Your Sons & Daughters Shall Prophesy - Prophetic Gifts Today In The New Testament Church

Prophets and Prophecy in the Book of Acts

ing of Acts 21:4, I feel, is simply, "Do not set foot in Jerusalem, or you will be bound." Paul apparently saw no conflict in meaning. Gleason L. Archer says that "it seems best to understand Acts 21:4 as conveying, not an absolute prohibition of Paul's journey to Jerusalem, but only a clear, unmistakable warning that he is not to set foot in Jerusalem-if he wants to avoid danger and stay out of serious trouble." 17

Four Prophesying Daughters (21:9)

"Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses." The mention of Philip's four daughters is significant for several rea sons.F. F. Bruce comments: "There is good evidence that from them Luke received much of the information which he gives in the earlier part of Ac., as well as much of the material peculiar to the Third Gospel.He certainly had ample opportunity to learn all he could from them, not only during the 'many days' spent in Caesarea on this occasion, but also during the two years of Paul's imprisonment there (xxiv.27).Eusebius (HE, iii.39) relates on the testimony of Papias, how Philip's daughters were known in later days as informants on the early history of the Church.Eusebius also quotes references to them by Polycrates and Proclus (HE, iii. 31; v. 24)." 18 Although none of their prophecies is recorded, it is evident that the four daughters were highly esteemed by the Christian community.They are the only women in the Church specifically identified as participating in prophecy.As we noted in the previous chapter, the Greek text does not warrant calling them prophetesses (as the NASB does), although these women prophesied on a regular basis. This is not a forced, accommodating inclusion in the text, but rather the simple account of a normal activity of the women of that time.When Peter quoted the prophecy of Joel, the door was opened wide for women to participate freely in the spiritual activities of the Church.He declared that "your daughters shall prophesy" (Acts 2:17) and that God would pour out His Spirit on His bondslaves, "both men and women " (verse 18). Mary and other women were part of the original Pentecostal outpouring (Acts 1:14; 2:4).We know also that the women of the church in Corinth prayed and prophesied in the congregation (1 Corinthians 11:5).

Agabus, the Traveling Prophet (21:10-11)

"...A certain prophet named Agabus ...took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, 'This is what the Holy Spirit says: "In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.""' 205 ■