What would make you head into harm’s way on purpose? Many firefighters and police officers did just that on September 11, 2001, charging as they did into the flaming World Trade Center in New York to rescue the people trapped inside. Countless soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have put themselves in the line of fire to accomplish an important mission or to drag wounded buddies to safety.

There could be no doubt Paul was doing the same thing. In Tyre, Spirit-filled Christians warned Paul not to go to Jerusalem (21:4). Later, in Caesarea, Agabus tied himself up to demonstrate what would happen to Paul at the end of his journey (21:11). In fact, the Holy Spirit had also told Paul the same thing, that “imprisonment and afflictions” awaited him there (20:23).

So, why was Paul so determined to rush headlong into such danger? Because, even while the Holy Spirit was being honest about what would happen to him in Jerusalem, the same Spirit was compelling him to make that trip (20:22). In fact, Paul literally says that he was bound in the Spirit, and the same Greek word is used to describe arrest and imprisonment. In other words, Paul was already a prisoner of God, so it made little difference to him if he became a prisoner of Caesar as well.

But make no mistake – even though Paul understood it was his duty to head into harm’s way, he was more than willing to take the risk. For he made it clear that “I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (21:13). After all, Jesus died in Jerusalem for Paul, so Paul was ready to return the favor.

So, what about us? Even if God is not calling us into such physical peril, are we even willing to risk our personal comfort or our convenience, our friendships or our reputations so that more people might come to know Christ or know Him better? And if we aren’t willing to follow Jesus’ example of self-sacrificial love for God and for others, can we really say we are following Him at all?

Acts 21:1-16 (ESV)

And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.
2 And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.
3 When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo.
4 And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
5 When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed
6 and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.
7 When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day.
8 On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.
9 He had four unmarried daughters, who prophesied.
10 While we were staying for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11 And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'”
12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”
15 After these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem.
16 And some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, bringing us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.