And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus. (11) And when he was come unto us, 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. (12) And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. (13) Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. (14) And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
What a beautiful portrait might be drawn of the Apostle, in the situation here described! Yea, rather, what, an unequalled representation by that which no picture can set forth, hath God the Holy Ghost given the Church, in the Apostle's words. I am ready, (said he), not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. Blessed saint of God! Paul had met with continual exercises to deter him from this journey. It was painful the separation from the Church, at Ephesus. He was soon after told by some, and who spake by the Spirit, that his journey would be productive of great opposition. This prophet, which came from Judaea, manifested by outward signs, in binding his own hands and feet with Paul's girdle, that so the Holy Ghost declared, the owner of the girdle should be bound, at Jerusalem. And now, the whole body of friends importuned him with earnestness of entreaty, that he would relinquish the journey. What mean ye (said he) to weep and to break mine heart? I am ready! Oh! how prepared are those whom the Lord prepares. Flesh and blood must everlastingly be unprepared. But, when the Lord animates the soul, all other feelings give way. However dear life is, yet Christ and his cause is dearer! Reader! let you and I beg of Paul's Lord, to make us more like Paul, in Spirit!