Was It the Will of God or Not, for Paul to Return to Jerusalem Considering All the Prophecies Along the Way That He Should Not?
1) Direct Answer
Yes. It was God’s will for Paul to go to Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit bound him to that path; the prophecies along the way warned of suffering, but did not forbid the journey.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- Acts 20:22–24: “I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem… the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me… that I might finish my course.” The Spirit bound him; the Spirit also warned him what awaited.
- Acts 21:11–14: Agabus prophesied Paul would be bound. The saints wept and begged him not to go; Paul answered, “I am ready… to die at Jerusalem.” Then they yielded: “The will of the Lord be done.” The prophecy revealed what would happen; the pleading was their human response.
- Acts 23:11: After Paul was arrested, “the Lord stood by him” and said, “as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.” God confirmed Paul was on the appointed road.
- Acts 19:21: Paul had already “purposed in the spirit” to go to Jerusalem and then to Rome.
- Acts 9:15–16: From the start God told Paul he was a chosen vessel and “I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” Suffering was part of the commission.
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- The Holy Spirit does not contradict Himself. He cannot bind Paul to go (Acts 20:22) and at the same time forbid him to go. So what were those “don’t go” appeals? The Spirit revealed the danger; loving believers, feeling the weight of that revelation, urged Paul not to go. The warning was divine; the prohibition was human.
- If Paul had stepped outside God’s will, would the Lord have stood by him in the prison and commissioned him on to Rome (Acts 23:11)? No. God’s approval there shows Paul was walking in the path appointed.
- This follows the pattern of Jesus: He set His face to go to Jerusalem knowing suffering awaited (Luke 9:51; 18:31–33). When Peter tried to turn Him aside out of love, the Lord rebuked it (Matthew 16:21–23). Human love often tries to spare God’s servant from a cross that God has already willed as the very road to fruitfulness.
- You see, prophecy often prepares the heart for trials, not to divert the obedient servant from God’s plan.
4) Reinforcing Statement
Now notice, the Spirit’s warnings steeled Paul, the brethren’s tears tested him, and the Lord’s visitation in custody sealed him. Therefore, Paul’s journey to Jerusalem was in the will of God.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ
63-0717 §36
Paul, through ignorance, yet intelligent and smart---much smarter than the little uneducated Galileans that he was persecuting that had already in their humility accepted this man as Lord. But Paul, in his great teachings, in his intellectuals, could not accept that. And what a turn around it must be to him on this road ... and he was stricken blind, so he would not carry out his commission, but was led down to a place in the street called Straight in the house of one... Then come the prophet down there by the name...
The Absolute
62-1230M §46
I think later in his life, the reason he went to Jerusalem, when the prophet told him, "Don't go up there, Paul, for chains and prison waits for you." And Paul said, "I know it; but I'm not only going to Jerusalem as a witness, but I'm going there; I'm ready to die for Jesus Christ," for he knew what he had done, and his ambition was to seal his testimony with his own blood---die a martyr, because he killed one of God's martyrs. And now, he was on his road down to Damascus with all of his education (sat under that...
A True Sign that's overlooked
61-1112 §124
That was John announcing the coming of Jesus. And He came to the temple, exactly what he said, the messenger of the covenant, the angel that was in the wilderness with the disciples ... or, with Israel. Do you believe He was that messenger? Why, He said, "I come from God, and I go to God." Now, why was Paul given a sickness to hold him down? After Jesus had been dead and buried and rose again, after a long time Paul met Him face to face on the road to Damascus. He said, "I come from God and went to God." Paul looke...
I will restore
55-0626E §32
That paper said that the apostles wasn't prophesying. What about Peter, when he was on the housetop, and fell into a trance, and saw a vision? How about Paul, when he was out on the island and he told them not to let loose from Crete? But they thought they knowed best. Fourteen days and nights, the ship tossed about, all hopes they'd be saved was gone. Paul went down in the bulkhead and he prayed. He come out on the deck. The old boat was still dashing. He said, "Be of a good courage." That poor little fellow, with...
Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ
63-0717 §50
Now you say, "Brother Branham, you're condemning what you said Sunday" (about you've been waiting all this time). But you remember, it was the Holy Spirit that spoke to me up there on the road and said, "I'm sending you back amongst the sick and the afflicted." It's obedience to the Holy Spirit. Sure. I didn't go until He told me to do it. I was waiting for thus saith the Lord, till I got thus saith the Lord. Now, that's different, see. Now, that makes a difference. Yes, he waited for the Word of the Lord. He was p...