What does Acts 21:5 mean?
Paul and Luke are on their way to Jerusalem with an assortment of men from the provinces of Galatia and Asia in modern-day Turkey, as well as Macedonia. They landed in Tyre in Phoenicia a week before and have spent an emotional time with the church there. For some time, the Holy Spirit has warned Paul the Romans will imprison him in Jerusalem (Acts 20:22–23). The church in Tyre finds out, but instead of praying for Paul and encouraging him, they try to keep him from going to Jerusalem. Paul, however, knows this is God's will. It's how he can fulfill his commission to spread the story of Jesus to Jews, Gentiles, and kings; and he insists on continuing (Acts 9:15; 23:1–10; 24:10–21; 26:1–29; 28:7–10).It is time for Paul and his companions to move on. They will stop at Ptolemais for one day before arriving at Caesarea Maritima where they will spend a week with the evangelist Philip before taking the trek over land to Jerusalem (Acts 21:7–8).
Before he leaves Tyre, however, the church finally realizes the most effective way they can protect Paul is to pray.
Paul's ministry runs on prayer. He prays that he can go to Rome (Romans 1:10). He gives thanks to God for the people and the fact God chose to save them (Ephesians 1:15–16; Philippians 1:3–4). He prays for their continued spiritual growth (Colossians 1:9) and their faithfulness to what God has given them (2 Thessalonians 1:11). And he tells his churches to pray—continually (Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Before Paul left for Jerusalem, he wrote to the believers in Rome, saying, "I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company" (Romans 15:30–32). God will grant his request. After two years under house arrest in Caesarea Maritima and a harrowing sea voyage that ends in a shipwreck, Paul will finally reach Rome. He will spend another two years under house arrest, but instead of Paul traveling the world, God will bring people to him (Acts 28:30–31).
