Acts 21
1
Now it came to pass, that when we had departed
from them and set sail, running a straight
course we came to Cos, the following day
to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.
2
And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we
went aboard and set sail.
3
When we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the
left, sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for
there the ship was to unload her cargo.
4
And finding disciples, we stayed there seven
days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to
go up to Jerusalem.
5
When we had come to the end of those days, we
departed and went on our way; and they all
accompanied us, with wives and children, till
we were out of the city. And we knelt down
on the shore and prayed.
6
When we had taken our leave of one another, we
boarded the ship, and they returned home.
7
And when we had finished our voyage from
Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the
brethren, and stayed with them one day.
8
On the next day we who were Paul’s
companions departed and came to Caesarea, and
entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who
was one of the seven, and stayed with
him. 9
Now this man had four virgin daughters who
prophesied.
10
And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet
named Agabus came down from Judea.
11
When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt,
bound his own hands and feet, and said,
“Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews
at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt,
and deliver him into the hands of the
Gentiles.’”
12
Now when we heard these things, both we and
those from that place pleaded with him not to go
up to Jerusalem.
13
Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by 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
So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased,
saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”
15
And after those days we packed and went up to
Jerusalem.
16
Also some of the disciples from Caesarea went
with us and brought with them a certain Mnason
of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were
to lodge.
17
And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren
received us gladly.
18
On the following day Paul went in with us
to James, and all the elders were present.
19
When he had greeted them, he told in detail
those things which God had done among the
Gentiles through his ministry.
20
And when they heard it, they glorified
the Lord. And they said to him, “You see,
brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who
have believed, and they are all zealous for the
law; 21
but they have been informed about you that you
teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to
forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to
circumcise their children nor to walk
according to the customs.
22
What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for
they will hear that you have come.
23
Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men
who have taken a vow.
24
Take them and be purified with them, and pay
their expenses so that they may shave their
heads, and that all may know that those things
of which they were informed concerning you are
nothing, but that you yourself also walk
orderly and keep the law.
25
But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have
written and decided that they should
observe no such thing, except that they
should keep themselves from things
offered to idols, from blood, from things
strangled, and from sexual immorality.”
26
Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having
been purified with them, entered the temple to
announce the expiration of the days of
purification, at which time an offering should
be made for each one of them.
27
Now when the seven days were almost ended, the
Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple,
stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on
him, 28
crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the
man who teaches all men everywhere
against the people, 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 with him in the city, whom they
supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
30
And all the city was disturbed; and the people
ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out
of the temple; and immediately the doors were
shut.
31 Now as they were seeking to kill him,
news came to the commander of the garrison that
all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
32
He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and
ran down to them. And when they saw the
commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating
Paul.
33 Then the commander came near and took
him, and commanded him to be bound with
two chains; and he asked who he was and what he
had done.
34
And some among the multitude cried one thing and
some another. So when he could not ascertain the
truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to
be taken into the barracks.
35
When he reached the stairs, he had to be carried
by the soldiers because of the violence of the
mob. 36
For the multitude of the people followed after,
crying out, “Away with him!”
37
Then as Paul was about to be led into the
barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak
to you?”
He replied, “Can you speak Greek?
38
Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago
stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand
assassins out into the wilderness?”
39
But Paul said, “I am a Jew from Tarsus, in
Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I
implore you, permit me to speak to the people.”
40
So when he had given him permission, Paul stood
on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the
people. And when there was a great silence, he
spoke to them in the Hebrew language,
saying,
