This is certainly a controversial question and I’m not sure that I will settle the controversy with my answer.  I will share with you what I see from the scriptures.  Let’s start with Acts 19:21, “After these things were ended, PAUL PURPOSED IN THE SPIRIT, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” “After these things were ended” refers to Paul’s time in Ephesus and the events that occurred there.  At that point, Paul determined to go to Jerusalem.  By saying that “Paul purposed in the spirit” does not mean that he was led of the Spirit of God.  Some versions of the Bible say “Paul purposed in HIS spirit” to go to Jerusalem. 

Why did Paul want to go to Jerusalem so badly? It seems he had already been to Jerusalem on three different occasions. (Read Acts 9:26, Acts 11:28-30, and Galatians 2:1-2).  However, Paul had a great heart for the people of Jerusalem and desired to visit them again to deliver relief money to them.  We read in Romans 15:25-26, “But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.” It is in Acts 21:17-40 that we learn what happened to Paul when he arrived in Jerusalem.  We cannot quote the entire portion but let us look at Acts 21:30-32 to get a glimpse at what happened.  That says, “And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut. And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.” 

We read of warnings to Paul, seeking to dissuade him from going to Jerusalem:

  • Acts 21:4, “And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul THROUGH THE SPIRIT, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.” 
  • Acts 21:10-11, “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.” 

Paul had been warned several times not to go to Jerusalem, but his desire was so strong that he was willing to die there.  We read in Acts 21:12-15, “And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, BESOUGHT HIM NOT TO GO UP TO JERUSALEM. Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I AM READY NOT TO BE BOUND ONLY, BUT ALSO TO DIE at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.”  Oh, that all believers were willing to give up their lives in order to faithfully serve the Lord Jesus and share the Good News of salvation to the lost! 

It appears that Paul was warned by the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem.  He went anyway and was beaten and imprisoned.  That does not mean that the Lord stopped using Paul.  No, Paul was still used greatly of the Lord.  His prison epistles offer us so much guidance and edification from the Lord.  Paul also longed to go to Rome as we previously read in Acts 19:21, “…After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”  Paul did see Rome, but he went there as a prisoner.  However, he never considered himself a prisoner of Rome.  He referred to himself as a “prisoner of Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 3:1, Philemon 1, and Philemon 9).  Paul understood he was in prison for his testimony for Christ and used that time to serve the Lord from jail.  (CC)  (569.2)