Page 99 - Acts Student Textbook

address the church when it is assembled as a whole congregation (1 Cor. 14:34, 35; 1 Tim. 2:11, 12).”
Adding that, “passages such as this one should never be used to justify women preaching in church
meetings or leading a Bible study with men present.” But that, “such passages clearly do show that
women have an important role in teaching provided they do so in a way that respects the God-given
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limitations.” I suggest that the role of leadership of women in the church may be considered as
circumstantial. I would consider two exceptions; first, where spiritually matured men are lacking, and
she is highly mature, humble, and well vested in the knowledge of God’s word, she is in good position
to teach and even lead administratively until such a time when capable men become available.
Secondly, when the culture is matrilineal, where the head of the state or kingdom, chiefdom is a
woman, and it is generally accepted and everyone is comfortable with such kind of leadership, then a
woman may lead and exercise authority over men at church. Remember, Jewish culture and many
other near eastern traditions are patrilineal, women don’t lead. At times it is difficult to draw a line
between culture and a biblical command for all circumstances.

How should we understand prophets today?

21:10 The group remained in Caesarea many days. During this time, a prophet named Agabus came
from Judea. He had earlier prophesied the famine in Judea (11:28). Bob Uttly underscores that
“There are at least two ways to understand this term "a prophet” (21:10). Firstly, in the Corinthian
letters this refers to sharing or proclaiming the gospel (cf. 1 Cor. 14:1). Secondly, the book of Acts
mentions prophets (cf. 11:27-28; 13:1; 15:32; 21:10, even prophetesses, 21:9). The problem with this
term is, how does the NT gift of prophecy relate to OT prophets? In the OT prophets are the writers
of Scripture. In the NT this task is given to the original twelve Apostles and their helpers. As the term
"apostle" is retained as an ongoing gift in a loos sense (cf. Eph. 4:11), with a changed task after the
death of the Twelve, so too, is the office of prophet. Inspiration has ceased; there is no further
inspired Scripture (cf. Jude v. 20). New Testament prophets' primary task is proclamation of the
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gospel, but they also show how to apply NT truths to current situations and needs.”

How can we consider Agabus’ illustration?

Agabus, like the OT prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel, acted out his revelation (21:11). He took Paul’s
belt, used it to bind his own hands and feet, and predicted that the owner of the belt (Paul) would be
likewise bound by the Jews at Jerusalem and delivered into the hands of Gentiles. This was an
express prediction from the Holy Spirit. This added to the predictions mentioned earlier about the
fate awaiting Paul (see 20:23; 21:4). This is the most specific of the recorded predictions, and of
course it was eventually fulfilled exactly.

Here we see an excellent example of the use of visual aids in preaching. Some people doubt the use
of visuals in modern preaching, yet in fact preachers in the Bible commonly used visual aids and
often did so even more effectively than do modern preachers. Bible preachers often used physical
objects to illustrate their points. Who could miss the lesson when it had been so graphically
illustrated?

If Paul did not consider those prophecies as discouragements from the Jerusalem trip, how must he
have interpreted their meaning? (21:12-14)

Hearing the prediction of what awaited Paul, all the brethren present pleaded with him not to go to
Jerusalem. Note that even Paul’s travel companions opposed his determination to go on. Paul,
however, was determined to continue on. He said he was ready to die as well as be bound. He urged

51 Pratte, (p.331)
52 Uttly, (21:10)
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