When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Since he would not be persuaded, we remained silent except to say, “The Lord’s will be done.”
—Acts 21:12–14

I’m so confused here. Disciples (through the Spirit) and prophets and church leaders all tell Paul not to go, and the text seems to imply they really are speaking the words of God. So what is Paul doing? And isn’t the same Spirit also encouraging him to go in the first place?

For more on this theme, read: A Brief History of Christian Thoughts on Discernment.

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