Contingent of Believers
Contingent of Believers Tearful Farewell
Welcome to you, to our Book of Acts Bible Study, “Apostle Paul and his Contingent of Believers Journey to Jerusalem.” Today, let’s start our study of Acts Chapter Twenty One, Acts 21:1 – 10.
After the Ephesian Believers said a tearful and sorrowful farewell to Apostle Paul, he and his contingent of Believers sailed from Miletus to Patara, Acts 21:1.
Once in Patara, the group found a ship going to their destination. This they boarded and sailed to Tyre, Acts 32:3. When they “landed at Tyre”, the ship was unloaded of its cargo. While the ship’s cargo was unloaded, Apostle Paul and his contingent of Believers found other disciples and stayed with them for seven days, Acts 21:4.
While in Tyre the Believers told Paul, “through the Spirit” that he should not go up to Jerusalem, Acts 21:4.
After seven days, the disciples in Tyre, with their “wives and children” accompanied Paul and his team to the port to re-board the ship for Jerusalem, Acts 21:5. When we left the “city” and arrived on the coast, “we kneeled down on the shore, and pray,” Acts 21:5. This is exactly the manner Paul and his contingent of Believers departed from Miletus, Acts 20:36.
Paul and his contingent of Believers went aboard the ship, after saying their good-byes and the disciples of Tyre “returned home,” Acts 21:6. After leaving Tyre Paul and his missionary team came to Ptolemais and greeted the Christians there. They stayed with them for one day, Acts 21:7.
The next day Paul and his journeying companions sailed to Caesarea and stayed with “Philip the Evangelist,” Acts 21: 8 – 10.
As Apostle Paul and his Third Missionary Journey Team traveled back to Jerusalem, a few things are apparent. Jerusalem is the marker for the end of this Third Missionary Journey.
It is apparent too, that Paul is approaching the end of his ministry and his life.
He is aware of this for he told the contingent of Believers at Miletus, “they shall see” his “face no more.”
However, Paul is neither sad nor concerned for his own life. At this point in Paul’s life death holds no fear for Paul for he said, “neither count I my life dear unto myself.” Paul was ready to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
Paul thinks more of finishing his ministry objective with joy than of dying. He was focused on finishing his “course with joy, and the ministry, which “he had “received of the Lord Jesus,” to tell of the “gospel of grace of God,” Acts 20:24.
As a true disciple of Jesus Christ, Apostle Paul had denied himself; he had daily carried his cross and he had faithfully followed Jesus. Are you a disciple of Jesus? Have you denied yourself? Have you taken up your cross and carried it daily? Only when you have denied yourself and daily carry your cross can anyone be a follower of Christ, Luke 9:23. Believers must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Him to be His disciples or Believers, Luke 14:27.
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