Lives of Scripture

Agabus is introduced as one of several prophets who came down from Jerusalem to Antioch and 'stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world,' a prophecy Luke notes was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius (Acts 11:27-28). In direct response to this specific, actionable prophecy, the disciples at Antioch determined to send relief to the believers in Judea, each according to what they could afford, entrusting the gift to Barnabas and Saul (11:29-30) -- Agabus's prophetic word led directly to concrete, generous provision for others rather than mere prediction for its own sake. Agabus reappears years later at Caesarea, where Paul was staying on his way to Jerusalem despite repeated warnings along the route not to go. Agabus took Paul's belt, bound his own hands and feet with it in a dramatic acted-out prophecy reminiscent of Old Testament prophets like Isaiah or Jeremiah, and declared, 'This is what the Holy Spirit says: in this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles' (21:10-11). Paul's companions and the local believers begged him with tears not to continue to Jerusalem, but Paul, though moved, insisted he was ready not only to be bound but even to die there for the name of the Lord Jesus (21:12-13). Agabus's prophecy proved accurate: Paul was indeed seized in Jerusalem and handed over to Roman (Gentile) custody shortly afterward.