S. S. Times Acts 21:1-3 And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course to Coos… I. A FRIENDLY WARNING. 1. Paul and his companions immediately looked up the Christians in the cities they visited. It is easy to learn a man's character from the sort of people he prefers to associate with — especially when he is away from home. 2. Paul, like every other Christian worker, received a large amount of well-meant advice that he could not well heed. It is sometimes as needful to say "No" to one's friends as it is to one's enemies. 3. Paul said "No" when his friends wished him to turn back, but he said so courteously, tenderly, prayerfully. He could refuse a man without insulting him. 4. Paul and his companions were not ashamed to kneel down on the open beach in sight of everybody and pray. Secret prayer is helpful and precious, but there are times when public praying becomes a duty. 5. Paul and his companions and the disciples bade each other farewell with prayers and benedictions. When we say, "Good-bye" to our friends, let us remember that we are in form at least breathing a prayer over them, for "Good-bye" means "God be with you." II. A PROPHETIC WARNING. 1. It is instructive to note that the evangelist Philip who now entertained the Christ-loving Paul had years before been driven from Jerusalem to escape the fury of the Christ-hating Saul. See Acts 8:1-5. 2. It is evident that "there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit." The disciples and Agabus advised Paul wisely so far as they knew, but he was better informed than they. 3. It is apparent that Paul did wisely to seek his marching orders directly from headquarters. So doing, he was sure of avoiding all mistakes. 4. It sometimes emphasises advice to accompany it with action. Thus Agabus, binding himself with Paul's girdle, spoke to the eyes, as his voice did to the ears, of the apostles. 5. It is always true that the bonds most to be feared are those a man puts upon himself. Agabus may well shudder at the bonds with which he binds himself, Paul may well disregard the fetters with which hostile Jews threaten him. 6. It was true, as Agabus prophesied, that bonds awaited Paul in Jerusalem. Whatever awaited him, Paul went on just the same. It is always best for one to follow the straight line of duty, even though it lead him inside of prison walls. III. AN UNHEEDED WARNING. 1. A man may have the firmest kind of a will, and yet the tenderest sort of a heart. Paul was such a man. 2. A man of the right sort is more moved by the tears of his friends than by the assaults of his enemies. 3. A man who is ready to be bound for Christ ought certainly not to fear being freed for Christ. And what is death but being set free from the bondage of this world? 4. A man who would do the most for the good will not throw away his life. Paul was careful to have it understood that he was risking his life "for the name of the Lord Jesus." 5. A man having fully determined to risk his mortal life to save the immortal lives of others, it is the right thing for that man's friends to cease their dissuading talk about missionary dangers, and missionary hardships, and the unhealthfulness of foreign climates. 6. A man having fully determined to do the Lord's work in the Lord's way at home or abroad, it is the part of a friend and a Christian to say, "The will of the Lord be done." (S. S. Times.) Parallel Verses KJV: And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara: |
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