Read Acts 21:1-14

So when [Paul] would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.” (Acts 21:14)

Here we have a situation that is quite unique, yet at the same time, it is a situation we will all find inevitably find ourselves in.

The question is: Will you be persuaded by men or by God’s conviction in your heart?

For context, Paul is on his way to Jerusalem after completing his third missionary journey around the Gentile world, preaching the gospel and encouraging the churches.

While on his journey he ends up staying in the house of Philip the evangelist, who was a prominent disciple of Christ (see Acts 6:5 and Acts 8:26-40). Alongside of Paul were other prominent men, including Timothy, Tychicus, and Luke (the author of the Luke and Acts). On top of this, a well known prophet named Agabus came to meet Paul. Needless to say, Paul was surrounded by some of the most godly people this church has ever known!

During this time, the prophet Agabus, by the Holy Spirit, told Paul that his journey to Jerusalem would end with being bound up and delivered over to the Gentiles, which meant probable death.

And this leads to a dramatic scene of weeping and crying by all the disciples. We see that they attempted in every way to persuade Paul from going to Jerusalem. I would imagine they even believed the prophet spoke these words in order that Paul might be spared.

If this wasn’t enough, it was only a chapter earlier that we learn that Paul had been frequently warned by the disciples that “chains and tribulation” awaited him in Jerusalem. (See Acts 20:22-23)

But in spite of all of this Paul was not in the least dissuaded from making his journey to Jerusalem.

Why wouldn’t Paul change his mind? Doesn’t he see how many good and godly people have warned him?

Because Paul was a man, not led by other men’s opinions, but led by his God-given conviction! In this case, Paul knew he must act on his conviction that he must preach the gospel in Jerusalem, even if it meant dying. Paul truly was a man who did not count his own life dear to himself. Earlier, Paul said himself:

“But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24)

Finally, after everyone knew that Paul was determined and unmoved, they ceased trying to persuade him, and instead said, “The will of the Lord be done.”

This is a fascinating principle we must learn to lay ahold of.

Too often we try to figure out the will of the Lord based on the counsel of others and the circumstances around us.

We use questions like — Is it dangerous? Will this hurt my reputation? Will it be successful? What will others think?

But when we read the Scriptures and examine Paul’s life we learn that the will of the Lord is less discovered by circumstances and more discovered by spiritual conviction. Paul had a deep spiritual conviction that he must preach the gospel in Jerusalem, and there was not a single circumstance or piece of counsel that would persuade him otherwise.

We value the opinion of men too much — even godly men. Just imagine the pressure that Paul felt to listen to the prophet Agabus, or to the evangelist Philip, or to Luke his companion, or Timothy his son in the faith. If Paul did not have a deep spiritual conviction then he would’ve become a puppet to man’s opinion.

So where did Paul develop this deep spiritual conviction? By simply seeking to please the Lord Jesus Christ alone.

“…Do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10)

This teaches us that we must act on spiritual conviction. This is what our Lord Jesus Christ did, which led Him to the cross. We learn that Jesus paid no attention to man’s thoughts toward His mission.

“But Jesus did not commit Himself to [men], because He knew all men… for He knew what was in man.” (John 2:24–25)

This is how our Lord Jesus lived. This is how the apostles lived. And this is how all great men and women of God throughout church history have lived.

It’s not about success or failure from man’s perspective. It’s not about safety or harm.

It’s about the mission which God calls us to, and we must not let men sway us from what the will of the Lord is. The only way to do this is to be led by convictions which are built up through understanding the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

What convictions has God established in your life through His Word? Live by them! Do not be persuaded otherwise!

The man who does this is truly free and able to live for Christ unreservedly.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)