Acts 21

1. And it came to pass that after leaving them, we sailed away; and taking a direct course, we came to Coos, and on the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.

2. And when we found a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we got aboard and sailed;

3. And after sighting Cyprus, we passed it on the left. Then we sailed to Syria and made port at Tyre, for the ship was unloading cargo there.

4. Now after finding the disciples, we remained there for seven days; and they said to Paul by the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

5. But it came to pass that after completing the days, we set out on our journey; and everyone accompanied us, with their wives and children, until we were outside the city. Then we knelt on the shore and prayed.

6. And after bidding farewell to one another, we went aboard the ship, and they returned to their own homes.

7. Then we completed our voyage from Tyre and arrived at Ptolemais. And after greeting the brethren, we remained one day with them.

8. On the next day, Paul and those of us who had accompanied him departed and came to Caesarea; and we went into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.

9. And this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.

10. Now after we had been there for many days, a certain man from Judea came down, a prophet named Agabus;

11. And he came to us and, taking Paul’s belt, bound himself hand and foot, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit: ‘The Jews in Jerusalem shall bind the man whose belt this is in the same manner, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”

12. And when we heard these things, both we and those of that place besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13. Then Paul answered, “Why are you 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. And when he was not persuaded, we held our peace, saying, “May the Lord’s will be done.”

15. And after these days, we packed the baggage and went up to Jerusalem.

16. And some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, and brought a certain Mnason, a Cypriot, an old disciple with whom we might lodge.

17. Now when we arrived in Jerusalem, the brethren gladly received us.

18. And on the following day, Paul went with us to see James; and all the elders were assembled.

19. And after greeting them, he reported one by one the things that God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry.

20. And when they heard this, they glorified the Lord. Then they said to him, “Brother, you see how many thousands of Jews there are who believe, and they are all zealous of the law of rituals.

21. But they have been informed that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to apostatize from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children, nor to walk in the customs.

22. What then is going to happen? A multitude is going to assemble, for they will hear that you have come.

23. Therefore, do this that we tell you: there are four men with us who have a vow on themselves;

24. Take these and be purified with them, and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads; and everyone will know that what they have been informed about you is nothing, and that you yourself also are walking orderly and keeping the law of rituals.

25. But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we wrote to them after deciding that they do not have to observe any such thing, except to keep themselves from things that are offered to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality.”

26. Then Paul took the men, and on the next day he was purified with them and went into the temple, signifying the fulfillment of the days of purification, until each of them had offered his offering.

27. But when the seven days were about to be completed, the Jews from Asia, who had seen him in the temple, stirred up all the multitude; and they laid their 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; and furthermore, he has also brought Greeks into the temple, and has defiled this holy place.”

29. For they had previously seen Trophimus, the Ephesian, in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.

30. And the whole city was stirred up, and the people ran together; and they took hold of Paul and drew him outside the temple, and the doors were immediately shut.

31. But as they were attempting to kill him, a report came to the chief captain of the band that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

32. And he immediately took soldiers and centurions with him and ran down to them. And when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

33. Then the chief captain came up and laid hold of him, and commanded that he be bound with two chains; and he inquired who he might be, and what he had been doing.

34. But some in the multitude were crying one thing, and some another. When he was not able to determine the facts because of the uproar, he commanded him to be brought into the fortress.

35. Now when he came upon the stairs, it happened that he was being carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the multitude,

36. For the multitude of people followed, shouting, “Away with him!”

37. And when he was about to be brought into the fortress, Paul said to the chief captain, “Is it permissible for me to say something to you?” And he said, “Do you know Greek?

38. Are not you the Egyptian who previously caused confusion and led into the desert four thousand men who were murderers?”

39. But Paul said, “I am a man who is indeed a Jew, a citizen of Cilicia from Tarsus, which is no insignificant city. I beseech you, allow me to speak to the people.”

40. And after receiving permission from him, Paul stood on the stairs and motioned with his hand to the people; and when there was great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying,