Acts 21
1 After we had said goodbye to them, we sailed directly to Cos, and the next day on to Rhodes. From there we went to Patara
And it came to pass that, after we had separated from them, we put to sea, and came by a straight course to Cos, and on the following day, to Rhodes, and thence to Patara.
2 where we found a ship going to Phoenicia. We went on board and set sail.
And finding a ship that was going to Phenicia, we embarked, and put to sea.
3 We passed within sight of Cyprus on the left, and continued on to Syria where we landed at Tyre, where the ship's cargo was to be unloaded.
And we came in view of Cyprus; and, leaving it to the left, we sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to put off her lading.
4 We found the believers and stayed there for a week. Through the Holy Spirit the believers told Paul not to go to Jerusalem.
And we remained there seven days, after finding the disciples. These urged Paul, by the Spirit, not to go up to Jerusalem.
5 When the time was up, we left and went back to the ship to continue our journey. All the believers, and wives and children, accompanied us as we left the city. We kneeled down on the beach and prayed, and said our goodbyes.
And when these days were completed, we went forth, and continued our journey, they all, with their wives and children, conducting us out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.
6 Then we boarded the ship, and they went back home.
And when we had bid each other farewell, we embarked, and they returned home.
7 Our voyage from Tyre ended at Ptolemais where we greeted the believers and stayed with them for a day.
And completing the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais: and having saluted the brethren, we remained with them one day.
8 The next day we left and went to Caesarea. We stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist (one of the Seven).
On the following day we departed, and came to Cæsarea, and went into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven; and we remained with him.
9 Philip had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
This man had four virgin daughters, who had the gift of prophesy.
10 After we'd stayed there for several days, a prophet called Agabus arrived from Judea.
And as we remained there many days, there came down, from Judea, a certain prophet, named Agabus;
11 Approaching us, he took Paul's belt, and bound his own hands and feet. Then he said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘This is how the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt, and will hand him over to the foreigners.’”
and he came to us, and taking Paul’s girdle, he bound his own hands and feet, and said: Thus says the Holy Spirit; the Jews that are in Jerusalem will so bind the man to whom this girdle belongs; and they will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
12 When we heard this, we and the believers there pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem.
And when we heard these things, we, and those of that place also, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 However, Paul answered, “What are you doing, crying and breaking my heart? I'm ready not only to be bound in Jerusalem, but to die in Jerusalem for the sake of the Lord Jesus.”
But Paul answered: What do you effect by weeping, and breaking my heart? For I am ready, not only to be bound, but also to suffer death in Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus.
14 Since he couldn't be persuaded otherwise we gave up, and said, “May the Lord's will be done.”
And as he would not be persuaded, we kept silence, and said: The will of the Lord be done.
15 After this we packed our bags and headed for Jerusalem.
And after these days we prepared for our journey, and went up to Jerusalem.
16 Some of the believers from Caesarea came with us, and they took us to the home of Mnason, where we were going to stay. He came from Cyprus and was one of the early believers.
There went with us also some of the disciples from Cæsarea, who took with them, Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.
17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the believers there welcomed us warmly.
And when we came to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
18 The next day Paul went with us to see James, and all the church leaders were there.
And, on the following day, Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present.
19 After greeting them, Paul went through in detail everything God had done for the foreigners through his ministry.
And when he had saluted them, he related, in every particular, the things which. God had done among the Gentiles by his ministry.
20 When they heard what had happened they praised God and told Paul, “Brother, you can see how many thousands of Jews have come to trust in the Lord, and they all keep the Law very carefully.
And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said to him: You see, brother, how many myriads of the Jews there are that believe, and they are all zealous for the law.
21 They have been told that you teach Jews living among the foreigners to ignore the Law of Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children and not to follow our customs.
And they have heard it reported of you, that you teach all the Jews that are among the Gentiles to apostatize from Moses; commanding them not to circumcise their children, nor to walk according to the customs.
22 So what should we do about it? People will certainly get to hear that you've arrived here.
What, then, is to be done? A multitude must certainly come together; for they will hear that you have come.
