SCRIPTURE: Acts 21 

KEY POINTS TO PONDER: In Acts 21, Paul visits the church in Jerusalem, where he knows he is going to be facing persecution. When he arrives, James (Jesus’ brother) encourages Paul to take a public vow which will show his support of Jewish customs, that he has not broken Jewish law or taught other Jews to do so. This is interesting because it shows that Paul, and the church in Jerusalem, weren’t preaching any form of rebellion or rejection of Jewish culture, but that they were trying to spread the good news so that people could live lives transformed by Jesus Christ. 

CHALLENGING TERMS: The ship that Paul and his companions used was probably a coasting vessel, meaning that it never went far from the coast and would travel closer to the land making daily stops for the night after a day’s journey. The travel from Patara to Tyre (vv. 1-2) would have been on a much more sturdy ship since it was a longer journey. 

REFLECTION: What is a spiritual risk you may be able to take that would mean speaking loving truth, even though it may not be received? 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for the ways you embolden us by your Spirit to take risks that benefit your kingdom. 

Pray for discernment to discover what that risk may specifically look like.