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21 And as we launched forth, and had left them, we set a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.

And we found a ship that went over to Phoenicia, and went aboard, and set forth.

And when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left side, and sailed toward Syria, and arrived at Tyre. For there the ship unloaded its cargo.

And when we had found disciples, we remained there for seven days. And through the Spirit, they told Paul that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

But when those days had ended, we departed and went our way. And they all, with their wives and children, accompanied us until we were out of the city. And we kneeled down on the shore and prayed.

Then, after we had embraced one another, we boarded the ship. And they returned home.

And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and greeted the brothers, and stayed with them for one day.

And the next day, Paul (and we who were with him) left and came to Caesarea. And we entered into the house of Philip the Evangelist (who was one of the seven) and stayed with him.

Now he had four virgin daughters who prophesied.

10 And as we remained there many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came from Judea.

11 And when he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Ghost, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this belt, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”

12 And when we had heard these things, both we and the residents there begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13 Then Paul answered, and said, “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 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”

15 And after those days, we made ourselves ready and went up to Jerusalem.

16 Some of the disciples of Caesarea also went with us, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple with whom we were to lodge.

17 And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.

18 And the next day Paul went in with us to James. And all the elders were assembled there.

19 And after he had embraced them, he told in order all things that God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry.

20 So when they heard it, they glorified God, and said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousand Jews there are who believe. And they are all zealous for the Law.

21 “Now they are informed that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their sons, nor to live after the customs.

22 What then? The multitude must certainly come together. For they shall hear that you have come.

23 Therefore, do what we tell you. We have four men who have made a vow.

24 Take them. And purify yourself with them. And contribute with them, so that they may shave their heads. And all shall know that those things about which they have been informed concerning you, are nothing. And that you yourself also walk and keep the Law.

25 As for the Gentiles who believe, we have written and determined that they should observe no such thing, except that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from that which is strangled, and from fornication.

26 Then the next day Paul took the men, and having been purified with them, entered into the Temple and declared the completion of the days of the purification and that an offering would be offered for each one of them.

27 And when the seven days had almost ended, the Asian Jews (when they saw him in the Temple) incited all the people, and laid hands on him,

28 crying, “Men of Israel! Help! This is the man who teaches against the people, and the Law, and this place - to everyone, everywhere! Moreover, he has brought Greeks into the Temple, and has polluted this holy place!”

29 For they had seen Trophimus (an Ephesian) with him in the city before, whom they assumed that Paul had brought into the Temple.

30 Then all the city was moved, and the people ran together. And they took Paul, and dragged him out of the Temple, and immediately the doors were shut.

31 But as they were seeking to kill him, word came to the chief captain of the band that all Jerusalem was in an uproar;

32 who immediately took soldiers and Centurions and ran down to them. And when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they stopped beating of Paul.

33 Then the chief captain came near and took him, and commanded that he be bound with two chains, and asked who he was and what he had done.

34 And one cried this, and another that, among the people. So, when he could not discern the veracity because of the uproar, he commanded him to be led into the castle.

35 And when he came to the stairs, it happened that he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the people.

36 For the multitude of the people followed them, crying, “Away with him!”

37 And as Paul was being been led into the castle, he said to the chief captain, “May I speak to you?” Who said, “Can you speak Greek?

38 “Are you not the Egyptian who previously led a revolt, and led four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?”

39 Then Paul said, “Doubtless, I am a Jew, and a citizen of Tarsus, (a famous city of Cilicia). And I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.”

40 And when he had let him, Paul stood on the stairs and beckoned with the hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,

On to Jerusalem

21 After we(A) had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia,(B) went on board and set sail. After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria.(C) We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. We sought out the disciples(D) there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit(E) they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.(F) After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.

We continued our voyage from Tyre(G) and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters(H) and stayed with them for a day. Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea(I) and stayed at the house of Philip(J) the evangelist,(K) one of the Seven. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.(L)

10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus(M) came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says,(N) ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind(O) the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”(P)

12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die(Q) in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”(R) 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up(S) and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”(T)

15 After this, we started on our way up to Jerusalem.(U) 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea(V) accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus(W) and one of the early disciples.

Paul’s Arrival at Jerusalem

17 When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters(X) received us warmly.(Y) 18 The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James,(Z) and all the elders(AA) were present. 19 Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles(AB) through his ministry.(AC)

20 When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous(AD) for the law.(AE) 21 They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses,(AF) telling them not to circumcise their children(AG) or live according to our customs.(AH) 22 What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, 23 so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow.(AI) 24 Take these men, join in their purification rites(AJ) and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved.(AK) Then everyone will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. 25 As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.”(AL)

26 The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.(AM)

Paul Arrested

27 When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him,(AN) 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.”(AO) 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus(AP) the Ephesian(AQ) in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)

30 The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul,(AR) they dragged him(AS) from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. 31 While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.(AT)

33 The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound(AU) with two(AV) chains.(AW) Then he asked who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another,(AX) and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.(AY) 35 When Paul reached the steps,(AZ) the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. 36 The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Get rid of him!”(BA)

Paul Speaks to the Crowd(BB)

37 As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks,(BC) he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?”

“Do you speak Greek?” he replied. 38 “Aren’t you the Egyptian who started a revolt and led four thousand terrorists out into the wilderness(BD) some time ago?”(BE)

39 Paul answered, “I am a Jew, from Tarsus(BF) in Cilicia,(BG) a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people.”

40 After receiving the commander’s permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned(BH) to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic[a]:(BI)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 21:40 Or possibly Hebrew; also in 22:2