Paul, in the book of Acts, had set his face to go to Jerusalem in direct opposition to the abundant warnings from the Holy Spirit that he himself had received and emphatic admonitions from other disciples and prophets who were also led by the Holy Ghost. We will concisely examine this very unusual storyline that is pieced together from the book of Acts and Paul’s epistle to the Romans.
Paul’s Holy Spirit experience comes across as an unsettling and seemingly unfitting narrative in the life of such a mighty and seasoned Apostle of Messiah Yeshua. However, when one digs into the possible motivations behind Paul’s out-of-character decisions to persist against the leading of the Holy Spirit, we see a humanity in Paul that is certainly not devoid of the Holy Spirit but powerfully displays a man who was having a very real spiritual tug-of-war through it all.
Paul’s Striving Against the Holy Spirit and His Spiritual Battle Within
Paul, as he met the brethren outside of Ephesus, said to the Ephesian elders…
“And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.” – Acts 20:22-23
Paul evidently desired greatly, by his own spirit, that he would go to Jerusalem. Yet Paul, by his own admission, confessed to the elders at Ephesus that “the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.”
Was this a warning from the Holy Spirit not to go to Jerusalem or just a confirmation of what Paul should expect once he arrived there?
Later, we read:
“And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.” – Acts 21:4
Paul was warned by the disciples they encountered at Tyre through the Holy Spirit “that he should not go up to Jerusalem.” This answers our question. These were all warnings from the Holy Ghost and could hardly have been more copious and persuasive. Paul seemed to know and recognize this.
Still later, we read…
“And as we tarried there [Caesarea] many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 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.
“And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 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.” – Acts 21:10-13
One cannot help but deduce that Paul was adamantly refusing the leading and witnessing of the Holy Spirit in his determination to go to Jerusalem, as he was clearly being told not to go, time and time again. There is just no escaping this conclusion.
In the end, of course, God used Paul’s insubordination for His own glory, just as He does with all believers who, at times and for whatever reasons, do not fulfill the will of God in their lives, rejecting the clear intentions and leading of the Holy Spirit.
Paul’s Inner Conflict Between Obeying the Holy Spirit and His Love for His Beloved Brethren
There were it seems, according to Scripture, two main reasons that Paul was in a great struggle between obeying the Holy Spirit and not going to Jerusalem where bonds would be awaiting him, and his outright rejection of the Holy Ghost’s forewarnings by proceeding on with his fervent desire to visit Jerusalem.
The first was to minister to the Saints and to take the gift offering he had received from the Gentiles back to the struggling Christians in Jerusalem to bless them.
“But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem…
“Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
“Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.” – Romans 15:25-26, 30-33
Paul knew that his delivery of the gift offering from the Gentiles to the Jews in Jerusalem was a great risk, and he desperately desired their prayers for his intentions and protection “from them that do not believe” in Messiah Yeshua. Therefore, one cannot get past the fact that, at this time, Paul knew that the Holy Spirit was convicting him in his heart not to go.
As we saw earlier, when Paul encountered the other disciples on his journey, this conviction was confirmed by them through the Holy Spirit — but he would go anyway.
Could Paul have sent someone else in his name with the gift of the Gentile churches to the Jerusalem brethren? He sure could have and certainly should have, but he did not and/or he would not.
The second reason Paul appeared dead set on going to Jerusalem seems to be outlined in Romans 9:1-5.
Paul had an amazing love for his brethren of the flesh, the Israeli people, that seemed to conflict with his total surrender to the Holy Spirit at this time in his life. We read about his very real and sincere spiritual struggle within his broken heart in his letter to the Roman believers in Messiah Yeshua.
“I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
“For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.” – Romans 9:1-5
As Paul poured out his loving heart for his “brethren, [his] kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites,” the struggle between his love for them and their conversion to the Messiah and his obedience to the Holy Spirit in not going back to Jerusalem can be discerned. I perceive that in Paul’s mind and heart, even if he could save just one Israelite and bring them to faith in Jesus Christ on his visit back to Jerusalem – even with those bonds awaiting him – to him, it would have been worth it.
No doubt, as well, Paul missed the brethren at Jerusalem and wanted to encourage them in person, hence his desire to minister unto them. This was always Paul’s heart in caring for the churches and in edifying the body of Christ, God’s Saints in Messiah Yeshua.
There is also evidence that Paul had a vow that he may have wanted to complete at Jerusalem.
“And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.” – Acts 18:18
However, the Holy Spirit certainly superseded this vow on every level – whether Nazarite or some other vow – in admonishing him and insisting that he not go to Jerusalem.
In all, these are very noble motives, but at what cost to Paul, his testimony, and at what ultimate expense to the church and the mission the Lord had entrusted him with? How much further might the gospel have gone had Paul obeyed the Holy Spirit in not going to Jerusalem where bonds awaited him? Of course, we will never know… but God knows.
In the end, Paul’s love for his kinsmen and the church at Jerusalem prevailed.
Did Paul Know He Would Be Martyred at This Point in His Life?
There is another observation I wanted to share with the reader regarding these warnings to Paul from the Holy Spirit.
Some have suggested that Paul, at this time on his way to Jerusalem, knew he would be martyred for his faith when he said to the Ephesian elders…
“For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.” – Acts 20:29
The premise is that when Paul said that “after my departing,” he was alluding to his martyrdom. Those who take this view will also point out the final passage in the dialogue between Paul and the Ephesian elders when it says…
“And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him, Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.” – Acts 20:36-38
The Ephesian elders knew, from what Paul had told them in Acts 20:25, “that they should see his face no more.”
However, this suggestion that Paul knew at this time that he would be martyred for his faith just does not add up. Why?
