the faith.
Having completed his work at Corinth, he determined to sail directly for
one of the ports on the coast of Palestine. All the arrangements had
been made, and he was about to step on board the ship, when he was told
of a plot laid by the Jews to take his life. In the past these opposers
of the faith had been foiled in all their efforts to put an end to the
apostle's work.
The success attending the preaching of the gospel aroused the anger of
the Jews anew. From every quarter were coming accounts of the spread of
the new doctrine by which Jews were released from the observance of the
rites of the ceremonial law and Gentiles were admitted to equal
privileges with the Jews as children of Abraham. Paul, in his preaching
at Corinth, presented the same arguments which he urged so forcibly in
his epistles. His emphatic statement, "There is neither Greek nor Jew,
circumcision nor uncircumcision" (Colossians 3:11), was regarded by his
enemies as daring blasphemy, and they determined that his voice should
be silenced.
Upon receiving warning of the plot, Paul decided to go around by way of
Macedonia. His plan to reach Jerusalem in time for the Passover services
had to be given up, but he hoped to be there at Pentecost.
Accompanying Paul and Luke were "Sopater of Berea; and of the
Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and
Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus." Paul had with him a
large sum of money from the Gentile churches, which he purposed to place
in the hands of the brethren in charge of the work in Judea; and because
of this he made arrangements for these representative brethren from
various contributing churches, to accompany him to Jerusalem.
At Philippi Paul tarried to keep the Passover. Only Luke remained with
him, the other members of the company passing on to Troas to await him
there. The Philippians were the most loving and truehearted of the
apostle's converts, and during the eight days of the feast he enjoyed
peaceful and happy communion with them.
Sailing from Philippi, Paul and Luke reached their companions at Troas
five days later, and remained for seven days with the believers in that
place.
Upon the last evening of his stay the brethren "came together to break
bread." The fact that their beloved teacher was about to depart, had
called together a larger company than usual. They assembled in an "upper
chamber" on the third story. There, in the fervency of his love and
solicitude for them, the apostle preached until midnight.
In one of the open windows sat a youth named Eutychus. In this perilous
position he went to sleep and fell to the court below. At once all was
alarm and confusion. The youth was taken up dead, and many gathered
about him with cries and mourning. But Paul, passing through the
frightened company, embraced him and offered up an earnest prayer that
God would restore the dead to life. His petition was granted. Above the
sound of mourning and lamentation the apostle's voice was heard, saying,
"Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him." With rejoicing the
believers again assembled in the upper chamber. They partook of the
Communion, and then Paul "talked a long while, even till break of day."
The ship on which Paul and his companions were to continue their
journey, was about to sail, and the brethren hastened on board. The
apostle himself, however, chose to take the nearer route by land between
Troas and Assos, meeting his companions at the latter city. This gave
him a short season for meditation and prayer. The difficulties and
dangers connected with his coming visit to Jerusalem, the attitude of
the church there toward him and his work, as well as the condition of
the churches and the interests of the gospel work in other fields, were
subjects of earnest, anxious thought, and he took advantage of this
special opportunity to seek God for strength and guidance.
As the travelers sailed southward from Assos, they passed the city of
Ephesus, so long the scene of the apostle's labors. Paul had greatly
desired to visit the church there, for he had important instruction and
counsel to give them. But upon consideration he determined to hasten on,
for he desired, "if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the Day
of Pentecost." On arriving at Miletus, however, about thirty miles from
Ephesus, he learned that it might be possible to communicate with the
church before the ship should sail. He therefore immediately sent a
message to the elders, urging them to hasten to Miletus, that he might
see them before continuing his journey.
In answer to his call they came, and he spoke to them strong, touching
words of admonition and farewell. "Ye know," he said, "from the first
day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all
seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many
tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the
Jews: and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have
showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,
testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward
God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."
Paul had ever exalted the divine law. He had shown that in the law there
is no power to save men from the penalty of disobedience. Wrongdoers
must repent of their sins and humble themselves before God, whose just
wrath they have incurred by breaking His law, and they must also
exercise faith in the blood of Christ as their only means of pardon. The
Son of God had died as their sacrifice and had ascended to heaven to
stand before the Father as their advocate. By repentance and faith they
might be freed from the condemnation of sin and through the grace of
Christ be enabled henceforth to render obedience to the law of God.
"And now, behold," Paul continued, "I go bound in the spirit unto
Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that
the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and
afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I
my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and
the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the
gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among
whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no
more."
Paul had no designed to bear this testimony; but, while he was speaking,
the Spirit of Inspiration came upon him, confirming his fears that this
would be his last meeting with his Ephesian brethren.
"Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood
of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel
of God." No fear of giving offense, no desire for friendship or
applause, could lead Paul to withhold the words that God had given him
for their instruction, warning, or correction. From His servants today
God requires fearlessness in preaching the word and in carrying out its
precepts. The minister of Christ is not to present to the people only
those truths that are the most pleasing, while he withholds others that
might cause them pain. He should watch with deep solicitude the
development of character. If he sees that any of his flock are
cherishing sin he must as a faithful shepherd give them from God's word
the instruction that is applicable to their case. Should he permit them
in their self-confidence to go on unwarned, he would be held responsible
for their souls. The pastor who fulfills his high commission must give
his people faithful instruction on every point of the Christian faith,
showing them what they must be and do in order to stand perfect in the
day of God. He only who is a faithful teacher of the truth will at the
close of his work be able to say with Paul, "I am pure from the blood of
all men."
"Take heed therefore unto yourselves," the apostle admonished his
brethren, "and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made
you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with
His own blood." If ministers of the gospel were to bear constantly in
mind the fact that they are dealing with the purchase of the blood of
Christ, they would have a deeper sense of the importance of their work.
They are to take heed to themselves and to their flock. Their own
example is to illustrate and enforce their instructions. As teachers of
the way of life they should give no occasion for the truth to be evil
spoken of. As representatives of Christ they are to maintain the honor
of His name. By their devotion, their purity of life, their godly
conversation, they are to prove themselves worthy of their high calling.
The dangers that would assail the church at Ephesus were revealed to the
apostle. "I know this," he said, "that after my departing shall grievous
wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own
selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples
after them." Paul trembled for the church as, looking into the future,
he saw the attacks which she must suffer from both external and internal
foes. With solemn earnestness he bade his brethren guard vigilantly
their sacred trusts. For an example he pointed them to his own unwearied
labors among them: "Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of
three years I ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears.
"And now, brethren," he continued, "I commend you to God, and to the
word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an
inheritance among all them which are sanctified. I have coveted no man's
silver, or gold, or apparel." Some of the Ephesian brethren were
wealthy, but Paul had never sought personal benefit from them. It was no
part of his message to call attention to his own wants. "These hands,"
he declared, "have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were
with me." Amidst his arduous labors and extensive journeys for the cause
of Christ, he was able, not only to supply his own wants, but to spare
something for the support of his fellow laborers and the relief of the
worthy poor. This he accomplished only by unremitting diligence and the
closest economy. Well might he point to his own example as he said, "I
have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the
weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is
more blessed to give than to receive.
"And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.
And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,
sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see
his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship."
From Miletus the travelers sailed in "a straight course unto Coos, and
the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara," on the
southwest shore of Asia Minor, where, "finding a ship sailing over unto
Phoenicia," they "went aboard, and set forth." At Tyre, where the ship
was unloaded, they found a few disciples, with whom they were permitted
to tarry seven days. Through the Holy Spirit these disciples were warned
of the perils awaiting Paul at Jerusalem, and they urged him "that he
should not go up to Jerusalem." But the apostle allowed not the fear of
affliction and imprisonment to turn him from his purpose.
At the close of the week spent in Tyre, all the brethren, with their
wives and children, went with Paul to the ship, and before he stepped on
board, they knelt upon the shore and prayed, he for them, and they for
him.
Pursuing their journey southward, the travelers arrived at Caesarea and
"entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the
seven; and abode with him." Here Paul spent a few peaceful, happy
days--the last of perfect freedom that he was to enjoy for a long time.
While Paul tarried at Caesarea, "there came down from Judea a certain
prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us," Luke says, "he
took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus
saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that
owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the
Gentiles."
"When we heard these things," Luke continues, "both we, and they of that
place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem." But Paul would not
swerve from the path of duty. He would follow Christ if need be to
prison and to death. "What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart?" he
exclaimed; "for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at
Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Seeing that they caused him
pain without changing his purpose, the brethren ceased their
importunity, saying only, "The will of the Lord be done."
The time soon came for the brief stay at Caesarea to end, and,
accompanied by some of the brethren, Paul and his company set out for
Jerusalem, their hearts deeply shadowed by the presentiment of coming
evil.
Never before had the apostle approached Jerusalem with so sad a heart.
He knew that he would find few friends and many enemies. He was nearing
the city which had rejected and slain the Son of God and over which now
hung the threatenings of divine wrath. Remembering how bitter had been
his own prejudice against the followers of Christ, he felt the deepest
pity for his deluded countrymen. And yet how little could he hope that
he would be able to help them! The same blind wrath which had once
burned in his own heart, was now with untold power kindling the hearts
of a whole nation against him.
And he could not count upon the sympathy and support of even his own
brethren in the faith. The unconverted Jews who had followed so closely
upon his track, had not been slow to circulate the most unfavorable
reports at Jerusalem, both personally and by letter, concerning him and
his work; and some, even of the apostles and elders, had received these
reports as truth, making no attempt to contradict them, and manifesting
no desire to harmonize with him.
Yet in the midst of discouragements the apostle was not in despair. He
trusted that the Voice which had spoken to his own heart would yet speak
to the hearts of his countrymen, and that the Master whom his fellow
disciples loved and served would yet unite their hearts with his in the
work of the gospel.
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