251 – Going to Jerusalem
Acts 20:1–21:17
Paul stayed three months in Corinth. Afterwards he went back to Troas, where he spent a week before starting his trip to Jerusalem.
The night before Paul left Troas, he preached to the church on the third floor of a house. He preached for hours—well into the night. A young man sat on a windowsill and soon became very sleepy. Eventually he went to sleep and slid out of the window, falling to the ground!
People rushed down, only to find him dead. Paul took the body and hugged it tightly. He finally looked up and said, “The young man is alive.”In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was lifeless, empty, and dark. Then the Spirit of God moved across the vast emptiness. He said, “Let there be light.” Suddenly light shone around the entire sphere of the earth! God looked at the light, and saw that it was good.
Everyone rejoiced and together went back up the stairs. They continued their fellowship until dawn when Paul left on his trip to Jerusalem. They took the young man to his home, still rejoicing that he was alive.
Paul sailed to a town near Ephesus, and the elders of the Ephesian church went there to meet with him.
He told them, “My life has been an open book to you. Nothing was hidden. We suffered persecution together, but through it all I was able to explain the Gospel to everyone in this region. Now I am leaving you and going to Jerusalem, and you’ll never see me again.
“The Spirit of God has made it clear that I will suffer for the Lord in Jerusalem. I’ll accept this because I want to fulfill God’s calling on my life.”
Paul encouraged them to live for the Lord and be true to him. Afterward, they all knelt down and prayed together. The entire group cried and embraced Paul. They grieved over his words, “You will never see me again.”
As he continued on his way to Jerusalem, the ship stopped at the city of Tyre so it could unload cargo. This gave Paul a chance to stay with a group of believers for the few days. They said to him, “The Spirit of God told us that you will suffer great trials in Jerusalem.”
When it was time to leave, the entire church walked with Paul out of the city and down to the shore. They knelt on the beach and prayed together. He then got on board the ship and left.
The ship docked at Caesarea, the nearest port to Jerusalem. Paul stayed in the home of Philip, one of the original seven deacons. While he was there, a prophet took Paul’s belt and tied his own hands and feet. He said, “The Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him to the Gentiles.”
Everyone was concerned and begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem. He said, “Please stop. Your crying is starting to make me cry! I’m ready to be put in chains for the Lord. I’m ready to die for him.”
After a few days, Paul went to Jerusalem. The Christians there received him with joy.
