Acts 21
1
And when it came to pass that were parted from them and had set sail, we came with
a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara:
2
and having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard, and set sail.
3
And when we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed to
Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unlade her burden.
4
And having found the disciples, we tarried there seven days: and these said to Paul
through the Spirit, that he should not set foot in Jerusalem.
5
And when it came to pass that we had accomplished the days, we departed and went on
our journey; and they all, with wives and children, brought us on our way till we
were out of the city: and kneeling down on the beach, we prayed, and bade each other
farewell;
6
and we went on board the ship, but they returned home again.
7
And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais; and we saluted
the brethren, and abode with them one day.
8
And on the morrow we departed, and came to Caesarea: and entering into the house of
Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we abode with him.
9
Now this man had four virgin daughters, who prophesied.
10
And as we tarried there some days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named
Agabus.
11
And coming to us, and taking Paul`s girdle, he bound his own feet and hands, and said,
Thus says the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this
girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
12
And when we heard these things, both we and they of that place besought him not to
go up to Jerusalem.
13
Then Paul answered, What do you, weeping and breaking my heart? for I am ready not
to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14
And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.
15
And after these days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem.
16
And there went with us also [certain] of the disciples from Caesarea, bringing [with
them] one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.
17
And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
18
And the day following Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present.
19
And when he had saluted them, he rehearsed one by one the things which God had wrought
among the Gentiles through his ministry.
20
And they, when they heard it, glorified God; and they said to him, You see, brother,
how many thousands there are among the Jews of them that have believed; and they are
all zealous for the law:
21
and they have been informed concerning you, that you teach all the Jews who are among
the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children neither
to walk after the customs.
22
What is it therefore? They will certainly hear that you are come.
23
Do therefore this that we say to you: We have four men that have a vow on them;
24
these take, and purify yourself with them, and be at charges for them, that they may
shave their heads: and all shall know that there is no truth in the things whereof
they have been informed concerning you; but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping
the law.
25
But as touching the Gentiles that have believed, we wrote, giving judgment that they
should keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what
is strangled, and from fornication.
26
Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them went into the
temple, declaring the fulfillment of the days of purification, until the offering
was offered for every one of them.
27
And when the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, when they saw him
in the temple, stirred up all the multitude and laid hands on him,
28
crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man that teaches all men everywhere against
the people, and the law, and this place; and moreover he brought Greeks also into
the temple, and has defiled this holy place.
29
For they had before seen with him in the city Trophimus the Ephesian, whom they supposed
that Paul had brought into the temple.
30
And all the city was moved, and the people ran together; and they laid hold on Paul,
and dragged him out of the temple: and straightway the doors were shut.
31
And as they were seeking to kill him, tidings came up to the chief captain of the
band, that all Jerusalem was in confusion.
32
And forthwith he took soldiers and centurions, and ran down upon them: and they, when
they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, left off beating Paul.
33
Then the chief captain came near, and laid hold on him, and commanded him to be bound
with two chains; and inquired who he was, and what he had done.
34
And some shouted one thing, some another, among the crowd: and when he could not know
the certainty for the uproar, he commanded him to be brought into the castle.
35
And when he came upon the stairs, so it was that he was borne of the soldiers for
the violence of the crowd;
36
for the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, Away with him.
37
And as Paul was about to be brought into the castle, he says to the chief captain,
May I say something to you? And he said, Do you know Greek?
38
Art you not then the Egyptian, who before these days stirred up to sedition and led
out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?
39
But Paul said, I am a Jew, of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and I
beseech you, give me leave to speak to the people.
40
And when he had given him leave, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with the hand
to the people; and when there was made a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew
language, saying,