THE SAME FATE

THE SAME FATE

Acts 21.10-14

"and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles." (verse 11). Indeed, Jesus Christ also was delivered by Jews into the hands of the Gentiles and executed.

Antisemites use this pretext to accuse and persecute Jews for "crucifying the Christ" while ignoring the true fact that by their own hands the Christ was crucified.

Paul was delivered to Roman authorities by a small group of ungodly Jews, but the dirty job of crucifixion was done by Gentiles (just like with Christ).

Here we can see the same path by which Paul will lose his life. Paul delivered by Jews to the Roman authorities, but the verdict and execution was performed by ruling Gentiles.

Many speculations circling around how Paul actually died, but no one knows the exactly how. But this is not so important, but the important fact is that Paul knew that is coming to him, but did not resist and did not run away, and did not try to save his life, according to that is written: "...those who lose their life for My sake will find it." (Matthew 10.39, 16.25) (Mark 8.35) (Luke 9.24, 17.33) (John 12.25).

All Paul's associates grief and urged Paul not to go to Jerusalem for a certain death (verse 12) and it came not as a surprise, they truly love Paul not only for his character and personality and dedication to the Lord, but also for his missionary work that saved thousands of lives for the Lord (verses 19-20).

The answer of Paul in verse 13 reflect not only his loyalty, dedication, and faithful obedience to Christ, but also great love for Him for saving his soul.

Paul understood very well that the Self-Sacrifice of Jesus Christ really means for him personally and for entire world. In many preaches and parables of Christ, Jesus often mentioned of how a seed shall die in the soil in order to produces a new life.

Because of it Paul was determined to go all the way of the way of Christ, knowing that his physical body will die but his soul will join the Soul of his Creator and Savior in eternity and never be separated again.

Above all, a new physical body can be given to all faithful as it happened with Jesus Christ Who show Himself to some of His disciples after His crucifixion. So, in this sense, even death of the physical body is not the final death.

Of course, Paul has free choice at this moment in his life, and he could easily avoid to go to Jerusalem and escape persecution and death, but what will be the point of this? Temporary salvation of his life and then permanent death?

Paul was much higher in morality and much smarter to change his fate and since the moment when the Jesus Christ changed him, he already dedicated his life to Christ completely and honestly, just like Christ dedicated and sacrificed His Life for him and for whole humanity, and from this point and on, Paul knew very well from the beginning how he will end his life.

This intention and determination of Paul to die for the Name of Christ had been realized and understood by all his associates who concluded in the verse 14, "The will of the Lord be done!"