AICNT ACTs chapter 21

21 But when it happened for us to set sail, having been torn away from them, we ran a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara, 2 and finding a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.

3 After sighting Cyprus and leaving it on the left, we sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo.

4 And having found the disciples, we stayed there seven days; who told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.

5 When our days there were ended, we left and continued on our journey, while all of them, with their wives and children, accompanied us outside the city. Kneeling down on the beach, we prayed 6 and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.

7 After completing the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting the brothers, we stayed with them for one day.

8 But on the next day, having departed, {we came}[fn] to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him.

10 As we stayed there for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming to us, he took Paul's belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way, the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man to whom this belt belongs, and they will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ ”

12 When we heard this, both we and the local residents urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 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 in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 Since he would not be persuaded, we remained silent, saying, “The Lord's will be done.”

15 After these days, having made preparations, we went up to Jerusalem. 16 And some of the disciples from Caesarea also came with us, bringing a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple,[fn] with whom we were to stay.

17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us gladly. 18 The next day, Paul went with us to see James, and all the elders were present. 19 After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

20 When they heard this, they glorified {God}[fn] and said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and they are all zealous for the law. 21 But they have been informed about you, that you teach apostasy from Moses to all the Jews among the nations, saying not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 22 What then is to be done? [[The multitude must certainly gather for]][fn] They will hear.

23 “So do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow upon themselves. 24 Take these men and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads. Then everyone will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law.

25 “As for the Gentiles who have believed, we have sent our decision that they should {abstain}[fn] from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.”

26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them and went into the temple, giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the offering was presented for each one of them.

27 Now when the seven days were about to be completed, the Jews from Asia, having seen him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law and this place. Moreover, he even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had [previously][fn] seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

30 Then the whole city was aroused, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. 31 And when they were seeking to kill him, a report went up to the commander of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 Who, having taken soldiers and centurions from him, ran down upon them; and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the chief captain came near, took hold of him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and inquired who he might be and what he had done.

34 Some in the crowd shouted one thing, some another. And as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 35 When he came to the steps, he was actually carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd, 36 for the multitude of the people followed, crying out, “Away with him!”

37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I say something to you?” And he replied, “Do you know Greek? 38 Are you not then the Egyptian who, before these days, stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand men of the assassins out into the wilderness?”

39 But Paul said, “I am a man, a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city; and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people.”

40 When he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying,

21:8, we came: Some manuscripts read “those around Paul came.”

21:16, disciple: That is an old disciple.

21:20, God: Some manuscripts read “the Lord.”

21:22, The multitude must certainly gather for: Some manuscripts include.

21:25, abstain: Some manuscripts read “observe no such thing, but abstain.”

21:29, previously: Absent from some manuscripts.

AICNT ACTs Chapter 21