On toward Jerusalem
Day 521, Wednesday, Jan. 14
Acts 21:1-16
As Paul continues on the journey to Jerusalem, he continues to meet people who urge him to abort the journey because of its danger.
In Caesarea we meet a prophet named Agabus. Like several of the Old Testament prophets we read about, Agabus uses actions to illustrate his prophecy. “He took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, ‘The Holy Spirit says, “In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.”’”
The people respond by urging Paul not to continue on his journey. He is undeterred and says, “I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Also in today’s reading we come across a man we have met before, Philip the evangelist.
Back in chapter 6 of Acts, Philip was one of the seven men chosen to be responsible for the daily distribution of food in the church at Jerusalem.
By chapter 8 Philip had traveled to Samaria and preaches there, encountering Simon the sorceror. He is then led by the spirit to travel on the road toward Gaza, where he meets up with the Ethiopian eunuch and baptizes him.
Now in chapter 21 he appears to have settled in Caesarea where he has a house and four daughters. We don’t know exactly how old they are, but they would not have been described as unmarried if they were not of marriageable age. “He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.”
It looks like Philip has continued to be a follower of Jesus and a leader in the church, and that his daughters are following in his footsteps in spreading the gospel.

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Wednesday meditation

Psalms 63:1-11
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.
Those who want to kill me will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals.
But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God will glory in him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.

Prayer focus
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.