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
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,
2 where we found a ship going to Phoenicia. We went on board and set sail.
where we found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, and went on board and set sail.
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.
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.
4 We found the believers and stayed there for a week. Through the Holy Spirit the believers told Paul not to go to Jerusalem.
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.
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.
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,
6 Then we boarded the ship, and they went back home.
and then said goodbye to one another; after which we went on board, and they returned home.
7 Our voyage from Tyre ended at Ptolemais where we greeted the believers and stayed with them for a day.
After we had made the run from Tyre, we landed at Ptolemais, and exchanged greetings with the followers there, and spent a day with them.
8 The next day we left and went to Caesarea. We stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist (one of the Seven).
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.
9 Philip had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
He had four unmarried daughters, who had the gift of prophecy.
10 After we'd stayed there for several days, a prophet called Agabus arrived from Judea.
During our visit, which lasted several days, a prophet, named Agabus, came down from Judea.
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.’”
He came to see us, and, taking Paul’s belt, and binding his own feet and hands with it, said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says – ‘The man to whom this belt belongs will be bound like this by the religious authorities in Jerusalem, and they will give him up to the Gentiles’.”
12 When we heard this, we and the believers there pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem.
When we heard that, we and the people of the place began to entreat Paul 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.”
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.”
14 Since he couldn't be persuaded otherwise we gave up, and said, “May the Lord's will be done.”
So, as he would not be persuaded, we said no more to him, only adding – “The Lord’s will be done.”
15 After this we packed our bags and headed for Jerusalem.
At the end of our visit, we made our preparations, and started on our way 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.
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.
17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the believers there welcomed us warmly.
On our arrival at Jerusalem, the followers of the Lord there gave us a hearty welcome;
18 The next day Paul went with us to see James, and all the church leaders were there.
and the next day Paul went with us to see James, and all the church elders were present.
19 After greeting them, Paul went through in detail everything God had done for the foreigners through his ministry.
After greeting them, Paul related in detail all that God had done among the Gentiles through his efforts;
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 had heard it, they began praising God, and said to Paul: “You see, brother, that those of our people who have become believers in Christ may be numbered by tens of thousands, and they are all naturally earnest in upholding the Jewish 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.
Now they have heard it said about you, that you teach all of our people in foreign countries to forsake Moses, for you tell them not to circumcise their children or even to observe Jewish customs.
22 So what should we do about it? People will certainly get to hear that you've arrived here.
Well now, as they are certain to hear of your arrival, do what we are going to suggest.
23 This is what we want you to do: Four men among us have taken a vow.
We have four men here, who have of their own accord put themselves under a vow.
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.
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.
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.”
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.”
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.
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.
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.
But, just as the seven days were drawing to a close, some of the Jewish people from Roman Asia caught sight of Paul in the Temple, and caused great excitement among all the people present, by seizing Paul and shouting,
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.”
“People of Israel! Help! This is the man who teaches everyone 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.”
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 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.)
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.
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.
31 As they tried to kill him, news came to the Roman troop commander that the whole of Jerusalem was in an uproar.
They were bent on killing him, when it was reported to the officer commanding the garrison, that all Jerusalem was in commotion.
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.
He instantly got together some officers and soldiers, and charged down on the crowd, who, when they saw the commanding officer and his soldiers, stopped 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 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.
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.
Some of the crowd said one thing, and some another; and, as he could get no definite reply because of the uproar, he ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks.
35 When Paul got to the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because the mob was so violent.
When Paul reached the steps, he was actually being carried by the soldiers, owing to the violence of the mob;
36 People in the crowd that was following were shouting, “Get rid of him!”
for the people were following in a mass, shouting out, “Kill 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.
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.
38 “Aren't you the Egyptian who recently incited a rebellion and led four thousand Assassins into the desert?”
“Aren’t you, then, the Egyptian who some time ago raised an insurrection and led the four thousand Bandits out into the wilderness?”
39 “I am a Jew, a citizen of Tarsus in Cilicia, an important city,” Paul replied. “Please let me talk to the people.”
“No,” said Paul, “I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of a city of some note. I beg you to give me permission 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.
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 said to them in Hebrew:
