Bible Study series: Acts 19:21-22. This is after at least two years of ministering in Ephesus and Asia Minor. His resolve to go there was different from the others. But first he has to complete his missionary journey.

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At the link to the original post, next, I write more commentary and dig a little deeper into the Greek. I also offer a section titled Observations for Discipleship at the end. Check it out!

Acts 19

In this post, links are provided in the commentary section for further study.

Let’s begin.

Scripture: Acts 19:21-22

²¹ After this was accomplished, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, after going through Macedonia and Achaea, saying, “After I have been there, I must see Rome.” ²² He sent off two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, and he stayed in Asia for a time. (Acts 19:21-22)

Comments:

Just as Luke sets his Gospel narrative with Jesus going to Jerusalem as the main goal (Luke 9-19), so Luke now sets his narrative in Acts with Paul going to Jerusalem (19:21-21:15-17). Yet for Luke, Rome was the ultimate goal for Paul (Acts 28).

Further, this passage resembles the roles of Paul’s accusers in Philippi (16:20-21), Thessalonica (17:5-7) and Corinth (18:12-13). Paul was called to suffer persecution (Acts 9:16). But the man would simply not back down. He was like a heavyweight boxer who, when he took a punch, may have had wobbly legs, soon recovered and got back into the ring.

21-22:

“resolved”: it is in the middle voice, which means Paul’s heart was involved in the decision (HT: Bock, comments on vv. 21-22).

“in the Spirit”: some critics of Paul says he made up his mind in his own human spirit, without consulting the Holy Spirit. So, according to them, his resolve was a “good idea,” and not a “God idea.” But the Greek is the definite article, “the Spirit,” and it does not say “in his spirit.” Also, he knew from the Spirit that he was headed for Rome. Now this is the predictive power of the Spirit. He could not know this on his own. Yet, as we just observed, Paul’s will was involved.

“must”: It comes from the word dei (pronounced day), and in some contexts it denotes a destiny orchestrated by God, as it does here. (Compare the French il faut, “one must” or “it is necessary,” if you know this language.) The Greek verb means: “it is necessary, one must … one ought or should … what one should do” (Shorter Lexicon). In Luke it often means divine necessity; that is, God is leading things: Luke 2:49; 4:43; 9:22; 12:12; 13:16, 33; 15:32; 17:25; 18:1; 19:5; 21:9; 22:37; 24:7; 24:26, 44; Acts 1:16; 1:21; 3:21; 4:12; 5:29; 9:6, 16; 14:22; 16:30; 17:3; 19:21; 20:35; 23:11; 25:10; 27:21; 27:24, 26. Here Paul’s mission is to Rome; his steps were being ordered by the Lord.

“As Jesus sent messengers ahead of him (Luke 9:52a; cf. also Luke 10:1; 19:29; 22:8; perhaps 3:4) once he set his face toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:51), so Paul sends messengers on ahead to prepare his way (19:22). The messengers are Timothy (cf. 1 Cor. 4:17; 16:10-11) and Erastus” (Keener, p. 479). This Erastus may be the same as the one in Rom. 16:23 and served as an aedile in Corinth for one year (ibid.).

GrowApp for Acts 19:21-22

1. Paul resolved to go to Jerusalem. This was God’s conviction that grew in his heart. Do you have a deep conviction planted there by God? How have you maintained your focus and carried it through to the end?

2. Or did you give up? If so, do you believe God can restore it?

RELATED

The Historical Reliability of the Book of Acts

Book of Acts and Paul’s Epistles: Match Made in Heaven?

SOURCES

For the bibliography, please click on this link and scroll down to the very bottom:

Acts 19