Acts 21
1 And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the [day] following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto 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 finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.
where we found a ship going to Phoenicia. We went on board and set sail.
3 Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.
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 finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not 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 And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till [we were] out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, 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 when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.
Then we boarded the ship, and they went back home.
7 And when we had finished [our] course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.
Our voyage from Tyre ended at Ptolemais where we greeted the believers and stayed with them for a day.
8 And the next [day] we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Cæsarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was [one] of the seven; and abode 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 the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
Philip had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.
10 And as we tarried [there] many days, there came down from Judæa a certain prophet, named Agabus.
After we'd stayed there for several days, a prophet called Agabus arrived from Judea.
11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver [him] into the hands of 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 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
When we heard this, we and the believers there pleaded with Paul not to go to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, 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 when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, 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 those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.
After this we packed our bags and headed for Jerusalem.
16 There went with us also [certain] of the disciples of Cæsarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.
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 when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
When we arrived in Jerusalem, the believers there welcomed us warmly.
18 And the [day] following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
The next day Paul went with us to see James, and all the church leaders were there.
19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
After greeting them, Paul went through in detail everything God had done for the foreigners through his ministry.
20 And when they heard [it], they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all 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 informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise [their] children, neither 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 is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
So what should we do about it? People will certainly get to hear that you've arrived here.
23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;
This is what we want you to do: Four men among us have taken a vow.
24 Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave [their] heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but [that] thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest 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 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written [and] concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from [things] offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
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 took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every 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 when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and 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 of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all [men] every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted 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 with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had 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 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were 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 as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
As they tried to kill him, news came to the Roman troop commander that the whole of Jerusalem was in an uproar.
32 Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of 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 came near, and took him, and commanded [him] to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.
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 cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.
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 upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.
When Paul got to the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because the mob was so violent.
36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.
People in the crowd that was following were shouting, “Get rid of him!”
37 And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak 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 Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?
“Aren't you the Egyptian who recently incited a rebellion and led four thousand Assassins into the desert?”
39 But Paul said, I am a man [which am] a Jew of Tarsus, [a city] in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto 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 when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto [them] in the Hebrew tongue, 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.
