that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my ministry for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,
Truth to Learn
Following God is more important than personal safety.
Behind the Words
The word translated “delivered” is rhuomai, meaning “to snatch from danger, to rescue, or to deliver.”
“Acceptable” is from the Greek word euprosdechomai, a double compound word made up of eu, meaning “good or well,” pros, meaning “unto or toward,” and dechomai, meaning “to accept or receive.” Thus, it means “well received.”
Meaning Explained
In the previous verse Paul urgently requested the Christians in Rome to join him in fervent, heartfelt prayer, striving against the forces of Paul’s opposition. If you or I were asking for prayer in this situation, we most certainly would ask for deliverance from the persecution that was surely coming. The Apostle Paul also wanted to be delivered from trouble, because he was concerned that the disbelieving Jews in Judea might try to do him harm. Clearly, Paul had good reason to believe this. Throughout his journeys to spread the gospel he was repeatedly accosted, thrown in jail, and even stoned. On his third missionary journey, about the time that he was writing this letter, Paul was planning to return to Judea by way of Syria but someone discovered a plot among the Jews:
Now passing through that region and having encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece and stayed three months. And when the Jews plotted against him as he was about to sail to Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. (Acts 20:2-3)
As he continued on this journey to Jerusalem, Paul stopped and invited the leaders of the church in Ephesus to come and meet with him. He shared with them the many trials that he had endured for the sake of the Gospel and told them that he had received repeated indications from the Spirit of God that chains and tribulations awaited him in Jerusalem.
And see, now I go bound by the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. (Acts 20: 22, 23)
He knew that something bad was going to happen to him in Jerusalem and yet he felt bound by the Spirit of God to go there anyway. And, although Paul wanted to be delivered from personal harm, that was not his primary concern. He wanted to deliver the gift to the converted Jewish saints in Jerusalem and he wanted that gift to be well received. He knew that trouble from the Jewish unbelievers might take away from the joy and gratitude of those receiving the gift he was bringing.
Once again, we see that Paul’s focus was on his ministry, not on his personal situation. He was so intent on delivering the gift to those in need that he gave little thought for what might happen to him in Jerusalem
Application
Paul was more interested in serving God than in saving his own skin. If we are focused on serving God when and where He calls us, personal concerns take a back seat. I wonder – if you knew that following God’s calling for your life would mean personal harm, would you still do it? Think about that!
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved