THE ACTS 21:4 DILEMMA

THE ACTS 21:4 DILEMMA

James Gray

Luke does not tell us much about the events of the seven days at Tyre, except he concentrates on one thing: the believers concern for Paul, thereby “they kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem” (21:4). This presents a dilemma for the Bible student. On the one hand Paul talks about being “bound by the Spirit” to go to Jerusalem (20:22); on the other hand, now the saints are telling Paul through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem. (Of course in considering this we cannot overlook the prophecy of Agabus in 21:11). Some Bible students and scholars indicate that Paul simply ignored this plea.[1] Others indicate Paul went on under the permissive, not the direct will of God.[2] I do not accept these views. I believe that the point has been missed on this text and context for the following reasons:

• The text falls in a context that confirms the Holy Spirit directed Paul to go to Jerusalem (Acts 20:22-23).
• It is also a context that is prophetic in nature revealing what will happen to Paul if he goes to Jerusalem (Acts 20:23; 21:10-11).
• The text (21:4) omits why the people were telling Paul not to go. However on the basis of the overall context we can surmise that it was based on prophetic revelation that Paul would suffer if he goes to Jerusalem. Bachand brings out that the Greek negative particle me, is subjective and hypothetical, indicating a possible translation “that [perhaps] he should not go….”[3]
• There is no prophetic revelation given stating that Paul is not to go to Jerusalem (20:23; 21:22-23). It is clear from the context what revelation that is given concerning the suffering of Paul waiting for him in Jerusalem (21:4, 12). The warning may have been a form of preparation and confirmation of his imprisonment and the events that would be experienced by Paul going to Jerusalem.[4]

In the light of the context and the prophetic revelations given in this section, Paul was not out of the will of God to go to Jerusalem. The context centers upon the persecution that would result, the warning of not to go seems subjective and suggestive, reinforcing the concern of the believers and prepares Paul for the coming persecution. Schnabel’s wise comments are worthy of note: “Paul hears that warning and receives it as a revelatory word; yet without doubting the Spirit’s inspiration, he concludes in his assessment that it does not invalidate the earlier revelation of the Spirit that he must go to Jerusalem even though it would mean imprisonment and persecution.”[5]

[1]  Porter, PAUL IN ACTS 90; Bock, BECNT: ACTS, 637.

[2]  Stam, ACTS DISPENSATIONALLY CONSIDERED, 261.

[3]  Bachand, ACTS 470; also THE COMPANION BIBLE, Appendix 105, II; 150.

[4]  Polhill, NAC: ACTS, 433.

[5]  Schnabel, ECNT: ACTS, 855.