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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_21:7-14
7When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting the brethren, we stayed with them for a day. 8On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him. 9Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses. 10As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, "This is what the Holy Spirit says: 'In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'" 12When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." 14And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, "The will of the Lord be done!"
Act_21:7 "Ptolemais" This city was named after Alexander the Great's general who ruled in Egypt and was an ancestor of Ptolemy II who built this city in 26 b.c. This is the only natural port on the Palestinian coast. In the OT it was called Acco (cf. Jdg_1:31). Today it is called by its Crusader name, Acre.
▣ "the brethren" In Acts this is synonymous to "disciples" (cf. Act_21:4; Act_21:16). It designated believers in Jesus Christ.
▣ "we stayed with them" See note at Act_21:4.
Act_21:8 "we left" Whether they left by land or sea is uncertain.
▣ "Caesarea" This is the Roman headquarters of Palestine. It was a coastal city with a small manmade harbor. Philip the Evangelist lived here (cf. Act_8:40).
▣ "the evangelist" This term is surprisingly used only three times in the NT (cf. Eph_4:11 and 2Ti_4:5). We are not certain exactly what this ministerial gift encompassed. The term itself means "one who proclaims the gospel."
▣ "who was one of the seven" This refers to the Jerusalem church's problem of complaining of unfair food distribution by the Greek-speaking widows. The church elected seven men to handle this need. All of them had Greek names. These seven were powerful preachers. They were the first to catch the worldwide vision of the gospel (cf. Acts 6).
Act_21:9 "had four virgin daughters. . .prophetesses" Remember Luke has a special concern for women. We need to rethink our position on women in leadership positions (cf. Joe_2:28-32; Act_2:16-21) in the church based on all of NT evidence. See Special Topic: Women in the Bible at Act_2:17. A book that has helped me in this area is Gordon Fee, Gospel and Spirit.
Church tradition says that they moved to Asia Minor (Phrygia) and that his daughters lived long and served God to a very old age. We learn this tradition from Eusebius' quotes from both Polycrates and Papias (cf. Eccl. Hist. 3:31:2-5).
Act_21:10 "a prophet named Agabas" There are at least two ways to understand this term.
1. in the Corinthian letters this refers to sharing or proclaiming the gospel (cf. 1Co_14:1)
2. the book of Acts mentions prophets (cf. Act_11:27-28; Act_13:1; Act_15:32; Act_21:10, even prophetesses, Act_21:9)
The problem with this term is, how does the NT gift of prophecy relate to OT prophets? In the OT prophets are the writers of Scripture. In the NT this task is given to the original twelve Apostles and their helpers. As the term "apostle" is retained as an ongoing gift (cf. Eph_4:11), but with a changed task after the death of the Twelve, so too, is the office of prophet. Inspiration (see Special Topic at Act_13:1) has ceased; there is no further inspired Scripture (cf. Jude Act_21:20). New Testament prophets' primary task is proclamation of the gospel, but the also show how to apply NT truths to current situations and needs. See Special Topic: Prophecy in the NT at Act_11:27.
Act_21:11 Agabas, like the OT prophets Jeremiah and Exekiel, acted out his revelation.
Act_21:12 "began begging him" This is an imperfect active indicative. It can mean (1) to begin an action or (2) a repeated action in past time.
Act_21:13 It is hard to balance this prophetic action with Paul's sense that going to Jerusalem was God's will (cf. v.4).
▣ "the name of the Lord Jesus" See hyperlink at Act_2:21.
Act_21:14 "The will of the Lord be done" This is a present middle imperative, used in the sense of a prayer. God did have a plan and purpose for Paul's life. Paul felt he knew God's will even in the face of specific and recurring prophecy about the problems which lay ahead. Paul must have felt that these prophecies were for his spiritual and mental preparation and not a prohibition.
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