Paul Purposes To Go To Jerusalem and Then To Rome. Satan Counterattacks at Ephesus (19:21-20:1).
Paul's purpose to go to Jerusalem in spite of warnings raises an interesting question. If the Spirit was giving him warnings, why did he proceed? In answering this question we need to recognise that part of Luke's purpose here may well be in order to give encouragement to those facing persecution by stressing Paul's steadfastness of purpose in the face of known adversity.
The section commences in Acts 19:21 where we are told that ‘Paul purposed in the Spirit --- to go to Jerusalem' and that ‘ it was necessary for him to see Rome', and we will soon learn that he was determined if at all possible to reach Jerusalem in time for Pentecost (Acts 20:16). On the way there he tells the Ephesians that he is going up to Jerusalem ‘bound in the Spirit' so that bonds await him in Jerusalem (Acts 20:23) and that he does not know what future awaits him, but that he is ready for martyrdom, twice telling them that they will see his face no more (Acts 20:25; Acts 20:38). This latter makes it clear that he is already aware of what his future will be and is convinced that it is of the Holy Spirit. In the light of what follows we have thus to assume that God has in some way spoken to him, and indicated that his going there is of His will. This then gives positive meaning to the statement, ‘The will of the Lord be done' (Acts 21:14).
At Tyre he is again warned by some who receive a message through the Spirit and say that ‘he should not set foot in Jerusalem' (Acts 21:4). Reaching Caesarea the prophet Agabus comes from Jerusalem and indicates that he will be bound in Jerusalem and handed over to the Gentiles, so that all plead with him not to go to Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-12), at which he declares that he is ready to die for Christ.
Unless we are to see Paul as totally disobedient we must see the purpose of these revelations as in order to demonstrate Paul's faithfulness in the face of coming martyrdom, rather than as an indication that the Spirit was actually seeking to dissuade him from going. This may be seen as confirmed by the fact that once he is in chains the Lord appears to him and tells him to be of good cheer, because as he has testified in Jerusalem, so he will in Rome (Acts 23:11). There is no rebuke and thus the Lord is clearly content with the situation. This would serve to confirm that ‘purposed in spirit' in Acts 19:21 should be translated ‘purposed in the Spirit.' Paul, Luke informs us, is following a course determined by the Lord.
We will consider these verses in more detail later in their context.