Moff ACTs Chapter 21

◄ ACTs 21 ► ║ ═ ©

21 When we had torn ourselves away from them and set sail, we made a straight run to Cos, next day to Rhodes, and thence to Patara; 2 as we found a ship there bound for Phoenicia, we went on board and set sail. 3 After sighting Cyprus and leaving it on our left, we sailed for Syria, landing at Tyre, where the ship was to unload her cargo. 4 We found out the local disciples and stayed there for seven days. These disciples told Paul by the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem; 5 but, when our time was up, we started on our journey, escorted by them, women and children and all, till we got outside the town. Then, kneeling on the beach, we prayed 6 and said goodbye to one another. We went on board and they went home. 7 By sailing from Tyre to Ptolemais we completed our voyage; we saluted the brothers, spent a day with them, 8 and started next morning for Caesarea, where we entered the house of Philip the evangelist (he belonged to the Seven, 9 and had four unmarried daughters who prophesied). We stayed with him.

10 While we remained there for a number of days, a prophet called Agabus came down from Judaea. 11 He came to us, took Paul's girdle and bound his own feet and hands, saying, "Here is the word of the holy Spirit: 'So shall the Jews bind the owner of this girdle at Jerusalem and hand him over to the Gentiles'." 12 Now when we heard this, we and the local disciples besought Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul replied, "What do you mean by weeping and disheartening me? I am ready not only to be bound but also to die at Jerusalem for the sake of the Lord Jesus." 14 As he would not be persuaded, we acquiesced, saying, "The will of the Lord be done."

15 After these days we packed up and started for Jerusalem, 16 accompanied by some of the disciples from Caesarea, who conducted us to the house of Mnason, a Cypriote, with whom we were to lodge. He was a disciple of old standing.

17 The brothers welcomed us gladly on our arrival at Jerusalem. 18 Next day we accompanied Paul to James; all the presbyters were present, 19 and after saluting them Paul described in detail what God had done by means of his ministry among the Gentiles. 20 They glorified God when they heard it. Then they said to him, "Brother, you see how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, all of them ardent upholders of the Law. 21 Now, they have heard that you teach all Jews who live among Gentiles to break away from Moses and not to circumcise their children, nor to follow the old customs. 22 What is to be done? They will be sure to hear you have arrived. 23 So do as we tell you. We have four men here under a vow; 24 associate yourself with them, purify yourself with them, pay their expenses so that they may be free to have their heads shaved, and then everybody will understand there is nothing in these stories about you, but that, on the contrary, you are guided by obedience to the Law. 25 As for Gentile believers, we have issued our decision that they must avoid food that has been offered to idols, the taste of blood, flesh of animals that have been strangled, and sexual vice." 26 Then Paul associated himself with the men next day; he had himself purified along with them and went into the temple to give notice of the time when the days of purification would be completed — the time, that is to say, when the sacrifice could be offered for each one of them.

27 The seven days were almost over when the Asiatic Jews, catching sight of him in the temple, stirred up all the crowd and laid hands on him, 28 shouting, "To the rescue, men of Israel! Here is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against the People and the Law and this Place! And he has actually brought Greeks inside the temple and defiled this holy Place!" 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian along with him in the city, and they supposed Paul had taken him inside the temple.)

30 The whole city was thrown into turmoil. The people rushed together, seized Paul and dragged him outside the temple; whereupon the doors were immediately shut. 31 They were attempting to kill him, when word reached the commander of the garrison that the whole of Jerusalem was in confusion. 32 Taking some soldiers and officers, he at once rushed down to them, and when they saw the commander and the soldiers they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the commander came up and seized him; he ordered him to be bound with a couple of chains, and asked "Who is he?" and "What has he done?" 34 Some of the crowd roared one thing, some another, and as he could not learn the facts owing to the uproar, he ordered Paul to be taken to the barracks. 35 By the time he reached the steps, he had actually to be carried by the soldiers on account of the violence of the crowd, 36 for the whole mass of the people followed shouting, "Away with him!"

37 Just as he was being taken into the barracks, Paul said to the commander, "May I say a word to you?" "You know Greek!" said the commander. 38 "Then you are not the Egyptian who in days gone by raised the four thousand assassins and led them out into the desert?" 39 Paul said, "I am a Jew, a native of Tarsus in Cilicia, the citizen of a famous town. Pray let me speak to the people." 40 As he gave permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the people. A great hush came over them, and he addressed them as follows in Hebrew.

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