Ready to Die”
We parted from the elders’ shore,
Sailed to Cos and Rhodes once more,
Patara next, then found a ship
To Phoenicia for the trip.
Past Cyprus on the left we passed,
Reached Tyre and anchored fast.
Disciples there through Spirit’s plea
Urged Paul not toward Jerusalem’s streets.
Yet kneeling down upon the sand,
With wives and children hand in hand,
They prayed before he journeyed on,
Committed to the Lord alone.
Through Ptolemais greeting one day,
To Caesarea on the way.
In Philip’s house we found our stay —
Evangelist from former day.
His daughters prophesied in peace,
While Agabus came from Judea’s reach.
He bound his hands with Paul’s own belt,
Declared what chains in Zion felt:
“The Jews will bind the man whose this,
And hand him to the Gentiles’ midst.”
They pleaded tears, “Do not go there!”
Paul answered calm within the prayer:
“Why break my heart with grief and cry?
For Jesus’ Name I’m ready to die.”
In Jerusalem the brothers came,
Received him warmly in Christ’s Name.
To James and elders he declared
What God among the Gentiles shared.
They praised the Lord, yet warned with care
Of rumors spreading everywhere —
That Paul had taught the Law to cease,
Forsaking customs long at peace.
To quiet fear he joined with men
Under vow within the temple then.
But when the seven days were near,
Jews from Asia stirred with fear:
“This man teaches against our land,
Against the Law, against this stand!”
They seized him in the temple court,
Dragged him out in angry force.
The gates were shut, and blows fell down,
Chaos shook the holy town.
Word reached the Roman commander there;
He ran with soldiers to the stair.
They stopped the beating, bound him tight
With chains before the people’s sight.
“Who is he?” the crowd replied
With shouts confused on every side.
Led upon the fortress stair,
Paul asked to speak before them there.
In Hebrew tongue he turned to say —
The next chapter tells that day.
Chorus
Ready to suffer, ready to stand,
Bound yet guided by God’s own hand.
Through warning, tears, through rising cry,
The servant walks though chains draw nigh.
