Acts 21
1
Now when it came to pass that we had put to sea, having withdrawn from them, running
a straight course we came to Cos, and on the next [day] to Rhodes, and from there
to Patara.
2
And having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we boarded it and put to sea.
3
When we had sighted Cyprus, and had left it behind [on the ]left, we sailed to Syria,
and put in to harbor in Tyre, for the ship was unloading its cargo.
4
And having discovered disciples, we stayed there seven days. They said to Paul through
the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.
5
But when it came about that we had completed the days [there], having gone out we
departed, all [of them] accompanying us, together with [their ]wives and children,
until [we were] outside the city. And having bowed [our] knees on the shore, we prayed.
6
And having greeted one another, we went up into the ship, and they returned to their
own [homes].
7
And completing our voyage from Tyre, we arrived in Ptolemais, and having greeted the
brothers, we stayed one day with them.
8
On the next day those accompanying Paul went forth and came to Caesarea, and entering
into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with
him.
9
Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
10
And while we remained there several days, a certain prophet from Judea named Agabus
came down.
11
And coming to us and taking Paul's belt, and binding his feet and hands, he said,
"Thus says the Holy Spirit, ' The man whose belt this is, the Jews will bind in this
way in Jerusalem, and they will deliver [him] into the hands of the Gentiles.' "
12
Now when we heard these things, both we and the local residents urged him not to go
up to Jerusalem.
13
Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not
only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus."
14
And when he remained unpersuaded, we were silent and said, "Let the will of the Lord
be done."
15
Now after those days, having prepared, we went up to Jerusalem.
16
Also some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us and brought with them a certain
Cypriot named Mnason, a long-standing disciple, with whom we would stay as a guest.
17
And when we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers gladly received us.
18
On the next day Paul was going in with us to James, and all the elders were present.
19
And having greeted them, he reported one by one those[ ]things which God had done
among the Gentiles through his ministry.
20
And hearing this, they were glorifying the Lord, saying to him, "You see, brother,
how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for
the law;
21
and they have been informed about you, that you are teaching defection from Moses,
to all the Jews who are among the Gentiles, saying for them not to circumcise their
children nor to walk in our customs.
22
What then? It is necessary for an assembly to come together; for they will hear that
you have come.
23
Therefore do this, which we say to you: There[ ]are four men with us who have taken
a vow upon themselves.
24
Take them and purify yourself with them, and pay for them that they may have their
head shaved, and that all may know that those things of which they have been informed
about you are nothing, but [that] you are agreeing with and keeping the law yourself.
25
But as for the Gentile believers, we wrote, having judged that they should keep no
such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols,
from blood, and [from anything] strangled, and from fornication."
26
Then Paul, having taken the men, on the next day having been purified with them, entered
into the temple, [thus] giving notice to the completion of the days of the purification,
until [the time] when the offering was offered in behalf of each one of them.
27
Now when the seven days were about to be completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him
in the temple, were stirring up all the crowd and put their hands on him,
28
crying out, "Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who is teaching all [people]
everywhere against the people and the Law and this place; and furthermore he has brought
Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place."
29
For they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, whom they supposed
that Paul had brought into the temple.
30
And all the city was aroused; and there was a mob forming among the people, and taking
hold of Paul they were dragging him outside the temple; and immediately the doors
were shut.
31
And seeking to kill him, a report went up to the commander of the garrison that all
Jerusalem had been stirred up,
32
who immediately having taken along soldiers and centurions, ran down among them. And
when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
33
And the commander, approaching, took hold of him, and ordered him to be bound with
two chains; and he was inquiring who he might be and what he had done.
34
But others among the crowd were crying out one thing and some another; and because
he was unable to ascertain the truth because of the noise, he commanded him to be
brought into the barracks.
35
But when he arrived at the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of
the violence of the crowd.
36
For the multitude of the people was following, calling out, "take him away!"
37
Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, "Is
it permitted from me to speak to you?"And he said, "Do you know Greek?
38
Are you not then the Egyptian who rose up before these days, and led forth the four
thousand men of the assassins into the wilderness?"
39
But Paul said, "I am a Jew from Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city; and
I request of you, permit me to speak to the people."
40
And permitting him, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people.
And when there was a great silence, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying,