Acts 21

Paul Sails from Miletus

1When 1we had parted from them and had set sail, we ran 2a straight course to Cos and the next day to Rhodes and from there to Patara; 2and having found a ship crossing over to 3Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3When we came in sight of 4Cyprus, leaving it on the left, we kept sailing to 5Syria and landed at 6Tyre; for there the ship was to unload its cargo. 4After looking up 7the disciples, we stayed there seven days; and they kept telling Paul 89through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem. 5When 10our days there were ended, we left and started on our journey, while they all, with wives and children, 11escorted us until we were out of the city. After 12kneeling down on the beach and praying, we said farewell to one another. 6Then we went on board the ship, and they returned 13home again.

7When we had finished the voyage from 14Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting 15the brethren, we stayed with them for a day. 8On the next day we left and came to 16Caesarea, and entering the house of 17Philip the 18evangelist, who was 19one of the seven, we stayed with him. 9Now this man had four virgin daughters who were 20prophetesses. 10As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named 21Agabus came down from Judea. 11And coming to us, he 22took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This 23is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will 24bind the man who owns this belt and 25deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” 12When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him 26not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For 27I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for 28the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “29The will of the Lord be done!”

Paul at Jerusalem

15After these days we got ready and 30started on our way up to Jerusalem. 16Some of 31the disciples from 32Caesarea also came with us, taking us to Mnason of 33Cyprus, a 34disciple of long standing with whom we were to lodge.

17After we arrived in Jerusalem, 35the brethren received us gladly. 18And the following day Paul went in with us to 3637James, and all 38the elders were present. 19After he had greeted them, he 39began to relate one by one the things which God had done among the Gentiles through his 40ministry. 20And when they heard it they began 41glorifying God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many 42thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all 43zealous for the Law; 21and they have been told about you, that you are 44teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them 45not to circumcise their children nor to 46walk according to 47the customs. 22What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who 4849are under a vow; 24take them and 50purify yourself along with them, and 51pay their expenses so that they may 52shave their 53heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law. 25But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, 54having decided that they should abstain from 55meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication.” 26Then Paul 56took the men, and the next day, 57purifying himself along with them, 58went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them.

Paul Seized in the Temple

27When 59the seven days were almost over, 60the Jews from 6162Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him, 28crying out, “Men of Israel, come to our aid! 63This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has 64defiled this holy place.” 29For they had previously seen 65Trophimus the 66Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30Then all the city was provoked, and 67the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they 68dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. 31While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the 69commander of the 70Roman 71cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32At once he 72took along some soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; and when they saw the 73commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33Then the 74commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered him to be 75bound with 76two chains; and he began asking who he was and what he had done. 34But among the crowd 77some were shouting one thing and some another, and when he could not find out the 78facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into 79the barracks. 35When he got to 80the stairs, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the 81mob; 36for the multitude of the people kept following them, shouting, “82Away with him!”

37As Paul was about to be brought into 83the barracks, he said to the 84commander, “May I say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek? 38Then you are not 85the Egyptian who some 86time ago stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the Assassins out 87into the wilderness?” 39But Paul said, “88I am a Jew of Tarsus in 89Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city; and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.” 40When he had given him permission, Paul, standing on 90the stairs, 91motioned to the people with his hand; and when there 92was a great hush, he spoke to them in the 9394Hebrew dialect, saying,