And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
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George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Not go up to Jerusalem. St. Paul says in the foregoing chapter that he was pressed by the Holy Spirit to go to Jerusalem; and do these prophets now advise him to stay away, and disobey the inspiration? No: their dissuasion was not the effect of inspiration, but the expression of their tenderness and affection for him, which made them fear what they saw he was going to endure. (Denis the Carthusian)
Hence St. Paul disregarded their entreaties, as well as the imminent dangers that every where stared him in the face. See his heroic answer to the melting entreaties of the faithful of Cæsarea, and their final acquiescence: "the will of the Lord be done. "(below, ver. 14)
Observe how, when the Spirit does not forbid, he complies. They said, Adventure not yourself into the theatre, and he did not adventure Acts 19:31: often they bore him off (from dangers), and he complied: again he escaped by a window: and now, though numberless persons, so to say, beseech him, both those at Tyre and those at Cæsarea, weeping also and predicting numberless dangers, he refuses to comply. And yet it is not (merely), they predicted the dangers, but said by the Spirit. If then the Spirit bade, why did he gainsay? By the Spirit, that is, they knowing by the Spirit (what would be the consequences, said to him): for of course it does not mean that the exhortation they made was by the Spirit. For they did not simply foretell to him the dangers (through the Spirit), but (added of themselves) that it behooved him not to go up— sparing him. But after we had accomplished the days, i.e. had fulfilled the appointed days, we separated, and went on our way: they all bringing us on our ...
They too prophesy of the afflictions. It is so ordered that they should be spoken by them also, that none might imagine that Paul said those things without cause, and only by way of boasting. And there again they part from each other with prayer. And when we had accomplished those days, we departed, and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed. And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again. And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Cæsarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
