Aug. 5, 6
Acts 21
Act 21:1 When it
happened that we had parted from them and had set sail, we came with
a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there
to Patara.
Act 21:2 Having found a
ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard, and set sail.
Act 21:3 When we had
come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed to
Syria, and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload her
cargo.
Act 21:4 Having found
disciples, we stayed there seven days. These said to Paul through the
Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.
Act 21:5 When it
happened that we had accomplished the days, we departed and went on
our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way
until we were out of the city. Kneeling down on the beach, we prayed.
Act 21:6 After saying
goodbye to each other, we went on board the ship, and they returned
home again.
Act 21:7 When we had
finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted
the brothers, and stayed with them one day.
Act 21:8 On the next
day, we, who were Paul's companions, departed, and came to Caesarea.
We entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of
the seven, and stayed with him.
Act 21:9 Now this man
had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
Act 21:10 As we stayed
there some days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
Act 21:11 Coming to us,
and taking Paul's belt, he bound his own feet and hands, and said,
"Thus says the Holy Spirit: 'So will the Jews at Jerusalem bind
the man who owns this belt, and will deliver him into the hands of
the Gentiles.' "
Act 21:12 When we heard
these things, both we and they of that place begged him not to go up
to Jerusalem.
Act 21:13 Then Paul
answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart?
For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for
the name of the Lord Jesus."
Act 21:14 When he would
not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The Lord's will be done."
Act 21:15 After these
days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem.
Act 21:16 Some of the
disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing one Mnason of
Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we would stay.
Act 21:17 When we had
come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.
Act 21:18 The day
following, Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were
present.
Act 21:19 When he had
greeted them, he reported one by one the things which God had worked
among the Gentiles through his ministry.
Act 21:20 They, when
they heard it, glorified God. They said to him, "You see,
brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who
have believed, and they are all zealous for the law.
Act 21:21 They have
been informed about you, that you teach all the Jews who are among
the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their
children neither to walk after the customs.
Act 21:22 What then?
The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have
come.
Act 21:23 Therefore do
what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow.
Act 21:24 Take them,
and purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses for them, that
they may shave their heads. Then all will know that there is no truth
in the things that they have been informed about you, but that you
yourself also walk keeping the law.
Act 21:25 But
concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written our decision
that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep
themselves from food offered to idols, from blood, from strangled
things, and from sexual immorality."
Act 21:26 Then Paul
took the men, and the next day, purified himself and went with them
into the temple, declaring the fulfillment of the days of
purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them.
Act 21:27 When the
seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, when they saw
him in the temple, stirred up all the multitude and laid hands on
him,
Act 21:28 crying out,
"Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men
everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place. Moreover,
he also brought Greeks into the temple, and has defiled this holy
place!"
Act 21:29 For they had
seen Trophimus, the Ephesian, with him in the city, and they supposed
that Paul had brought him into the temple.
Act 21:30 All the city
was moved, and the people ran together. They seized Paul and dragged
him out of the temple. Immediately the doors were shut.
Act 21:31 As they were
trying to kill him, news came up to the commanding officer of the
regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
Act 21:32 Immediately
he took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. They, when
they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, stopped beating Paul.
Act 21:33 Then the
commanding officer came near, arrested him, commanded him to be bound
with two chains, and inquired who he was and what he had done.
Act 21:34 Some shouted
one thing, and some another, among the crowd. When he couldn't find
out the truth because of the noise, he commanded him to be brought
into the barracks.
Act 21:35 When he came
to the stairs, it happened that he was carried by the soldiers
because of the violence of the crowd;
Act 21:36 for the
multitude of the people followed after, crying out, "Away with
him!"
Act 21:37 As Paul was
about to be brought into the barracks, he asked the commanding
officer, "May I speak to you?" He said, "Do you know
Greek?
Act 21:38 Aren't you
then the Egyptian, who before these days stirred up to sedition and
led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?"
Act 21:39 But Paul
said, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no
insignificant city. I beg you, allow me to speak to the people."
Act 21:40 When he had
given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with his
hand to the people. When there was a great silence, he spoke to them
in the Hebrew language, saying,