Acts 21:33-40 

³³ The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done. ³⁴ Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another, and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. ³⁵ When Paul reached the steps, the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. ³⁶ The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!”

³⁷ As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?”

“Do you speak Greek?” he replied. ³⁸ “Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness some time ago?”

³⁹ Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.”

⁴⁰ After receiving the commander’s permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic:

Eagle

The eagle is a very powerful flier and considered the “king of birds.” It is popularly used as symbol power, authority, and sovereignty. Its strength is undeniable. It can soar high and not grow weary. In Isaiah 40:31, ³¹ but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Faith in the Lord has been compared to the strength and power of an eagle. No tiredness. No weary. This is exactly what the Lord Jesus invited believers to experience when He said in Matthew 11:28-30, ²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The ordinary or general idea of rest is to do nothing, lying, or relaxing. Is this what the Lord wants us to do when He invites us to come to Him? To find rest in Christ is to take His yoke and learn from Him. How is that? Just as yoke guides the ox, the Lord’s instruction is His yoke to guide us. His instruction or yoke is easy and light only when we allow the Holy Spirit to help and guide us.

When Paul heard the prophecy that he will be bound in chains, his share of yoke appears heavy in the eyes of an ordinary person but the obedient Spirit of Christ inspired Paul to keep onto his mission. Indeed, the prophecy was fulfilled.

1.  Fulfilment

³³ The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done. ³⁴ Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another, and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. ³⁵ When Paul reached the steps, the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. ³⁶ The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!”

Paul expected it. He knew that he will be bound in chains. He didn’t worry about his life. He knew that the prophecy will surely be fulfilled. He did not know how. Some brothers gave good advice. Paul did as suggested being obedient to the law. But obedience to the law or good advice from believers did not stop the opposition to attack Paul. The crowd were easily persuaded with false accusation, why?

The Lord warned Paul that He will be persecuted in Jerusalem. Whatever the Lord says, it will surely be fulfilled. The Lord said that Paul will suffer for His name and it was fulfilled. In the midst of persecution Paul continued to serve the Lord. God’s grace sufficiently supplied him with joy and peace to keep on.

Arrested

Christians hope to serve God sincerely. Apostle Thomas might be sincere when he said in John 11:16, ¹⁶ Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

That was a noble claim. People claim to have received eternal life. But testing of faith is necessary for us to realize if we really have matured in our faith.

The night when Jesus was arrested, it says in Mark 14:48-50, ⁴⁸ “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? ⁴⁹ Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” ⁵⁰ Then everyone deserted him and fled.

Like Thomas, we can be very sincere. But when it seems like God is silent would you still trust Him? When personal concerns become too heavy to bear will you still find it worthy to worship God? Many times we forget that all believers are given a fair share of struggle. And Christians who have grown mature in their faith continue to be faithful to God. Faithfulness is a result of faith.

In his faithfulness, God allowed Paul to be arrested and bound in chains. The soldiers didn’t know the facts why Paul has been attacked.

2.  Fact

³⁷ As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?”

“Do you speak Greek?” he replied. ³⁸ “Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness some time ago?”

³⁹ Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.”

⁴⁰ After receiving the commander’s permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic:

Paul deemed it necessary to tell the commander about him and he testified.

Paul might not be thinking of defending himself. He might have thought that it would benefit the people to know the truth about him and his message. The people listened to him but Paul was not able to persuade the people to be kind to him. The Lord said that he will be persecuted in Jerusalem, that’s why.

His testimony was not wasted, though. The commander of the soldiers became more curious about Paul and kept him safe and secure. God’s grace was more obvious. Although persecuted, the Jews cannot do anything to kill Paul.

David Escaped

God’s design will surely take place. It was God’s plan and David was anointed king of Israel. He was not installed as king right away. He served as commander of the army of King Saul, and he was victorious in his missions, and King Saul became envious of him. King Saul tried to kill him.  In 1 Samuel 23:25-28, ²⁵ Saul and his men began the search, and when David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Desert of Maon. When Saul heard this, he went into the Desert of Maon in pursuit of David.

²⁶ Saul was going along one side of the mountain, and David and his men were on the other side, hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his forces were closing in on David and his men to capture them, ²⁷ a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Come quickly! The Philistines are raiding the land.” ²⁸ Then Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to meet the Philistines. ..

God has chosen David to become king of Israel. King Saul tried all his power and influences to get rid of David but God’s will for David to become king has been fulfilled. That experience of David inspired him to write Psalm 18:2, ²The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Throughout history, few individuals became instruments to discredit or undermine those whom God has chosen. No human threat, intimidation, scheme or conspiracy can thwart what the Lord has design.

Just as those who opposed Paul tried but were not successful of getting rid of him, oppositions against the work of God will never succeed. But they will certainly reap the consequences of their actions.

Praise God when your share of problem becomes heavier. God wants you to know that your faith in Him has been growing mature. The heavier your trials are, the stronger your faith has become. It reminds us in 1 Corinthians 10:13, ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

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