ActsChapter 21

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¹We had to pull ourselves away from them. Then we sailed straight to Cos. The next day we went on to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. ²We found a ship going over to Phoenicia. We got on board and set sail. ³We came in sight of Cyprus and passed south of it. Then we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where the ship was going to unload its cargo. ⁴We looked for the disciples in Tyre and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they kept telling Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. ⁵But when our time there was over, we left and went on our way. All the disciples and their wives and children walked with us out of the city. There on the beach we all knelt down and prayed. ⁶We said goodbye to each other. Then we got on the ship, and they went back home. ⁷We finished our trip from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais. There we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for a day. ⁸The next day we left and went on to Caesarea. We stayed at the home of Philip the evangelist. He was one of the Seven. ⁹He had four daughters who were not married. They prophesied. ¹⁰We had been there several days. Then a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹He came over to us and took Paul's belt. He tied his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, "The Holy Spirit says, 'This is how the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the owner of this belt. Then they will hand him over to the Gentiles.'" ¹²When we heard this, we and the people there begged Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³Then Paul answered, "Why are you crying and breaking my heart? I am ready to be tied up in Jerusalem. I am even ready to die there for the name of the Lord Jesus." ¹⁴He would not change his mind. So we stopped trying and said, "May the Lord's will be done." ¹⁵After this, we packed up and went on to Jerusalem. ¹⁶Some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us. They took us to stay at the home of Mnason. He was from Cyprus and had been a disciple from the early days. ¹⁷When we came to Jerusalem, the brothers gladly welcomed us. ¹⁸The next day Paul went with us to see James. All the elders were there. ¹⁹Paul greeted them. Then he told them one by one the things God had done among the Gentiles through his work. ²⁰When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul, "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed. And all of them are eager to keep the law. ²¹But they have been told something about you. They heard that you teach the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses. They heard you tell them not to circumcise their children or keep our customs. ²²So what should we do? They will surely hear that you have come. ²³So do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. ²⁴Take these men and go through the cleansing ceremony with them. Pay their costs so they can have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know that these stories about you are not true. They will see that you also obey the law. ²⁵As for the Gentile believers, we have written them what we decided. They must stay away from food offered to idols. They must not eat blood or the meat of strangled animals. And they must stay away from sexual sin." ²⁶So the next day Paul took the men and was made clean along with them. Then he went into the temple. He gave notice of the date when their days of cleansing would end. On that day an offering would be made for each of them. ²⁷The seven days were almost over. Then some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and grabbed him. ²⁸They shouted, "Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people. He teaches against our law and this place. He has even brought Greeks into the temple. He has made this holy place unclean." ²⁹For they had seen Trophimus from Ephesus with Paul in the city before. They thought Paul had brought him into the temple. ³⁰The whole city was stirred up, and the people came running. They grabbed Paul and dragged him out of the temple. At once the gates were shut. ³¹They were trying to kill him. Then the commander of the Roman troops heard that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. ³²Right away he took some soldiers and centurions and ran down to the crowd. The people saw the commander and the soldiers. Then they stopped beating Paul. ³³The commander came up and arrested Paul. He ordered him to be tied with two chains. Then he asked who Paul was and what he had done. ³⁴Some in the crowd shouted one thing, and some shouted another. The commander could not find out the truth because of the noise. So he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. ³⁵Paul got to the steps. Then the soldiers had to carry him because the mob was so violent. ³⁶For the crowd following him kept shouting, "Get rid of him!" ³⁷The soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks. He asked the commander, "May I say something to you?" "Do you speak Greek?" the commander asked. ³⁸"Aren't you the Egyptian who started a revolt some time ago? Didn't you lead four thousand Assassins out into the wilderness?" ³⁹But Paul answered, "I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia. I am a citizen of an important city. Please let me speak to the people." ⁴⁰The commander gave him permission. Paul stood on the steps and waved his hand to the crowd. Everyone became very quiet. Then he spoke to them in Hebrew: