THE BOOK OF ACTS

 

Acts Chapter 21

1 ¶ Now after we had torn ourselves away from them, and set sail, we sailed a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara:

2 And having found a ship that was crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard, and set sail.

3 Now after we had sighted Cyprus, leaving it on our left, we sailed on to Syria, landing at Tyre: for the ship was to unload its cargo there.

4 And finding disciples there, we remained for seven days: and they kept telling Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

5 But when our time there ended, we left to continue on our way; and all of them accompanied us, with their wives and children, until we were out of the city: and we knelt down on the shore, and prayed.

6 And after saying good-by to one another, we boarded the ship; and they returned home again.

7 And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we landed at Ptolemais, and greeted the brethren, and remained with them for one day.

8 ¶ On the next day we who were of Paul’s company left, and reached Caesarea: and went to the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the first seven deacons; and stayed with him.

9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, who prophesied.

10 And after we had been there a number of days, a certain prophet, named Agabus, came down from Judea.

11 And coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, and tied his own hands and feet, and said, The Holy Spirit says, In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

12 And after hearing that, both we, and those who lived there, pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13 Then Paul replied, Why are you weeping and weakening my resolve? for I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

14 And when he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

15 ¶ After that time we packed our baggage, and went up to Jerusalem.

16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, and brought us to Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to stay.

17 And when we arrived in Jerusalem, the brethren welcomed us warmly.

18 And the next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James; and all the elders were present.

19 And after Paul had greeted them, he reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

20 And when they heard about it, they praised the Lord, and said to Paul, You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who believe; and they are all zealous for the law:

21 And they have been told, that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children, or live according to our customs.

22 What shall we do about it? The congregation must come together: and they will certainly hear that you have come.

23 Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have made a vow;

24 Take these men, and have yourself sanctified with them, by paying the charges, so that they may have their heads shaved: and then everyone will know that there is no truth to those things, they were told about you; but that you yourself live strictly, and keep the law.

25 As to the Gentiles who believe, we have written after coming to a decision that they should keep away from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from fornication.

26 Paul then took the men, and being sanctified with them entered the temple on the next day, to give notice of when the days of purification would end, and an offering would be made for each of them.

27 ¶ And when the seven days were nearly over, the Jews who were from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, stirred up all of the people, and seized him,

28 Shouting out, Men of Israel, help us: This is the man, who is teaching all men everywhere against our people, the law, and this place: and now he has also brought Greeks into the temple, and has polluted this holy place.

29 (For they had previously seen him in the city with Trophimus an Ephesian, and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)

30 The entire city was stirred up, and people came running from all directions: and they took Paul, and dragged him from the temple: and immediately the doors were shut.

31 And as they were seeking to kill him, the commander of the Roman cohort received word, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

32 He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to the crowd: and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

33 Then the commander came over, and arrested Paul, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; and demanded to know who he was, and what he had done.

34 And some among the crowd shouted one thing, some another: and when he could not find out the facts because of the uproar, he ordered Paul to be taken to the barracks.

35 And when Paul reached the stairs, the violence of the mob was so great that he had to be carried by the soldiers.

36 For the crowd that followed, kept shouting, Away with him.

37 And as Paul was about to be taken into the barracks, he said to the commander, May I say something to you? And he said, Can you speak Greek?

38 Then you are not the Egyptian, who some time ago started a revolt, and led four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?

39 And Paul answered, I am a Jew from Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of a city that is not insignificant: and, I beg you, to allow me to speak to the people.

40 And when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs, and gestured with his hand to the people. And when there was a great hush, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying,