Acts 21:7-14. Paul's journey back to Jerusalem continues and he and his followers now arrive in Cesarea, where they stay with Philip, the Evangelist, one of the seven first deacons. Philip has four unmarried daughters who prophesy and, during Paul's stay, another prophet named Agabus comes down from Judea. Agabus takes Paul's girdle, binds his hands and feet with it, and declares that Paul will be so bound by the Jews in Jerusalem before they deliver him to the Gentiles. Hearing this, the others beg Paul not to go to Jerusalem, but Paul says he is ready to be imprisoned and even to die for Jesus. When they realize he cannot be persuaded, they cease trying and say "The will of the Lord be done."

I said yesterday that the Holy Spirit wants to make it absolutely clear to Paul what he is getting into, and this seems at first to be more of that - this time with props! But after reading Paul's reaction to this prophecy, I am thinking that Paul probably knew before this what was in store for him. Most likely, his sojourn alone to meet the ship at Assos was spent in deep prayer and reflection, in which the Holy Spirit did let him know what he needed to know. These later warnings might be more for the benefit of his companions who just now, with the prophecy of Agabus, seem to realize the true risk Paul is taking. Paul's reaction to their pleas - "What are you doing weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be in prison but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." - indicates that he was more aware of the danger than they were.

Yesterday I said that the Holy Spirit, through the warnings of the disciples at Tyre, was giving Paul the information he would need to make an informed decision, but today I am thinking Paul had already been given all the information he would need in his time alone in prayer. Perhaps the warnings in Tyre and Cesarea are more to show Paul's followers and us that the Holy Spirit did let Paul know what he was being asked to do and Paul did willingly accept. These warnings might be the public revelation of one made privately to Paul, given to us for our benefit so that we know we can always trust God to tell us the truth and prepare us for what He is asking.