Who Was Agabus?
- Agabus was recognized as a Spirit-led prophet among early believers, likely part of the Jerusalem church. He appears twice in the Book of Acts—first in Acts 11:27–30 and later in Acts 21:10–14.
Text: (Acts 21:10–14)
- Agabus didn’t tell Paul not to go, only what awaited him. This was a warning, not a prohibition.
- Warnings were nothing new to Paul, in the previous chapter he met with the elders in Ephesus before sailing towards Jerusalem and he said this: “I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.”
- The warnings were preparation. Like Jesus saying, “In this world you will face tribulation” (John 16:33). Or James writing, “consider it pure joy when you encounter various trials” (James 1:2). Or Peter saying, “Don’t surprised by your fiery ordeal as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12).
Main Idea: When my Agabus shows up remember Paul’s words: “I’m Ready.”
Wherever you are in your faith journey, God is with you, and He is prepared for you to be there. Wherever you are going in your faith journey, God will be with you and is prepared for your arrival. He’s prepared to make you ready!
Sometimes that readiness is provided one day at a time, sometimes one step at a time, sometimes one moment at a time.
My Testimony 19 years ago, the Lord warned me that my life as I knew it was about to change. My life became rubble. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was ready because the Lord was with me and was prepared for me. And here I am today.
Paul’s Response to Agabus and Friends
- “I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die…” (Acts 21:13).
- Paul’s readiness was a product of God’s faithfulness to prepare Paul. It wasn’t a bold declaration of personal grit or power. It was “I am what I am by the grace of God” (1 Corinthians 15:10).
- “I am ready” is a Grace-Saturated Statement that, properly considered leads us to say, “What a Mighty God We Serve.”
- Not bravado, but surrender.
- Years of walking with Christ, enduring trials, receiving revelation, seeing God provide, experiencing His care had made Paul ready to believe He could trust God for whatever lay ahead.
- Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” The “I” is not the subject; it’s the vessel and its cargo is God’s grace.
- When I look at the Bible, I don’t want to see extraordinary men and women; I want to see an awesome and amazing God at work in ordinary people. I want to believe that what He did in others and sometimes despite themselves, He can do in me.
What was the response of the disciples who loved him? Predictable. Loving. Human.
- Don’t go! Resistance.
- Like Peter, when Jesus foretold His suffering “Lord this will never happen to you.”
- It’s hard to see someone we love suffer. It’s hard for the Lord, too. That’s why Jesus wept when Lazarus died, even though He knew He was going to raise Lazurus up. Mary and Martha’s grief grieved Him.
Vs. 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
- “We gave up.” In the KJV it is rendered “we ceased.” The Greek word invites us into a reverent stillness. A stillness that honors God’s will, even when it breaks our heart. A recognition that God’s will, even when painful, is still good.
“The Lord’s will be done”
- The disciples ultimately submitted to God’s will: “The Lord’s will be done” (Acts 21:14). They had just begged Paul not to go. But now, they’re no longer trying to control the outcome; they’re entrusting Paul to the One to whom Paul belongs.
- Dread says “don’t let it happen.” Faith says, “even if it happens, God is still God.”
Don’t be afraid to hope in God for the best, for the desires of your heart. But don’t give up hope in Him if it turns out otherwise. Just because it didn’t turn out the way I wanted, doesn’t mean it wasn’t in accordance with God’s will or that it isn’t for our good. (Romans 8:28)
When your Agabus shows up, turn to the One who is able to make you ready, as He did with Paul.
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