And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 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. (Acts 20:22–24)

In our chapter-by-chapter survey of the Acts of the Apostles, we have witnessed, through the eyes of Luke, many of the remarkable things that Paul suffered for the cause of Christ, and yet, to be sure, the half has not been told. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul lists a few of his sufferings as a preacher of the gospel, including five scourgings at Jewish hands, three beatings with rods, one stoning, and three shipwrecks (2 Cor. 11:23ff). Of these sufferings (which would surely not be his last or his worst) Luke only mentions a couple that can be readily identified, including the beating he received in Philippi (Acts 16:23) and the stoning at Lystra (Acts 14:19). Luke’s admiration of this great man of God is evident in his writing of him, and certainly his work in spite of persecution inspires within us similar admiration for this brother who is still encouraging us to remain faithful long after his own passing.
In this chapter Paul at last makes his way back to Jerusalem, having come through Tyre and Ceasarea, where he met many brethren who tried to persuade him to suspend his potentially deadly errand, though Paul would not be persuaded even by their tears (Acts 21:12–13). When Paul came into Jerusalem, he made it a priority to visit the elders of the church there, which included James (v 18), one of Paul’s previous acquaintances at the Jerusalem church (Gal. 1:19, Acts 15:13). The purpose for his meeting with the elders was principally the same it had been on another occasion (Acts 11:29–30)––to bring the relief for the needy saints there which Paul had collected over the past three years (see 1 Cor. 16:1–2, 2 Cor. 9:1–7, Gal. 2:10). Paul identified this as the purpose for his journey to Jerusalem to the Roman brethren (Rom. 15:25–28). What a friend and brother he is who is willing to risk his own life in order to see to your physical needs!
Just as Agabus had prophesied in Caesarea, Paul was arrested in Jerusalem under false charges of profaning the temple with his Gentile companion Trophimus (cf. Acts 20:4). His accusers were none other than the Asian Jews (Acts 21:27) who withstood him vehemently and repeatedly on his second and third missionary journeys. Still, in the face of this great persecution, the evangelist’s eyes saw an audience and an opportunity to preach to his brethren, brethren he so desperately hoped to save (Rom. 9:3, 10:1, 11:13–15).

After reading the text listed below, see if you can answer the following questions. 

Non-trivial Questions (Acts 21:1–40)
1. How long did Paul stay with the brethren he found in Tyre?
2. With whom did Paul and his company abide in Caesarea?
3. What was the name of the prophet who came from Judea to warn Paul not to go to Jerusalem?
4. With whom did Paul meet when he came to Jerusalem?
5. Who stirred up the people when they found Paul in the temple?
6. What made them think that Paul had polluted the temple?
7. What did Paul ask of the chief captain before he carried him into the castle?