Returning to Jerusalem

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE, 21 June 2026
Sermon Series: “The Acts of the Apostles” (#34)
Sermon Text: Acts 21:1-26
Main Points:
Introduction
I. A life devoted to God’s purpose
II. A heart set on God’s presence
III. A people pursuing God’s glory
Conclusion

At last, in Acts 21, the long journey is over. Paul stands once again on the soul of Jerusalem. This city had occupied a special place in his heart. It was here that he first became connected to the church of Jesus Christ. It was here that God began shaping him for the ministry to which he had been called. And now, after years of labour, hardship, persecution, and gospel advance, Paul has returned.

Now, that he has finally arrived, he does not pause to recover from the long voyage. The very next day, he goes to visit James and the elders of the Jerusalem church. James, the Lord’s brother, had become one of the principal leaders of the church in Jerusalem.

Paul’s eagerness is striking. He has come bearing news of God’s work among the Gentiles. Throughout Asia Minor and Greece, churches have been planted, believers strengthened, elders appointed, and the gospel has continued to spread. His heart is full of what God has done, and he longs to share it with his fellow believers.

The reception is warm. Paul and his companions are welcomed by the church. As he reports all that God has accomplished among the Gentiles, the believers listen with joy and thanksgiving. Their response is immediate – as v. 20 says – “They glorified God”!

With that, Paul’s third missionary journey comes to an end. It has been his longest journey, and perhaps his most fruitful. Yet, Luke’s purpose is not merely to record the end of a journey. This passage is far more than a travel diary.

As we read these verses, several things stand out. Luke provides an unusually detailed account of the route Paul travelled. He repeatedly records meetings between Paul and groups of believers along the way. And, throughout the journey, a tension remains. Nearly everyone urges Paul not to go to Jerusalem. They fear what awaits him there. But, Paul remains determined to continue.

Why does Luke tell us these details? Why devote so much attention to ports, cities, conversations, warnings, prayers, and farewells?

Because the Holy Spirit is teaching us something far greater than geography. In Paul’s journey to Jerusalem, we see a portrait of the Christian life itself. We see a man who is willing to follow God’s purpose whatever the cost. We see believers whose strength is found in the presence of God and the fellowship of His people. And we see a church whose deepest concern is the glory of God above personal preference.

So, as we walk with Paul on this final journey to Jerusalem, let us consider three lessons the Spirit teaches us: first, ‘a life devoted to God’s purpose.’ Second, ‘a heart set on God’s presence.’ And third, ‘a people pursuing God’s glory.’

I. A Life Devoted to God’s Purpose

The first that that outstands in this passage is Paul’s unwavering commitment to the purpose God has given him. He had to return to Jerusalem because that was the course he resolved to take under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. That is recorded in Acts 19:21.

As Luke records the journey, we notice repeated warnings. At Tyre, the disciples urge Paul not to go to Jerusalem. At Caesarea, a prophet named Agabus takes Paul’s belt, binds his own hands and feet, and prophesises that Paul will be arrested. Then, Paul’s companions and friends plead with him not to continue. Everywhere Paul goes, the same message follows him: suffering awaits.

Now, we should be careful here. Paul is not seeking suffering for its own sake. He is not acting recklessly. He is not trying to prove how courageous he is. Rather, Paul has already settled the fundamental question of his life – that is, his life belongs to Christ. In Rom. 14:8, he says, “if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” Therefore, the question is not, ‘What is safest?’ or ‘What is easiest?’ or ‘What will preserve my comfort?’ The question is, ‘What does Christ want me to do?’ That is why Paul responds in v. 13, saying this: “I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Notice what governs Paul’s life. Neither fear, nor comfort, nor self-preservation. But devotion to Christ. The modern world teaches us to make decisions based on personal fulfillment. We’re constantly told to pursue happiness, security, and convenience. Yet, Paul measures life by a different standard – that of faithfulness, obedience, and devotion to the call of Christ.

Brothers and sisters, every Christian eventually faces this question – Will we follow Christ only when the road is pleasant? Or, will we follow Him when obedience becomes costly?

Many believers sincerely desire God’s will – as long as it aligns with their own plans. But true discipleship begins when we say: ‘Lord, not my plans, but Yours’; ‘Not my comfort, but Your purpose’; ‘Not my kingdom, but Yours.’ Paul reminds us that faithfulness is not measured by convenience but by obedience. A devoted life continually asks, ‘Lord, what would You have me do?’

This reflects the true nature of Paul’s path to Jerusalem. Earlier, the Lord Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem. He too received warnings. He too knew suffering awaited Him. He too was misunderstood by those who loved Him. But, He continued because He had come to do the Father’s will. And Paul’s journey reflects the greater journey of Christ. The servant followed his Master. Luke reminds us of this and urges us to do the same – to follow our Master!

II. A Heart Set On God’s Presence

If the first section reveals Paul’s commitment, the second reveals the source of his strength. One striking feature throughout this passage is the repeated emphasis on prayer, fellowship, and spiritual communion.

At Tyre, believers accompany Paul to the shore. Men, women and children gather together. Then, Luke records a beautiful scene: “Kneeling down on the beach, we PRAYED”! What a picture of Christian fellowship! They gathered in dependence upon God.

Later, Paul stays with Philip the evangelist, one of the seven men chosen to serve in the ministry of mercy, often regarded as the first deacons of the church. There, believers gather around Paul. The church wrestles together with God’s will. Throughout the journey, Paul is never portrayed as an isolated spiritual hero. He is continually surrounded by God’s people and continually dependent upon God.

This is important because courage can easily be misunderstood. We often imagine spiritual strength as self-confidence. But the Bible presents something very different. Paul’s courage is not self-generated. Instead, it flows from communion with God. His strength comes from prayer. His perseverance comes from fellowship. His confidence comes from the presence of the Lord.

Likewise, the Christian life is not sustained merely by determination. It is rather sustained by God’s presence. Many Christians desire God’s guidance. They want God to show them His will. Yet, they neglect prayer, neglect worship, neglect fellowship, and mostly, neglect God’s Word. We want God’s direction without seeking His presence.

But, throughout Scripture, strength comes through communion with God. Think of Abraham, David, Elijah, and Paul. The giants of faith were not strong because they trusted themselves. No. They were strong because they walked with God. When trials come, the answer is not simply to try harder. The answer is to draw nearer to Thee, nearer to our Heavenly Father. We need prayer, worship, fellowship and the very Word of God!

Again, Paul’s life reflects his Lord. Before the cross came Gethsemane. Before obedience came prayer. Before suffering came communion with the Father. Jesus found strength in fellowship with God – Paul did likewise, and so must we!

III. A People Pursuing God’s Glory

The focus now shifts from Paul to the church. At last, Paul arrives in Jerusalem. The next day, he meets James and the elders, and begins reporting all what God has done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

Imagine the scene. For years, Paul has laboured tirelessly across Asia Minor and Greece. He has endured beatings, imprisonment, opposition, and hardship. Churches have been planted; believers have been converted; and the gospel has spread everywhere. And how do the Jerusalem leaders respond? V. 20 tells us that “When they heard it, they glorified God.”

This is the first thing we notice. Their first response is not admiration but worship. They do not praise Paul’s courage; they do not celebrate Paul’s achievements; they do not marvel at Paul’s ministry strategy. Instead, they glorify God! Why? Because they understand that every conversion, every church planted, every soul saved, and every advance of the gospel is ultimately God’s work. Brothers and sisters, a church pursuing God’s glory rejoices whenever God is at work. Whether God works through us or through someone else, all glory belongs to Him.

But, there is a second thing we notice. Almost immediately, a problem emerges. Rumours have spread throughout Jerusalem. Many Jewish believers have been told – falsely, of course – that Paul is teaching Jews to abandon their customs and traditions. So, tension is building. The unity of the church is at stake.

And here is where Paul’s humility becomes remarkable. He could’ve insisted on his rights as an apostle. He could’ve demanded that everyone understand his position. He could’ve defended his reputation. After all, he was an apostle of Jesus Christ.

He knew the accusations were false. Yet, Paul does something extraordinary. He willingly participates in the elders’ proposal. Not because ceremonial observances save anyone, not because justification comes through works. That issue had already been settled.

Rather, Paul is willing to lay aside his personal freedom for the sake of peace, unity, and gospel witness. This is not compromise, but Christlike humility. Paul understands that there are things more important than personal preference, more important than personal reputation, more important than getting his own way. That is, the glory of God! The unity of His church and the advance of Christ’s gospel.

Brothers and sisters, this speaks powerfully to the church today. Many church conflicts do not arise because truth is being denied. They arise because preferences collide. Someone was overlooked; someone’s opinion was ignored; someone’s expectation was unmet; someone’s pride was wounded. And before long, personal desires become more important than the well-being of Christ’s church.

But, the apostle here in Acts 21 shows us a better way. The question is not, ‘Was my preference honoured?’, but ‘Was Christ honoured?’ The question is not, ‘Did I get my way?’, but ‘Did the gospel advance?’

A people pursuing God’s glory will, first, celebrate God’s work in others, second, pursue unity among God’s people, third, willingly sacrifice personal preferences, and fourth, seek the advance of the gospel above personal interests.

And ultimately, all of this points us to Christ! Paul’s willingness to surrender his rights reflects the greater self-denial of his Lord. About this, Rom. 15:3 tells us: “even Christ did not please Himself.” The Son of God laid aside His every right and privilege imaginable. He humbled Himself; He took the form of a servant; He became obedient unto death – even death on a cross – in order to save and serve us!

And because Christ willingly surrendered Himself for us, we are called to surrender ourselves for Him, and for His church. The church glorifies God most brightly when it reflects the self-giving love of Jesus Christ!

Conclusion

As Paul made his way to Jerusalem and finally arrived there, he reflected the character of his Lord Jesus Christ. In Paul’s life, we see a man devoted to God’s purpose, a heart anchored in God’s presence, and a people pursuing God’s glory together.

Yet, Paul’s purpose was never to draw attention to himself. His desire was that believers would follow him only insofar as he followed Christ.

Brothers and sisters, let us live for God’s purpose, walk in God’s presence, and pursue God’s glory. And may the Lord grant us grace to do these things together as His church, in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen. ***