Well, the Ephesian elders were told that they would not see Paul again after his departure from them – not his departure from this world – and that Paul was determined to go to Jerusalem and then to depart to Rome on his way to Spain, as he conveyed to the Roman brethren.
“But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you; Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
“But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
“When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.” – Romans 15:23-28
Paul, in his mind, would not travel again to this part of the world that he worked so diligently to share the gospel with. This does not mean that he did not return – there is evidence that he may have – just that he had a plan to share the gospel in other areas of the known world, and it did not include going back to this region.
As we observed, Paul knew that “bonds and afflictions” awaited him in Jerusalem (Acts 20:23) because he would not heed the Holy Spirit’s warnings, yet he obviously thought that this would be a temporary situation.
Here again is what Paul said in response to the prophet Agabus’ warning and the ensuing concern from the disciples:
“And as we tarried there [Caesarea] many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 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.
“And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 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.” – Acts 21:10-13
Agabus confirmed Paul’s being bound if he persisted in returning to Jerusalem, just as the Holy Spirit had warned Paul earlier. And after the disciples expressed their Holy Spirit-led concern for Paul in not returning to Jerusalem, notice that Paul said that he was willing and ready “to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” – not that he knew he would die in Jerusalem, but that he was willing and ready to die there, just as the prophets of God and Messiah Himself had died in Jerusalem.
Furthermore, Jerusalem was not even the place that Paul would eventually be martyred. Therefore, there is no indication whatsoever that Paul knew at this time in his life that he would be martyred.
Moreover, Paul, in his epistles, always used self-inclusive language to the recipients of his letters when teaching on the rapture — an event that could occur at any time, just as our Lord admonished His disciples to be in a constant state of readiness, watching and waiting.
Eventually, however, Paul would come to know that it was time for his earthly departure, as he revealed to his protégé, Timothy, in his last written epistle.
“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” – 2 Timothy 4:6-8
Paul’s second Roman imprisonment, approximately 64-68 AD, was evidently when Paul learned that he would be martyred for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
What Can We Learn from Paul’s Experience?
First, we learn that Spirit-indwelt believers, even mighty men of God such as Paul, can strive against the Holy Spirit and God’s will for their lives. Obviously, this is because God has given to every human being that was created in His image free will.
Secondly, because we have the gift of free will, God, in His sovereignty, will work out His ultimate plan in association with those freewill choices human beings will make, even with born-again Christians who may not be following the clearly revealed leading of the Holy Spirit.
Thirdly, even when Spirit-indwelt believers are not listening to, or walking in, the will of what the Spirit is unmistakably directing us to do, God will ultimately see to it that His plans and purposes are fulfilled.
Fourthly, because God has given believers free will along with the indwelling Holy Spirit, He knows that we are capable of making decisions that are contrary to His leading, yet He will never cast us away in the process of our failings. Often, though, when we find ourselves resisting the leading of the Spirit, it can, for a season, cause hardship and heartache in our lives, which we should absolutely expect.
And lastly, God will always, in spite of our unfortunate decisions when striving against the Spirit and will of the Lord, work it all out for our own good and His ultimate glory. Nevertheless, we should recognize that it would always be better for us, for others, and for the plans of God to never resist or strive against the leading of the Holy Spirit in any area of our lives. Yet our failings can never and will never frustrate God’s sovereign foreknowledge, catching Him by surprise. It just cannot happen.
Conclusion
I really appreciate how the Scriptures never attempt to whitewash our heroes of the faith. They were real human beings that had personal and intimate relationships with God, and at the same time, they had their own frailties and shortcomings, just as we ourselves experience. This should give us great comfort in knowing that we are not alone when we fail, at times, in allowing the Holy Spirit full control over our lives, though we should constantly endeavor to allow the Spirit preeminence in leading us where He wants us to go in all things.
As far as our topic is concerned, we should not rush to judgment of Paul in this matter. Yes, Paul’s Striving Against the Holy Spirit was not in God’s will, but it is not as if God did not know that Paul would follow his own heart in going to Jerusalem. God knew he would. And because God knew Paul would, He prepared Paul for the consequences of his actions and what he would encounter through His Holy Spirit and the array of warnings from His disciples. What God knew Paul would do, God still had a plan – He always does – as He works out His will within His sovereign foreknowledge His children’s freewill choices.
I do not think that any of us is afforded an opportunity to put blame on Paul for that which he did; he did what he did because of his deep and abiding love for the churches of Jesus Christ, his brethren after the flesh, and his great joy in bringing the Gentile believers’ love gift to the impoverished and persecuted Jerusalem Saints of Messiah Yeshua. When each of us evaluates our own lives and how we ourselves have resisted and strived against the Holy Spirit – often for much more selfish and nefarious reasons than Paul would have ever entertained – we would be well served to give Paul a certain amount of leeway in this matter. Yet the lessons we can learn from Paul’s struggle, when properly applied to our own lives, can serve as a beacon for us going forward in our relationship to our Lord and Savior and His indwelling Spirit.
Regardless of the immediate consequences of Paul’s Striving Against the Holy Spirit, God used Paul’s insubordination for Paul’s ultimate good and for His own glory, just as He does for all of us who belong to Him and find ourselves not walking in the Lord’s will for a season.
In fact, it would be the Lord Himself that would encourage Paul – even though the damage had been done – in continuing his testimony and witness for the gospel’s sake in the greatest city in the world at that time, Rome.
“And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.” – Acts 23:11
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May we all keep Answering the Call of The Great Commission, and giving an answer to every man and woman who so desperately needs Jesus and asks us, “Why Am I Here and What Is It All About?”
Love, grace, mercy, and shalom in Messiah Yeshua, and Maranatha!
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