Acts 21:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

When they could not persuade him, they wept, and then became quiet. Do you see their wisdom? Do you see the fervor of their love? "They became quiet," it says, "saying, 'Let the will of the Lord be done.'" What does "Let the will of the Lord be done" mean? The Lord Himself, he says, will do what is pleasing to Him. They became quiet and did not compel him. Perhaps they knew that this was the will of God, inferring it from Paul's haste. Otherwise Paul would not have hastened, nor would God, who had always delivered him from dangers, have permitted it. Thus they did not wish to burden the Church when another could receive them. Thus they did not seek honors.

When they could not persuade him, they fell silent, for they understood that this was the will of God. One should note that those who hinder someone from doing a noble work must be stopped, even if they weep. These tears moved Paul himself and weakened his strength. Therefore he rebukes them.

The Apostle’s words made a deep impression on the hearts of his hearers (Acts 20:36). All wept. All fell on Paul’s neck. All kissed him. The travelers barely tore themselves from their hands (21:1).

This scene was repeated afterward in Tyre, and finally in Caesarea Philippi. The nearer Paul came to Jerusalem, the more clearly and strikingly the fate awaiting him there appeared before him.

In Caesarea, Agabus was the same man who, fourteen or fifteen years earlier, had opened Paul’s way to Jerusalem with alms by his prophecy about the famine. Now, meeting him also with alms, he bound the hands and feet of the benefactor himself with his own belt.

This means, said the prophet, that in Jerusalem they will bind this man in this way and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

At this time the prophet Agabus came to Caesarea from Judea (Acts 11:28). By the symbolic act of binding his own hands and feet with Paul's belt, he foretold that the Jews in Jerusalem would bind the Apostle in this way and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. This moved the Caesarean Christians to beg the Apostle together not to go up to Jerusalem. But Paul answered that he desired not only to be a prisoner, but was ready even to die for the name of Christ. By the feast of Pentecost he arrived in Jerusalem.

But the Apostle was unshaken. "What are you doing? Why are you weeping and breaking my heart?" he said to them. "I am not only willing to be a prisoner, but am ready to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." Then it became clear to all that further entreaties would torment him and be useless. Therefore they became quiet and wiped away their tears, saying, "Let the will of the Lord be done."

"Let the will of the Lord be done." This means the Lord Jesus, for whose name Paul was ready to die. Let the Lord, who called Saul the persecutor, work His holy will concerning Paul, His most zealous preacher. This surrender to the will of God calmed the troubled feelings of Paul's companions and of the Caesarean brethren. They ceased breaking his heart with tearful pleas not to go to Jerusalem.

Having committed themselves to the will of God, the companions calmly followed Paul to Jerusalem. Some of the Caesarean Christians accompanied them and brought Paul to Jerusalem, to the house of a certain Mnason of Cyprus.

He had lodging sufficient for all and had long been devoted to Christ. Therefore one could rely firmly on him in everything.

When Paul and Barnabas came to discuss the dogmas, they were received by the Church (see Acts 15:4). Now they stayed with an old disciple.

“Here,” says Saint John Chrysostom, “the writer speaks of a long period of preaching. Therefore, it seems to me, in Acts he compresses several years here, showing only what was more necessary.