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

Prophets and Prophecy in the Book of Acts

was set free! Words alone did not break him of his despondency, but the enactment of the words did (and I mean really did!). Agabus used a formula to introduce his prophecy that had not been used previously in Scripture: "This is what the Holy Spirit says" (NASB, TEV) or "Thus saith the Holy Ghost" (KJV). One must have great assur ance to employ such an introduction! The message that followed was clearly foretelling-bringing predictive information to the apostle Paul. In fact, Agabus' word is probably the climactic prophecy of a series of messages given at various places and warning Paul as he journeyed toward Jerusalem. Agabus' prophecy, although apparently received without fault by the early Christians, has come under some modern criticism.David Hill, for instance, comments: "The fact that his word did not strictly come true would have made his prophecy 'false' by Old Testament standards." 20 Wayne Grudem points out two mistakes in the prophecy: first, Agabus' prediction that "the Jews at Jerusalem" would "bind" Paul, whereas it was not actually the Jews but the Romans who bound him; and second, that the Jews did not "deliver" Paul into the hands of the Gentiles, but rather he had to be forcibly rescued from the Jews by the tribune and his soldiers (Acts 21:32-33). 21 The best resolution to this question, I think, is given by Cecil M. Robeck Jr.: "...Even if Paul was not literally bound hand and foot, the Jews were the ones who cornered him in Jerusalem and laid hands on him, at least metaphorically binding him.While they did not voluntarily bring Paul to the Gentiles and deliver him, nevertheless, the Gentiles (Romans) took Paul from the Jews.Thus, according to Luke, the prophecy seems to have been fulfilled.The prophecy which Agabus delivered to Paul, was given with no addition or elaboration....It was predictively informa tive....It did not request or demand action with respect to it, nor did Agabus offer a commentary on it." 22 My own conclusion is that Paul: • Obeyed the Spirit, since the prophecies did not forbid him to go; they merely warned him of the consequences. • Believed the inspiration of the Tyrian believers and Agabus, since Paul believed what they said, if he went, would take place. • Accepted the message without negative criticism and set a good example for the Church, since this was an example of how prophecy is to be judged. • Appreciated the believers' concern, since this experience made an opportunity for rich koinonia. 207 ■