Acts 21

Paul Sails from Miletus

1Now when 1we had parted from them and had set sail, we ran 2a straight course to Cos, and on 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 the ship was to unload its cargo there. 4After looking up 7the disciples, we stayed there for 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 boarded the ship, and they returned 13home.

7When we had finished the voyage from 14Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting 15the brothers and sisters, we stayed with them for a day. 8On the next day we left and came to 16Caesarea, and we entered the house of 17Philip the 18evangelist, who was 19one of the seven, and 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 he came to us and 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 in Jerusalem will 24bind the man who owns this belt and 25hand him over to 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 replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For 27I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die in Jerusalem for 28the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14And since he would not be persuaded, we became quiet, remarking, “29The will of the Lord be done!”

Paul in 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 stay.

17After we arrived in Jerusalem, 35the brothers and sisters 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 about them, 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 abandon Moses, telling them 45not to circumcise their children nor to 46walk according to 47the customs. 22So what is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23Therefore, do 48as we tell you: we have four men who 49have a 50vow upon themselves; 24take them along and 51purify yourself together with them, and 52pay their expenses so that they may 53shave their 54heads; and then everyone will know that there is nothing to what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also conform, keeping the Law. 25But regarding the Gentiles who have believed, we sent a letter, 55having decided that they should abstain from 56meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and what is 57strangled, and from sexual immorality.” 26Then Paul 58took along the men, and the next day, after 59purifying himself together with them, he 60went 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 61the seven days were almost over, 62the Jews from 6364Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him, 28crying out, “Men of Israel, help! 65This is the man who instructs everyone everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides, he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has 66defiled this holy place!” 29For they had previously seen 67Trophimus the 68Ephesian in the city with him, and they thought that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30Then the whole city was provoked and 69the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they 70dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. 31While they were intent on killing him, a report came up to the commander of the 71Roman 72cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32He immediately 73took along some soldiers and centurions and ran down to 74the crowd; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33Then the commander came up and took hold of him, and ordered that he 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 that 79Paul be brought into 80the barracks. 35When Paul got to 81the stairs, it came about that he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the 82mob; 36for the multitude of people kept following them, shouting, “83Away with him!”

37As Paul was about to be brought into 84the barracks, he said to the commander, “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 silence, he spoke to them in the 9394Hebrew dialect, saying,