Acts 21

Paul Travels on to Jerusalem

1 And it happened that after we tore ourselves away from them, we put out to sea, and running a straight course we came to Cos and on the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.2 And finding a ship that was crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and put out to sea.3 And after we sighted Cyprus and left it behind on the port side,t we sailed to Syria and arrived at Tyre, because the ship was to unload its cargo there.4 And we stayed there seven days after we found the disciples, who kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem.5 And it happened that when our days were over, we departed and went on our way, while all of them accompanied us, together with their wives and children, as far as outside the city. And after falling to our knees on the beach and praying,

6 we said farewell to one another and embarked in the ship, and they returned to their own homes.
7 And when we had completed the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais. And after we greeted the brothers, we stayed one day with them.8 And on the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.

9 (Now this man hadt four virgin daughters who prophesied.)
10 And while we were staying there many days, a certain prophet namedt Agabus came down from Judea.11 And he came to us and took Paul’s belt. Tying up his own feet and hands, he said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man whose belt this is, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”12 And when we heard these things, both we and the local residents urged him not to go up to Jerusalem.13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be tied up, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus!”

14 And because he would not be persuaded, we remained silent, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”
15 So after these days we got ready and went up to Jerusalem.

16 And some of the disciples from Caesarea also traveled together with us, bringing us to a certain Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple of long standing,t with whom we were to be entertained as guests.

Paul Visits the Leaders of the Jerusalem Church

17 And when we came to Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us gladly.18 And on the next day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.19 And after greeting them, he began to relate one after the othert the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.20 And when they heard this, they began to glorify God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many ten thousands there are among the Jews who have believed, and they are all zealous adherents of the law.21 And they have been informed about you that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles the abandonment of Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or to live according to ourt customs.22 What then is to be done?t Doubtless they will all hear that you have come!23 Therefore do this that we tell you: we havet four men who have taken a vow upon themselves.t24 Take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expensest so that they can shave their heads, and everyone will know that the things which they had been informed about you are nothing, but you yourself also agree with observing the law.25 But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter after deciding they should avoid food sacrificed to idols and blood and what has been strangled and sexual immorality.”

26 Then Paul took along the men on the next day, and after he had purified himself together with them, he entered into the temple courts, announcing the completion of the days of purification until the timet the offering would be presented on behalf of each one of them.

Paul Arrested in the Temple Courts

27 But when the seven days were about to be completed, the Jews from Asiat who had seen him in the temple courts stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him,28 shouting, “Israelite men, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place! And furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple, and has defiled this holy place!”29 (For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, whom they thought that Paul had brought into the temple.)

30 And the whole city was stirred up, and the people came running together, and they seized Paul and dragged him outside of the temple courts, and immediately the doors were shut.
31 And as they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the military tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.32 Het immediately took along soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the military tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.33 Then the military tribune came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains, and inquired who he was and what it was that he had done.34 But some in the crowd were shouting one thing and others another, and because he was not able to find out the truth on account of the commotion, he gave orders to bring him into the barracks.t35 And when he came to the steps, it happened that he had to be carried by the soldiers on account of the violence of the crowd,

36 for the crowd of people was following them, shouting, “Away with him!”

Paul Permitted to Address the Crowd

37 And as he was about to be brought into the barracks,t Paul said to the military tribune, “Is it permitted for me to say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek?38 Then you are not the Egyptian who before these days raised a revolt and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?”t39 But Paul said, “I am a Jewish man from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no unimportant city. Now I ask you, allow me to speak to the people.”

40 So when he permitted him, Paul, standing there on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he addressed them in the Aramaic language, saying,

Acts 21

1 And when it came to pass that were parted from them and had set sail, we came with a straight course unto Cos, and the next day unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:2 and having found a ship crossing over unto 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 unto 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 unto 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 Judaea 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 saith the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth 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 ye, 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 unto 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 unto him, Thou seest, 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 thee, that thou teachest 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 thou art come.23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men that have a vow on them;24 these take, and purify thyself 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 thee; but that thou thyself also walkest 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 fulfilment 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 teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place; and moreover he brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath 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 saith unto the chief captain, May I say something unto thee? And he said, Dost thou know Greek?38 Art thou 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 thee, give me leave to speak unto the people.40 And when he had given him leave, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with the hand unto the people; and when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, saying,