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… (Children's Sermon): — Suppose you were travelling from Edinburgh to London, and at every station you stopped at, at Carlisle, Leeds, Leicester, friends were waiting to beg you not to go any further, because they had learnt that bad men would ill use you. It would have to be a very good reason that would make you still go on. This was something like St. Paul's situation now. Still he went straight on. Why? 1. Because he felt that, although he was going into great danger, he was going to his duty. A true Christian always feels so. When arrested, Cranmer's friends tried to persuade him to escape. But Cranmer said "No; it is quite right for you to get away, but I ought to stay and stick to my colours." So St. Paul (ver. 13). And if we want to be good soldiers of Jesus, we shall have to learn so to love Him as to be ready to do and bear anything for Him. 2. He knew that God had not yet done with him, and that no one could kill him till God gave them leave. God had said that Paul should bear his name "before kings," and the apostle was sure his Lord would not be baulked of His purpose by wicked men. But do people never get hurt when they are doing God's service? Did not John Bunyan suffer any hurt when he was thrown into, and for long months kept in, Bedford jail? Yes; but he wrote the "Pilgrim's Progress" there. And did not that more than make up for the sufferings of the prison? And so with Paul. So, after all, not harm came of it, but good. 3. Look at another thing. There are some strong brave men who are not very pleasant to deal with, because they always will do things in just the way they like, and can't give way to others. St. Paul was not like that. He was strong and bold in going into danger, but he did not try to make the danger any greater than was necessary. The other apostles told him that they would like him to do something he did not much care for, but they thought if he would do it, it would please the people and save all disturbance (vers. 20-40). And he did it at once. To the Jews he became as a Jew. There is a great difference between firmness and stubbornness. Always be firm for the right, but be willing to give way in small matters. 4. It is a matter for regret that though Paul tried to please he failed (vers. 27-40). But he could not help that. They had got into a bad temper, and therefore could not judge him fairly (vers. 28, 29). Rage makes people fancy things that never happened. If we try to do what is right, as gently as possible, and people won't be pleased, we must quietly leave it to God, asking Him to turn their hearts. (J. Taylor, M. A.) 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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