Today's Daily Bread

FOR THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS

Date : Thursday, October 23, 2025
Passage : Acts 21:1~16
Keyverse : 14  
1
After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara.
2
We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail.
3
After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo.
4
We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.
5
When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.
6
After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.
7
We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day.
8
Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven.
9
He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
10
After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11
Coming over to us, 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.’"
12
When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
13
Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."
14
When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord’s will be done."
15
After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem.
16
Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus and one of the early disciples.
Having left the Ephesian elders behind, Paul and his companions sailed from Miletus for their final destination, Jerusalem. As they traveled, they sought out the disciples in the port cities they landed at to have fellowship and pray together. They loved Paul. Because of their love for him, they were deeply concerned. The Holy Spirit let the believers know what trials would come to Paul but did not direct him to avoid them. That would have contradicted the words of our Lord Jesus: “...whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it” (Mk 8:35b).

The disciples who loved Paul could not dissuade him from going to Jerusalem where God’s enemies awaited him. Paul appreciated their love and concern for him but decided enough was enough. He said, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (13). Solomon said, “Love is as strong as death” (Song of Songs 8:6). But Paul showed that his love for Jesus was stronger than death. He knew what he would die for, and thus, knew for certain what he lived for. Prayer: Father, thank you for giving me Paul’s example of having a clear purpose and meaning of life. May I love Jesus my Lord and Savior more than anything in the world, even my life. Amen.
One Word: “To live is Christ and to die is gain” (Ph. 1:21)