Bible Study Just who was Agabus?

[Riverwolf]

"And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar [see Emperor Claudius]. " (Acts 11:27-28 KJV)

"And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith The Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles."(Acts 21:10-11 KJV)

 

[Adullam]

A prophet!

 

[Riverwolf]

Yes, thanks. I understand that. But who was he? Why did he have the gift of prophecy? Jesus had come, and Jesus had went. Apostle's and Disciples were running all around and the gift of the Holy Spirit was upon them and pretty much all who wanted it. Why was the Holy Spirit in Agabus? Why would Paul, who would end up writing 2/3 of the New Testament need this guy to tell him anything? Did not Jesus himself appear to Paul? So who was Agabus? And why would the Holy Spirit show Agabus something and not Paul?

 

[Adullam]

Yes, thanks. I understand that. But who was he? Why did he have the gift of prophecy? Jesus had come, and Jesus had went. Apostle's and Disciples were running all around and the gift of the Holy Spirit was upon them and pretty much all who wanted it. Why was the Holy Spirit in Agabus? Why would Paul, who would end up writing 2/3 of the New Testament need this guy to tell him anything? Did not Jesus himself appear to Paul? So who was Agabus? And why would the Holy Spirit show Agabus something and not Paul?

The Holy Spirit doesn't tell everything to one man. Otherwise we would not be a Body. We all TOGETHER form one new man. We are not saved as individuals...we are saved as members one of another! We are saved one at a time...yes....but we are a family...an army!

We need each other in order to come to maturity.

We each have one or two cards in the hockey card collection. But when the brethren are together we get the whole set!

Paul doesn't say...I have the mind of Christ...he says WE have the mind of Christ! ;)

 

[cyberjosh]

Yes, thanks. I understand that. But who was he? Why did he have the gift of prophecy? Jesus had come, and Jesus had went. Apostle's and Disciples were running all around and the gift of the Holy Spirit was upon them and pretty much all who wanted it. Why was the Holy Spirit in Agabus? Why would Paul, who would end up writing 2/3 of the New Testament need this guy to tell him anything? Did not Jesus himself appear to Paul? So who was Agabus? And why would the Holy Spirit show Agabus something and not Paul?

I like Adullam's explanation, and I might add that Paul already knew the consequences (or at least could guess) of going back to Jerusalem, and the "warning" of the Holy Spirit was mostly a notification, not a forbidding of Paul going, because Paul felt compelled to do it anyway. Agabus' word would have served as an indepentant confirmaton of the gravity of what he was about to do.

And although I believe you only had the prophecy aspect in mind, Paul was always mindful of being submissive to the other authorities of the Church - else the Jerusalem council would never have happened in Acts 15. Paul went because we wanted to seek council lest he had run in vain in what he was telling the Gentiles. This is touched on in Acts but more fully revealed in Galatians 2:2 where Paul said, "It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain."

In short Agabus provided a confirming word from God, but it was also mixed with the emotions it induced in those who didn't want Paul to go through with it, thus it came out in the form of a petition not to go (not the Spirit's command though). Similarly we might compare Peter cutting off Malchus' ear to protect Jesus from his coming crucifixion.

~My thoughts~

God Bless,
Josh

 

[Riverwolf]

Thanks for the answers.
So, I can find nothing to say that for sure there is no longer any prophets?
(Cyberjosh, I read your paper on baptism, it was quite good.)

 

[cyberjosh]

Thanks for the answers.
So, I can find nothing to say that for sure there is no longer any prophets?
(Cyberjosh, I read your paper on baptism, it was quite good.)

Hi Riverwolf,

Thank you, I'm glad you got something out of the paper. That's what it is there for. I wrote it after several people asked for my understanding of baptism and it was often too difficult to explain it briefly and be comprehensive at the same time when talking face-to-face, hence the paper.

As concerns prophets, they certainly do still exist but it is no longer really "a profession" as in the Old Testament because God's gifts have been released freely among the entire body of believers now and all may prophesy if they are given the gift.

Paul repeated that we should desire the gift of prophecy: "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy" (1 Corinthians 14:1) and "Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues" (vs. 39). And in the form of a series of rhetorical questions he identifies several gifts and offices, asking "All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts" (1 Corinthians 12:29-31).

So, yes the Church still has prophets, and all Christians are even told to earnestly desire the gift of prophesy.

God Bless,
~Josh