23 This is what we want you to do: Four men among us have taken a vow.
Do, therefore, this which we advise you. We have four men who have a vow on them.
24 Go with them and perform the purification rituals with them, paying for them to have their heads shaved. That way everyone will know there's no truth to the rumors they've heard about you, but that you yourself observe the Law in the way that you live.
Take them, and join with them in their vow of abstinence, and pay their expenses, in order that they may shave their heads; and all will know that the things which they have heard reported of you are nothing; but that you yourself also walk orderly, and keep the law.
25 As to the foreigners who have trusted the Lord, we already wrote a letter regarding our decision that they should refrain from eating food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from any animal that is strangled, and from sexual immorality.”
But with respect to the Gentiles that believe, we have written; having decided that they should observe no such thing; but that they keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from lewdness.
26 So Paul took the men with him, and the next day went and purified himself with them. Then he went to the Temple to give notice regarding the end of the time of purification and the offering which would be made for each of them.
Then Paul took the men, and, on the following day, joining in their vow of abstinence, he entered the temple, and gave notice when the days of abstinence would be completed, at which time an offering should be made for each of them.
27 The seven days were almost over when some Jews from Asia saw Paul in the Temple and incited the crowd against him and seized him.
And when the seven days were about to be completed, the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, threw all the multitude into confusion, and laid their hands on him,
28 “Men of Israel, help!” they shouted. “This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere to oppose our people, the Law, and the Temple. He's also brought Greeks into the Temple, defiling this holy place.”
crying out: Men of Israel, help! this is the man who teaches all men every where against this people, and the law, and this place: and besides, he has even brought Greeks into the temple, and defiled this holy place.
29 (They said this because they had seen him previously in the city with Trophimus the Ephesian and presumed that Paul had brought him into the Temple.)
For, before this time, they had seen Trophimus, the Ephesian, with him in the city, whom they supposed Paul had brought into the temple.
30 The whole city was shocked by this and people came running. They grabbed hold of Paul and dragged him out of the Temple. Immediately the doors were shut.
And the whole city was moved; and the people ran together, and, seizing Paul, they dragged him out of the temple, and the gates were immediately closed.
31 As they tried to kill him, news came to the Roman troop commander that the whole of Jerusalem was in an uproar.
And while they were seeking to kill him, report was brought to the officer of the band, that the whole of Jerusalem was in an uproar.
32 Immediately the commander took some centurions and soldiers and ran down to the mob. When the mob saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.
And he immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. When they saw the officer and the soldiers, they ceased beating Paul.
33 Then the commander came over and arrested Paul, and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He asked who he was, and what he had done.
Then the officer came near and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains, and demanded who he was, and what he had done.
34 Some in the mob were shouting one thing and some another. Since the commander couldn't find out the truth due to all the noise and confusion, he ordered Paul brought into the fortress.
And some in the multitude cried out one thing, and some another. But not being able to obtain any certain knowledge on account of the tumult, he commanded him to be led into the fortress.
35 When Paul got to the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because the mob was so violent.
And when he was on the steps, it happened that he was carried by the soldiers, on account of the violence of the multitude.
36 People in the crowd that was following were shouting, “Get rid of him!”
For the greater part of the people followed, crying out: Away with him!
37 Just as he was about to be taken inside the fortress, Paul asked the commander, “Can I tell you something?” “Do you know Greek?” asked the commander.
But as Paul was about to be led into the fortress, he said to the officer: May I speak to you? He replied: Do you understand Greek?
38 “Aren't you the Egyptian who recently incited a rebellion and led four thousand Assassins into the desert?”
Are you not that Egyptian, who, before these days, made an insurrection, and led out into the wilderness four thousand men of the Assassins?
39 “I am a Jew, a citizen of Tarsus in Cilicia, an important city,” Paul replied. “Please let me talk to the people.”
But Paul replied: I am a Jew of Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen of no unknown city; and I beseech you, permit me to speak to the people.
40 The commander gave Paul permission to speak. So Paul stood on the stairs and motioned for silence. When it was quiet he spoke to them in Aramaic.
And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing upon the steps, waved his hand to the people. And when there was great silence, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:
