Acts 21
Paul’s Journey to Jerusalem
21:1 After1 we2 tore ourselves away3 from them, we put out to sea,4 and sailing a straight course,5 we came to Cos,6 on the next day to Rhodes,7 and from there to Patara.8 21:2 We found9 a ship crossing over to Phoenicia,10 went aboard,11 and put out to sea.12 21:3 After we sighted Cyprus13 and left it behind on our port side,14 we sailed on to Syria and put in15 at Tyre,16 because the ship was to unload its cargo there. 21:4 After we located17 the disciples, we stayed there18 seven days. They repeatedly told19 Paul through the Spirit20 not to set foot21 in Jerusalem.22 21:5 When23 our time was over,24 we left and went on our way. All of them, with their wives and children, accompanied25 us outside of the city. After26 kneeling down on the beach and praying,27 21:6 we said farewell28 to one another.29 Then30 we went aboard the ship, and they returned to their own homes.31 21:7 We continued the voyage from Tyre32 and arrived at Ptolemais,33 and when we had greeted the brothers, we stayed with them for one day. 21:8 On the next day we left34 and came to Caesarea,35 and entered36 the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven,37 and stayed with him. 21:9 (He had four unmarried38 daughters who prophesied.)39
21:10 While we remained there for a number of days,40 a prophet named Agabus41 came down from Judea. 21:11 He came42 to us, took43 Paul’s belt,44 tied45 his own hands and feet with it,46 and said, “The Holy Spirit says this: ‘This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man whose belt this is, and will hand him over47 to the Gentiles.’” 21:12 When we heard this, both we and the local people48 begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 21:13 Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking49 my heart? For I am ready not only to be tied up,50 but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 21:14 Because he could not be persuaded,51 we said no more except,52 “The Lord’s will be done.”53
21:15 After these days we got ready54 and started up55 to Jerusalem. 21:16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea56 came along with us too, and brought us to the house57 of Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple from the earliest times,58 with whom we were to stay. 21:17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us gladly.59 21:18 The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were there.60 21:19 When Paul61 had greeted them, he began to explain62 in detail63 what God64 had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 21:20 When they heard this, they praised65 God. Then they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews66 there are who have believed, and they are all ardent observers67 of the law.68 21:21 They have been informed about you – that you teach all the Jews now living69 among the Gentiles to abandon70 Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children71 or live72 according to our customs. 21:22 What then should we do? They will no doubt73 hear that you have come. 21:23 So do what74 we tell you: We have four men75 who have taken76 a vow;77 21:24 take them and purify78 yourself along with them and pay their expenses,79 so that they may have their heads shaved.80 Then81 everyone will know there is nothing in what they have been told82 about you, but that you yourself live in conformity with83 the law.84 21:25 But regarding the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter, having decided85 that they should avoid86 meat that has been sacrificed to idols87 and blood and what has been strangled88 and sexual immorality.” 21:26 Then Paul took the men the next day,89 and after he had purified himself90 along with them, he went to the temple and gave notice91 of the completion of the days of purification,92 when93 the sacrifice would be offered for each94 of them. 21:27 When the seven days were almost over,95 the Jews from the province of Asia96 who had seen him in the temple area97 stirred up the whole crowd98 and seized99 him, 21:28 shouting, “Men of Israel,100 help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law,101 and this sanctuary!102 Furthermore103 he has brought Greeks into the inner courts of the temple104 and made this holy place ritually unclean!”105 21:29 (For they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him previously, and106 they assumed Paul had brought him into the inner temple courts.)107 21:30 The whole city was stirred up,108 and the people rushed together.109 They seized110 Paul and dragged him out of the temple courts,111 and immediately the doors were shut. 21:31 While they were trying112 to kill him, a report113 was sent up114 to the commanding officer115 of the cohort116 that all Jerusalem was in confusion.117 21:32 He118 immediately took119 soldiers and centurions120 and ran down to the crowd.121 When they saw122 the commanding officer123 and the soldiers, they stopped beating124 Paul. 21:33 Then the commanding officer125 came up and arrested126 him and ordered him to be tied up with two chains;127 he128 then asked who he was and what129 he had done. 21:34 But some in the crowd shouted one thing, and others something else,130 and when the commanding officer131 was unable132 to find out the truth133 because of the disturbance,134 he ordered Paul135 to be brought into the barracks.136 21:35 When he came to the steps, Paul137 had to be carried138 by the soldiers because of the violence139 of the mob, 21:36 for a crowd of people140 followed them,141 screaming, “Away with him!” 21:37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks,142 he said143 to the commanding officer,144 “May I say145 something to you?” The officer146 replied,147 “Do you know Greek?148 21:38 Then you’re not that Egyptian who started a rebellion149 and led the four thousand men of the ‘Assassins’150 into the wilderness151 some time ago?”152 21:39 Paul answered,153 “I am a Jew154 from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city.155 Please156 allow me to speak to the people.” 21:40 When the commanding officer157 had given him permission,158 Paul stood159 on the steps and gestured160 to the people with his hand. When they had become silent,161 he addressed162 them in Aramaic,163