Acts 21
1 And after these things had happened, having reluctantly parted from them, we sailed a direct course, arriving at Cos, and on following the day at Rhodes, and from there to Patara.2 And when we had found a ship sailing across to Phoenicia, climbing aboard, we set sail.3 Then, after we had caught sight of Cyprus, keeping it to the left, we sailed on to Syria, and we arrived at Tyre. For the ship was going to unload its cargo there.4 Then, having found the disciples, we lodged there for seven days. And they were saying to Paul, through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.5 And when the days were completed, setting out, we went on; and they all accompanied us with their wives and children, until we were outside of the city. And we kneeled down at the shore and prayed.6 And when we had said farewell to one another, we climbed aboard the ship. And they returned to their own.7 Yet truly, having completed our journey by boat from Tyre, we descended to Ptolemais. And greeting the brothers, we lodged with them for one day.8 Then, after setting out the next day, we arrived at Caesarea. And upon entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him.9 Now this man had four daughters, virgins, who were prophesying.10 And while we were delayed for some days, a certain prophet from Judea, named Agabus, arrived.11 And he, when he had come to us, took Pauls belt, and binding his own feet and hands, he said: Thus says the Holy Spirit: The man whose belt this is, the Jews will bind in this way at Jerusalem. And they will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.12 And when we had heard this, both we and those who were from that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.13 Then Paul responded by saying: What do you accomplish by weeping and afflicting my heart? For I am prepared, not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus.14 And since we were not able to persuade him, we quieted, saying: May the will of the Lord be done.15 Then, after those days, having made preparations, we ascended to Jerusalem.16 Now some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing with them a certain Cypriot named Mnason, a very old disciple, whose guests we would be.17 And when we had arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers received us willingly.18 Then, on the following day, Paul entered with us to James. And all the elders were assembled.19 And when he had greeted them, he explained each thing that God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry.20 And they, upon hearing it, magnified God and said to him: You understand, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law.21 Now they have heard about you, that you are teaching those Jews who are among the Gentiles to withdraw from Moses, telling them that they should not circumcise their sons, nor act according to custom.22 What is next? The multitude ought to be convened. For they will hear that you have arrived.23 Therefore, do this thing that we ask of you: We have four men, who are under a vow.24 Take these and sanctify yourself with them, and require them to shave their heads. And then everyone will know that the things that they have heard about you are false, but that you yourself walk in keeping with the law.25 But, about those Gentiles who have believed, we have written a judgment that they should keep themselves from what has been immolated to idols, and from blood, and from what has been suffocated, and from fornication.26 Then Paul, taking the men on the next day, was purified with them, and he entered the temple, announcing the process of the days of purification, until an oblation would be offered on behalf of each one of them.27 But when the seven days were reaching completion, those Jews who were from Asia, when they had seen him in the temple, incited all the people, and they laid hands on him, crying out:28 Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching, everyone, everywhere, against the people and the law and this place. Furthermore, he has even brought Gentiles into the temple, and he has violated this holy place.29 (For they had seen Trophimus, an Ephesian, in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)30 And the entire city was stirred up. And it happened that the people ran together. And apprehending Paul, they dragged him outside of the temple. And immediately the doors were closed.31 Then, as they were seeking to kill him, it was reported to the tribune of the cohort: All Jerusalem is in confusion.32 And so, immediately taking soldiers and centurions, he rushed down to them. And when they had seen the tribune and the soldiers, they ceased to strike Paul.33 Then the tribune, drawing near, apprehended him and ordered that he be bound with two chains. And he was asking who he was and what he had done.34 Then they were crying out various things within the crowd. And since he could not understand anything clearly because of the noise, he ordered him to be brought into the fortress.35 And when he had arrived at the stairs, it happened that he was carried up by the soldiers, because of the threat of violence from the people.36 For the multitude of the people were following and crying out, Take him away!37 And as Paul was beginning to be brought into the fortress, he said to the tribune, Is it permissible for me to say something to you? And he said, You know Greek?38 So then, are you not that Egyptian who before these days incited a rebellion and led out into the desert four thousand murderous men?39 But Paul said to him: I am a man, indeed a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of a well-known city. So I petition you, permit me to speak to the people.40 And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, motioned with his hand to the people. And when a great silence occurred, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying:
Acts 21
Paul’s Journey to Jerusalem
1 Aftert wes tore ourselves awayt from them, we put out to sea,t and sailing a straight course,t we came to Cos,s on the next day to Rhodes,s and from there to Patara.s2 We foundt a ship crossing over to Phoenicia,s went aboard,t and put out to sea.t3 After we sighted Cypruss and left it behind on our port side,s we sailed on to Syria and put int at Tyre,ss because the ship was to unload its cargo there.4 After we locatedt the disciples, we stayed theret seven days. They repeatedly toldt Paul through the Spirits not to set foott in Jerusalem.s5 Whent our time was over,t we left and went on our way. All of them, with their wives and children, accompaniedt us outside of the city. Aftert kneeling down on the beach and praying,s6 we said farewellt to one another.s Thent we went aboard the ship, and they returned to their own homes.t7 We continued the voyage from Tyres and arrived at Ptolemais,s and when we had greeted the brothers, we stayed with them for one day.8 On the next day we leftt and came to Caesarea,ss and enteredt the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven,s and stayed with him.
