Paul, Bound in the Spirit

Paul told his believing audience from Ephesus, that they would see him no more (Acts 20:25), for he was committed in his spirit to going to Jerusalem, knowing full well that trouble, perhaps even death awaited him there (Acts 20:22-24). It seems that Luke intends to show in Paul’s life an image of Jesus going to Jerusalem to be rejected and killed (cp. Luke 9:51), and just as Jesus was committed to fulfill the plan of God, so was Paul. Paul conformed himself to the pattern he saw in Jesus, even to the point of betrayal (Acts 21:20-24)! Was it an accident or was it a conspiracy conducted by false brethren (cp. Galatians 2:4; 2Corinthians 11:26)? Luke doesn’t tell us, but leaves the whole matter shrouded in mystery undaunted by our curiosity.