Acts 21
1 When we had torn ourselves away and had set sail, we ran before the wind to Cos; the next day we came to Rhodes, and from 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 where we found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, and went on board and set sail.
where we found a ship going to Phoenicia. We went on board and set sail.
3 After sighting Cyprus and leaving it on the left, we sailed to Syria, and put into Tyre, where the ship was to discharge her 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 There we found the disciples and stayed a week with them. Speaking under the influence of the Spirit, they warned Paul not to set foot in 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 However, when we had come to the end of our visit, we went on our way, all the disciples with their wives and children escorting us out of the city. We knelt down on the beach, and 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 then said good-bye to one another; after which we went on board, and they returned home.
Then we boarded the ship, and they went back home.
7 After we had made the run from Tyre, we landed at Ptolemais, and exchanged greetings with the Brethren there, and spent a day with them.
Our voyage from Tyre ended at Ptolemais where we greeted the believers and stayed with them for a day.
8 The next day we left, and reached Caesarea, where we went to the house of Philip, the Missionary, who was one of ‘the Seven,’ and stayed 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 He had four unmarried daughters, who had the gift of prophecy.
Philip had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
10 During our visit, which lasted several days, a Prophet, named Agabus, came down from Judea.
After we'd stayed there for several days, a prophet called Agabus arrived from Judea.
11 He came to see us, and, taking Paul’s girdle, and binding his own feet and hands with it, said: “This is what the Holy Spirit says — ‘The man to whom this girdle belongs will be bound like this at Jerusalem by the Jews, and they will give him up to the Gentiles’.”
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 When we heard that, we and the people of the place began to entreat Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.
When we heard this, we and the believers there pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem.
13 It was then that Paul made the reply: “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart like this? For my part, I am ready not only to be bound, but even to suffer death 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 So, as he would not be persuaded, we said no more to him, only adding — “The Lord’s will be done.”
Since he couldn't be persuaded otherwise we gave up, and said, “May the Lord's will be done.”
15 At the end of our visit, we made our preparations, and started on our way up to Jerusalem.
After this we packed our bags and headed for Jerusalem.
16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us, and brought Mnason with them, a Cypriot disciple of long standing, with whom we were to stay.
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 On our arrival at Jerusalem, the Brethren there gave us a hearty welcome;
When we arrived in Jerusalem, the believers there welcomed us warmly.
18 and the next day Paul went with us to see James, and all the Officers of the Church were present.
The next day Paul went with us to see James, and all the church leaders were there.
19 After greeting them, Paul related in detail all that God had done among the Gentiles through his efforts;
After greeting them, Paul went through in detail everything God had done for the foreigners through his ministry.
20 and, when they had heard it, they began praising God, and said to Paul: “You see, Brother, that the Jews who have become believers in Christ may be numbered by tens of thousands, and they are all naturally earnest in upholding the Jewish 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 Now they have heard it said about you, that you teach all Jews in foreign countries to forsake Moses, for you tell them not to circumcise their children or even to observe Jewish 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 Well now, as they are certain to hear of your arrival, do what we are going to suggest.
So what should we do about it? People will certainly get to hear that you've arrived here.
23 We have four men here, who have of their own accord put themselves under a vow.
This is what we want you to do: Four men among us have taken a vow.
24 Join these men, share their purification, and bear their expenses, so that they may shave their heads; and then all will see that there is no truth in what they have been told about you, but that, on the contrary, you yourself rule your life in obedience to the Jewish 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 As to the Gentiles who have become believers in Christ, we have sent our decision that they should avoid food offered to idols, and blood, and the flesh of strangled animals, and impurity.”
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 On this, Paul joined the men, and the next day shared their purification, and went into the Temple, and gave notice of the expiration of the period of purification when the usual offering should have been made on behalf of each 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 But, just as the seven days were drawing to a close, the Jews from Roman Asia caught sight of Paul in the Temple, and caused great excitement among all the people present, by seizing Paul and shouting:
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 “Men of Israel! help! This is the man who teaches every one everywhere against our People, our Law, and this Place; and, what is more, he has actually brought Greeks into the Temple and defiled this sacred 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 previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in Paul’s company in the city, and were under the belief that Paul had taken him 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 The whole city was stirred, and the people quickly collected, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the Temple, when the doors were immediately 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 They were bent upon killing him, when it was reported to the Officer commanding the garrison, that all Jerusalem was in commotion.
As they tried to kill him, news came to the Roman troop commander that the whole of Jerusalem was in an uproar.
32 He instantly got together some officers and men, and charged down upon the crowd, who, when they saw the Commanding Officer and his men, stopped 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 he went up to Paul, arrested him, ordered him to be doubly chained, and proceeded to inquire who he was, and what he had 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 Some of the crowd said one thing, and some another; and, as he could get no definite reply on account of the uproar, he ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks.
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 When Paul reached the steps, he was actually being carried by the soldiers, owing to the violence of the mob;
When Paul got to the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because the mob was so violent.
36 for the people were following in a mass, shouting out: “Kill him!”
People in the crowd that was following were shouting, “Get rid of him!”
37 Just as he was about to be taken into the Fort, Paul said to the Commanding Officer: “May I speak to you?” “Do you know Greek?” asked the Commanding Officer.
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 not you, then, the Egyptian who some time ago raised an insurrection and led the four thousand Bandits out into the Wilderness?”
“Aren't you the Egyptian who recently incited a rebellion and led four thousand Assassins into the desert?”
39 “No,” said Paul, “I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of a city of some note; and I beg you to give me permission 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 The Commanding Officer gave his permission, and Paul, standing on the steps, made signs with his hand to the people, and, when comparative silence had been obtained, he spoke to them in Hebrew, as follows:
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.