9 (He had four unmarriedt daughters who prophesied.)s
10 While we remained there for a number of days,t a prophet named Agabuss came down from Judea.11 He camet to us, tookt Paul’s belt,s tiedt his own hands and feet with it,t and said, “The Holy Spirit says this: ‘This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man whose belt this is, and will hand him overts to the Gentiles.’”12 When we heard this, both we and the local peoplet begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breakingt my heart? For I am ready not only to be tied up,t but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
14 Because he could not be persuaded,t we said no more except,t “The Lord’s will be done.”s
15 After these days we got readyt and started upts to Jerusalem.16 Some of the disciples from Caesareass came along with us too, and brought us to the houset of Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple from the earliest times,t with whom we were to stay.17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us gladly.t18 The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were there.ts19 When Pault had greeted them, he began to explaint in detailt what Gods had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.20 When they heard this, they praisedt God. Then they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jewsts there are who have believed, and they are all ardent observerst of the law.s21 They have been informed about you – that you teach all the Jews now livingt among the Gentiles to abandonts Moses, telling them not to circumcise their childrens or livet according to our customs.22 What then should we do? They will no doubtt hear that you have come.23 So do whatt we tell you: We have four ment who have takent a vow;t24 take them and purifys yourself along with them and pay their expenses,t so that they may have their heads shaved.ts Thent everyone will know there is nothing in what they have been toldt about you, but that you yourself live in conformity witht the law.s25 But regarding the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter, having decidedts that they should avoidt meat that has been sacrificed to idolst and blood and what has been strangleds and sexual immorality.”26 Then Paul took the men the next day,t and after he had purified himselft along with them, he went to the temple and gave noticet of the completion of the days of purification,s whent the sacrifice would be offered for eacht of them.27 When the seven days were almost over,t the Jews from the province of Asiats who had seen him in the temple areat stirred up the whole crowdt and seizedt him,28 shouting, “Men of Israel,t help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law,s and this sanctuary!ts Furthermoret he has brought Greeks into the inner courts of the templet and made this holy place ritually unclean!”ts29 (For they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him previously, andt they assumed Paul had brought him into the inner temple courts.)ts30 The whole city was stirred up,t and the people rushed together.t They seizedt Paul and dragged him out of the temple courts,t and immediately the doors were shut.31 While they were tryingt to kill him, a reportt was sent upt to the commanding officert of the cohorts that all Jerusalem was in confusion.t32 Het immediately tookt soldiers and centurionss and ran down to the crowd.t When they sawt the commanding officert and the soldiers, they stopped beatings Paul.33 Then the commanding officert came up and arrestedt him and ordered him to be tied up with two chains;t het then asked who he was and whatt he had done.34 But some in the crowd shouted one thing, and others something else,t and when the commanding officert was unablet to find out the trutht because of the disturbance,t he ordered Pault to be brought into the barracks.t35 When he came to the steps, Pault had to be carrieds by the soldiers because of the violencet of the mob,36 for a crowd of peoplet followed them,t screaming, “Away with him!”37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks,t he saidt to the commanding officer,t “May I sayt something to you?” The officert replied,t “Do you know Greek?s38 Then you’re not that Egyptian who started a rebelliont and led the four thousand men of the ‘Assassins’ts into the wildernesst some time ago?”t39 Paul answered,t “I am a Jewt from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city.t Pleaset allow me to speak to the people.”
40 When the commanding officert had given him permission,t Paul stoodt on the steps and gesturedt to the people with his hand. When they had become silent,t he addressedt them in Aramaic,t