Acts 21

1 And it came to pass, that after we departed from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course to Coos, and the day following to Rhodes, and from there to Patara:

2 And finding a ship sailing over to Phenicia, we went aboard and set forth.

3 Now, when we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unload her cargo.

4 And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

5 And when we had ended those days, we departed and went our way; and they all took us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore and prayed.

6 And when we had said farewell to each other, we boarded the ship; and they returned home again.

7 And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day.

8 And the next day we departed and came to Caesarea: and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven (deacons chosen); and stayed with him.

9 Now the same man had four unmarried daughters who did prophesy.

10 And as we stayed there for many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.

11 And when he had come to us, he took Paul's belt, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, This says the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this belt and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

12 And when we heard these things, both we and those of that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13 Then Paul answered, What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? for I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name (and the testimony) of the Lord Jesus.

14 And when he could not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

15 And after those days, we packed up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem.

16 There went with us also certain of the disciples from Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we would stay.

17 And when we arrived in Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.

18 And the day after, Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present.

19 And when he had greeted them, he began to declare one by one all the things God had worked among the Gentiles by his ministry.

20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said to him, You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who believe; and they are all (passionately) zealous of the law (to perform it):

 

21 And they were told about you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake (the law of) Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, nor to walk after the customs.

22 Certainly they will hear you have come. What then?

23 Therefore, do as we say to you: We have four men who have a vow on them;

24 Them take, and purify yourself with them (according to the law), and bear the expense with them, that they may shave their heads: and (so that) all (the Jews) may know that those things, which they were told about you, are nothing; And that you yourself also walk orderly, and keep the law.

 

25 Now concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, except only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled (animals), and from fornication (with other gods, and being intimate with their own works and sensual desires).

26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself with them, entered the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until an offering should be offered for every one of them.

27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews who were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,

28 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man that teaches all men everywhere against the (Jewish) people, and the law, and this place: and further he has brought Greeks also into the temple and has polluted this holy place.

29 {For they had seen with him before in the city, Trophimus, an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.}

30 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul and dragged him out of the temple: and immediately the doors were shut.

31 And as they went about to kill him, a report came to the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

32 Who immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they stopped the beating of Paul.

33 Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded (to know) who he was, and what he had done.

34 And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not be certain of the cause for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.

35 And when he came on the stairs, it so happened that he was being carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the people.

36 For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.

37 And as Paul was being led into the castle, he said to the chief captain, May I speak to you? Who responded, Can you speak Greek?

38 Are you not that Egyptian, who, before these days, made an uproar, and led out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?

39 But Paul said, I am a man who is a Jew of Tarsus, a citizen of a city in Cilicia, not an insignificant city: and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.

40 And when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,