The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Apostles 21
1 When we had departed 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.
2 Having found a ship crossing over to
Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.
3 When we had come in sight of Cyprus,
leaving it on the left hand, we sailed to
Syria and landed at Tyre, for the ship was
there to unload her cargo.
4 Having found disciples, we stayed
there seven days. These said to Paul
through the Spirit that he should not go up
to Jerusalem.
5 When those days were over, we departed
and went on our journey. They all,
with wives andchildren, broughtus onour
way until we were out of the city. Kneeling
down on the beach, we prayed.
6 After saying goodbye to each other, we
went on board the ship, and they returned
home again.
7 When we had finished the voyage from
Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted
the brothers and stayed with them one day.
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.
9 Now this man had four virgin daughters
who prophesied.
10 As we stayed there some days, a certain
prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11 Coming to us and taking Paul’s belt,
he bound his own feet and hands, and
said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘So the Jews at
Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this
belt, and will deliver him into the hands of
the Gentiles.’ ”
12 When we heard these things, both we
and the people of that place begged 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 at Jerusalem for the name of the
Lord Jesus.”
14 When he would not be persuaded, we
ceased, saying, “The Lord’s will be done.”
15 After these days we took up our baggage
and went up to Jerusalem.
16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea
also went with us, bringing one Mnason of
Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we
would stay.
17 When we had come to Jerusalem, the
brothers received us gladly.
18 The day following, Paul went in with
us to James; and all the elders were
present.
19 When he had greeted them, he reported
one by one the things which God
had worked among the Gentiles through
his ministry.
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.
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 and not to
walk after the customs.
22 What then? The assembly must
certainly meet, for they will
hear that you have come.
23 Therefore do what we tell you. We
have four men who have taken a vow.
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.
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.”
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.
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,
28 crying out, “Men ofIsrael, 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!”
29 For they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian,
with him in the city, and they supposed that
Paul had brought him into the temple.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
35 When he came to the stairs, he was
carried by the soldiers because of
the violence of the crowd;
36 for the multitude of the people
followed after, crying out, “Away with him!”
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?
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?”
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.”
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,