Acts 21:12

 Acts 21:12

And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.

a. NLT: When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. ASV: And when we heard these things, both we and they of that place besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. YLT: And when we heard these things, we called upon him -- both we, and those of that place -- not to go up to Jerusalem, [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.] 

d. Classic Amplified: When we heard this, both we and the residents of that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

e. Peshitta Eastern Text:   [HOLY BIBLE FROM THE ANCIENT EASTERN TEXT.Copyright  Ⓒ 1933 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright  Ⓒ renewed 1961 by A.J. Holmon Co.; Copyright  Ⓒ 1939 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright  Ⓒ renewed 1967  by A.J. Holmon Co.;  Copyright  Ⓒ 1940 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright  Ⓒ renewed 1968 by A.J. Holmon Co.; Copyright  Ⓒ 1957 by A.J. Holmon Co. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.]

f. NIV: When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

1. “And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.”

a. And [Strong: 1161. de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. when [Strong: 5613. hos hoce probably adverb of comparative from 3739; which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows):--about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with all speed.]

c. [we] heard [Strong: 191. akouo ak-oo'-o a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):--give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.]

d. these [things] [Strong: 5023. tauta tow'-tah nominative or accusative case neuter plural of 3778; these things:--+ afterward, follow, + hereafter, X him, the same, so, such, that, then, these, they, this, those, thus.]

e. both [Strong: 5037. te teh a primary particle (enclitic) of connection or addition; both or also (properly, as correlation of 2532):--also, and, both, even, then, whether. Often used in composition, usually as the latter participle.]

f. we [Strong: 2249. hemeis hay-mice' nominative plural of 1473; we (only used when emphatic):--us, we (ourselves).]

g. and [Strong: and [Strong: 2532. kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

h. [Strong: 3588. [hoi] ὁ ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [hoi] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.] [Additional variants: tē, hoi, oi, tēn, ta, tēs, tois, tais, tō, tōn, tou, hé  hē, hai.]

i. [they] of that place [Strong: 1786. entopios en-top'-ee-os from 1722 and 5117; a resident:--of that place.]

i. [Strong: 3588. [tou] ὁ ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [tou] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.] [Additional variants: tē, hoi, oi, tēn, ta, tēs, tois, tais, tō, tōn, tou, hé  hē, hai.]

j. besought [Strong: 3870. parakaleo par-ak-al-eh'-o from 3844 and 2564; to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):--beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray.]

k. him [Strong: 846. autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

l. not [Stong: 3361. me may a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether:--any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations.]

m. [to] go up [Strong: 305. anabaino an-ab-ah'-ee-no from 303 and the base of 939; to go up (literally or figuratively):--arise, ascend (up), climb (go, grow, rise, spring) up, come (up).]

n. to [Strong: 1519. eis ice a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).]

n. Jerusalem [Strong: 2419. Hierousalem hee-er-oo-sal-ame' of Hebrew origin (3389); Hierusalem (i.e. Jerushalem), the capitol of Palestine:--Jerusalem.]

1). While Paul was at Ephesus his plan was to go to Jerusalem and then to Rome (Acts 19:21). We don't know if the Lord showed him of his imprisonment, but usually prophecies confirm the word already in your heart (Acts 13:2). Jesus said that when the Holy Spirit is here he will show us things to come. 

a). John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

2). Personally I believe that Paul had already been told by the Lord that what was to happen in Jerusalem and he was preparing him. The many prophecies in all the cities were confirming the word already given to Paul. And Paul knew that his course designed by the Lord included imprisonment and going to Rome. That is my opinion!

a). Acts 20:22-24  And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

20:23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

3). In his book, How you can be led by the Spirit of God, Kenneth E. Hagin writes: Some have thought Paul missed it. But, when he did go up there and was arrested, Jesus stood by Paul in the night. He appeared to him in a vision. He did not rebuke Paul. he did not tell him that he missed it. He said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome” Acts 23:11.

4). Finally, I will say that if anybody missed it it was the believers and those attempting to sway Paul away from his course in Christ.

5). Perry Stone is a minister I value as a minister and and a person who digs deep into God’s word. In his Hebraic Study Bible he says the opposite. Regardless I still go with Kenneth E. Hagin's statement.

a). The Perry Stone Hebraic Prophetic Study Bible: Did Paul follow his own will, or God’s will? (Acts 20;22-25, Acts 21:4, 10-14). When Paul said farewell to the believers. He insisted on being in Jerusalem for Pentecost (Acts 20:16). He said he was bound in the spirit.” to go to Jerusalem, not knowing the outcome of his trip (Acts 20:22). Yet, the Holy Spirit warned him in every city, bonds (chains) and afflictions awaited him (Acts 20:23). Agabus, a prophet, warned that the Jews would bind him and arrest him in Jerusalem, and the people begged Paul to avoid Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-12). In the city of Tyre, the Holy Spirit revealed to certain disciples that Paul should not go up to Jerusalem (Acts 21:4). It appears Paul thought that he would “finish “ his “course” (his life and ministry) in Jerusalem (Acts 20:24), and he had set in his mind that he would also be killed in Jerusalem for the Gospels sake (Acts 21:13). Paul resisted all warnings. Finally, the saints prayed for God’s will to be done (see Acts 21:14). Was Paul being stubborn and resisting  all warnings from the Holy Spirit, or was he constrained by the Spirit to travel to the festival in Jerusalem? Paul was indeed arrested in the city and spent much time in prison from that moment on. The positive aspect of the situation was that he wrote numerous prison epistles in the Bible during his imprisonment. The negative aspect was he was confined to prisons, which limited his traveling and preaching ministry. Our lesson should be that we must follow the warning signs and the warnings of godly people, and not “do our own thing” because our own plans may create hindrances that could otherwise be avoided.

6). Finally, I want to add what Stanley M. Horton says in his book, The Book of Acts. He writes concerning Acts 21:4: We read that the believers “through the Spirit” said (Kept saying) to Paul not to go up to jerusalem. This does not mean however that the Spirit did not want Paul to go to Jerusalem. The word “through” (Greek, dia) is not the word used in previous passages for the direct agency of the Spirit. (See Acts 13:4, where the Greek is hupo, a word used for direct or primary agency.) Here the Greek is better translated “in consequence of the Spirit,” that is, because of what the Spirit said. The Spirit himself definitely did not forbid Paul to go on. The Spirit was constraining Paul to go (Acts 20:22). Paul knew the Holy Spirit does not contradict himself. It was not the Spirit but their love for Paul that made them say he should not go.  In other words, because of prophecy of bonds and imprisonment the people voiced their feeling that he should not go. But Paul refused to let them force their feelings on him. So he still obeyed what the Holy Spirit directed him personally to do, that is, go on to Jerusalem.