 |  |
"And shall make Him of quick understanding", margin "Scent, or, smell".
Paul, too, was given a keen scent with regard to things of God, for while
fellow-believers might judge after the sight of their eyes, or argue from expediency, he
had but one purpose to accomplish, and that was to go to Jerusalem, leaving the rest with
His Lord. That Paul was right is made evident by the sequel:
"Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready
not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And
when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying The will of the Lord be done"
(Acts 21: 13, 14).
What a light these few words throw upon the character of the Apostle and the strength
of the temptation that beset him: "Mean ye to break my heart?" Not "cross my will" or
"thwart my desire". What else could his companions say than: "The will of the Lord be
done?" This incident having passed, the little party proceeded to Jerusalem. The
introduction of so prosaic a fact as "we took up our carriages" (verse 15)--or in modern
English: "we packed our bags", is of importance, for it shows that Paul acted with
deliberate calmness, showing no symptoms of fanatical enthusiasm.
The city of Jerusalem was always crowded at the time of the feasts, and so, like the
Saviour, Paul was not entertained by any of the high officials of the Church at Jerusalem,
but Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, gave him a lodging. Mnason, with one or two
other believers from Cęsarea, appears to have accompanied the Apostle, and as he was
aware of the adverse prophecy, it was all the more praiseworthy that he gave such a
dangerous guest hospitality. As the result his name is read, where the New Testament
has penetrated, while the memory of men who commanded obeisance at the time have
been forgotten. It is possible that the words archaio mathete may mean "an original
disciple", i.e., one who had been brought into the light of the gospel at the visit of Paul
and Barnabas to Cyprus on their first missionary journey; or it may refer to the day of
Pentecost, as the word arche indicates in Acts 11: 15. With Mnason the Apostle rested
upon his arrival in Jerusalem, and gathered strength for the approaching conflict. It was
the Apostle's Bethany:
"And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly" (Acts 21: 17).
This was the fifth and last recorded visit of the Apostle to Jerusalem since his
conversion.
The structure of the section before us is simple:
Acts 21: 1-17.
J | 1-3. From Miletus to Tyre.
K | 4. Prophecy. "Not go up to Jerusalem."
L | 5, 6. Departure. Accompanied.
J | 7-9 Tyre to Cęsarea.
K | 10-14. Prophecy. "Not go up to Jerusalem."
L | 15-17. Departure. Accompanied.