A Humble Concession
5/30/25 Bible Thought (Acts 21)
Paul’s mission continued on.
His sights were set for Jerusalem. There would be no swaying him. For as we saw in yesterday’s text, he was certain through the Holy Spirit that imprisonment and affliction awaited him (Acts 20:24) and yet, he was going to go anyways.
In today’s text, the concern of many friends and co-laborers was growing.
Many tried to steer Paul away. The prophet Agabus warned Paul that he would be bound in Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-11) and as a result all the people present urged him not to go there (Acts 21:12). Even Luke and the rest of Paul’s missionary team were all against it!
I can only imagine what it must’ve been like to be Paul in this situation.
He was utterly convinced that the Holy Spirit was taking him to Jerusalem and that trials awaited him there. Yet, he was likewise being convinced by everyone who loved him that he ought not to go.
It was a hard decision, emotionally, I’m sure.
Yet, in the end, the decision wasn’t difficult for Paul because of his great resolve to follow Jesus, no matter the cost. Truly, it was told from the very beginning of his conversion that he would suffer greatly for the sake of Jesus’ name (see Acts 9:16). So, even if it brought great sorrow to all of those who wanted him to remain. Paul was ready for prison and for death on behalf of Jesus Christ (Acts 21:13).
Paul’s commitment to Christ was greater than his commitment to friends. As a result, the people offered a humble concession,
“Let the will of the Lord be done” (Acts 21:14).
Ultimately, should this not be the heartbeat of every Christian?
Sometimes God’s will will make us sad. Sometimes it will mean people departing from this life too soon—that is, in our opinion. Sometimes God’s will is contrary to ours. It’s at these moments that the test comes: Who’s will do we actually want to be done?
We see the same dilemma in the earthly life and ministry of our Lord Jesus. When he predicted his suffering and death, Peter responded,
“Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you” (Matt. 16:22).
To this, the Lord replied,
“Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” (Matt. 16:23).
Peter goes from being commended for the great confession, to being rebuked as Satan in one conversation! Why? Because he was setting his mind on the things of man, here it was simply self-preservation, rather than the things of God.
When we think of things that are satanic, we probably think of demons, the occult, or the plain worship of evil by satanists. Rarely do we consider that Jesus defined it here simply as opposition to God’s will.
Thankfully, Jesus triumphed over this temptation. Later, in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Lord Jesus prayed,
“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Lk. 22:42).
For Jesus, his very food was doing the will of His Father in heaven (see Jn. 4:34).
Let us then follow in the example of our Lord, and of Paul, to seek the will of God above all else: above personal comforts and security and above personal preferences.
When we’re tempted to go the easy way, or we see someone else going the hard way, we should all follow the same humble concession, in all things, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”