< Acts 21 >

1 And it came to pass, at our sailing, having been parted from them, having run direct, we came to Coos, and the succeeding [day] to Rhodes, and there to Patara,
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
2 and having found a ship passing over to Phoenicia, having gone on board, we sailed,
where we found a ship going to Phoenicia. We went on board and set sail.
3 and having discovered Cyprus, and having left it on the left, we were sailing to Syria, and landed at Tyre, for there was the ship discharging the cargo.
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.
4 And having found out the disciples, we tarried there seven days, and they said to Paul, through the Spirit, not to go up to Jerusalem;
We found the believers and stayed there for a week. Through the Holy Spirit the believers told Paul not to go to Jerusalem.
5 but when it came that we completed the days, having gone forth, we went on, all bringing us on the way, with women and children, to the outside of the city, and having bowed the knees on the shore, we prayed,
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.
6 and having embraced one another, we embarked in the ship, and they returned to their own friends.
Then we boarded the ship, and they went back home.
7 And we, having finished the course, from Tyre came down to Ptolemais, and having greeted the brothers, we remained one day with them;
Our voyage from Tyre ended at Ptolemais where we greeted the believers and stayed with them for a day.
8 and on the next day Paul and his company having gone forth, we came to Caesarea, and having entered into the house of Philip the evangelist—who is of the seven—we remained with him,
The next day we left and went to Caesarea. We stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist (one of the Seven).
9 and this one had four daughters, virgins, prophesying.
Philip had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
10 And we remaining many more days, there came down a certain one from Judea, a prophet, by name Agabus,
After we'd stayed there for several days, a prophet called Agabus arrived from Judea.
11 and he having come to us, and having taken up the girdle of Paul, having also bound his own hands and feet, said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit: The man whose is this girdle—so will the Jews in Jerusalem bind, and they will deliver [him] up into the hands of nations.”
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.’”
12 And when we heard these things, we called on [him]—both we, and those of that place—not to go up to Jerusalem,
When we heard this, we and the believers there pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem.
13 and Paul answered, “Why are you weeping, and crushing my heart? For I am ready, not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord Jesus”;
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.”
14 and he not being persuaded, we were silent, saying, “The will of the LORD be done.”
Since he couldn't be persuaded otherwise we gave up, and said, “May the Lord's will be done.”
15 And after these days, having taken [our] vessels, we were going up to Jerusalem,
After this we packed our bags and headed for Jerusalem.
16 and there went also of the disciples from Caesarea with us, bringing with them him with whom we may lodge, a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an aged disciple.
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.
17 And we having come to Jerusalem, the brothers gladly received us,
When we arrived in Jerusalem, the believers there welcomed us warmly.
18 and on the next day Paul was going in with us to James, all the elders also came,
The next day Paul went with us to see James, and all the church leaders were there.
19 and having greeted them, he was expounding, one by one, each of the things God did among the nations through his ministry,
After greeting them, Paul went through in detail everything God had done for the foreigners through his ministry.
20 and they having heard, were glorifying the LORD. They also said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads there are of Jews who have believed, and all are zealous of the Law,
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.
21 and they are instructed concerning you, that you teach departure from Moses to all Jews among the nations, saying not to circumcise the children, nor to walk after the customs;
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.
22 what then is it? Certainly the multitude must come together, for they will hear that you have come.
So what should we do about it? People will certainly get to hear that you've arrived here.
23 This, therefore, that we say to you, do. We have four men having a vow on themselves,
This is what we want you to do: Four men among us have taken a vow.
24 having taken these, be purified with them, and be at expense with them, that they may shave the head, and all may know that the things of which they have been instructed concerning you are nothing, but you walk—yourself also—keeping the Law.
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.
25 And concerning those of the nations who have believed, we have written, having given judgment, that they observe no such thing, except to keep themselves both from idol-sacrifices, and blood, and a strangled thing, and whoredom.”
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.”
26 Then Paul, having taken the men, on the following day, having purified himself with them, was entering into the temple, announcing the fulfilment of the days of the purification, until the offering was offered for each one of them.
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.
27 And as the seven days were about to be fully ended, the Jews from Asia having beheld him in the temple, were stirring up all the multitude, and they laid hands on him,
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.
28 crying out, “Men, Israelites, help! This is the man who, against the people, and the Law, and this place, is teaching all everywhere; and further, also, he brought Greeks into the temple, and has defiled this holy place”;
“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.”
29 for they had seen before Trophimus, the Ephesian, in the city with him, whom they were supposing that Paul brought into the temple.
(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.)
30 All the city was also moved and there was a running together of the people, and having laid hold on Paul, they were drawing him out of the temple, and immediately were the doors shut,
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.
31 and they seeking to kill him, a rumor came to the chief captain of the band that all Jerusalem has been thrown into confusion,
As they tried to kill him, news came to the Roman troop commander that the whole of Jerusalem was in an uproar.
32 who, at once, having taken soldiers and centurions, ran down on them, and they having seen the chief captain and the soldiers, left off beating Paul.
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.
33 Then the chief captain, having come near, took him, and commanded [him] to be bound with two chains, and was inquiring who he may be, and what it is he has been doing,
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.
34 and some were crying out one thing, and some another, among the multitude, and not being able to know the certainty because of the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the stronghold,
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.
35 and when he came on the steps, it happened he was carried by the soldiers, because of the violence of the multitude,
When Paul got to the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because the mob was so violent.
36 for the crowd of the people was following after, crying, “Away with him.”
People in the crowd that was following were shouting, “Get rid of him!”
37 And Paul being about to be led into the stronghold, says to the chief captain, “Is it permitted to me to say anything to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek?
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.
38 Are you not, then, the Egyptian who made an uprising before these days, and led the four thousand men of the assassins into the desert?”
“Aren't you the Egyptian who recently incited a rebellion and led four thousand Assassins into the desert?”
39 And Paul said, “I, indeed, am a man, a Jew, of Tarsus of Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.”
“I am a Jew, a citizen of Tarsus in Cilicia, an important city,” Paul replied. “Please let me talk to the people.”
40 And he having given him leave, Paul having stood on the stairs, beckoned with the hand to the people, and there having been a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew dialect, saying:
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.

< Acts 21 >