Acts Chapter 21
1 It came to pass, that after we left⁺ them and launched, we came with a straight course to Coos and the day following to Rhodes and from there⁺ to Patara.
2 Finding a ship that was sailing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set forth.
3 When we sighted⁺ Cyprus, we passed⁺ by it on the left and sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for the ship was to unload its cargo⁺ there.
4 Finding disciples there, we stayed with them for seven days. Through the Spirit, they said to Paul that he should not go to Jerusalem.
5 When we completed⁺ those days, we departed and went on our way. They all accompanied⁺ us with their wives and children until we were out of the city. Then we knelt down on the shore and prayed.
6 After we left⁺ each other, we boarded⁺ the ship and they returned home again.
7 When we finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais and greeted⁺ the family⁺ there and stayed⁺ with them for one day.
8 The next day, we who were in Paul's company left⁺ and went on to Caesarea. There, we entered the house of Philip the evangelist who was one of the seven and stayed⁺ with him.
9 Philip had four daughters who were virgins and who prophesied~.
10 As we continued⁺ there for many days, a prophet named Agabus came from Judea.
11 When he arrived⁺, he took Paul's belt⁺ and bound his own hands and feet and said: The Holy Spirit has said this to me: In this same way, the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt⁺ and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
12 When we heard these things, both we and those in that place begged⁺ Paul to not go to Jerusalem.
13 But Paul answered: Why do you weep and break 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 When he would not be persuaded, we stopped⁺ protesting and said: May the Lord's will be done.
15 After those days we took our baggage⁺ and went to Jerusalem.
16 Some of the disciples in Caesarea also went with us and they brought Mnason from Cyprus, an old disciple with whom we had lodged.
17 When we arrived⁺ in Jerusalem, the family⁺ received us gladly.
18 The next⁺ day, Paul and the rest of us went to James, and all the elders were present.
19 After we greeted⁺ them, Paul described⁺ in detail⁺ what great things God had worked⁺ among the Gentiles through his ministry.
20 When they heard this, they glorified the Lord and said to Paul: You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who believe, but they are all zealous for this law of substance~.
21 They have been told⁺ about you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses saying that they should not circumcise their children or follow⁺ the traditional Jewish customs.
22 What should we do? Surely a crowd will come together, for they will hear that you have come.
23 Therefore do this that we say to you. We have four men who have taken a vow.
24 Take them and purify yourself with them and pay⁺ the costs⁺ for them so that they can shave their heads. Then all may know that those things that have been told⁺ about⁺ you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law.
25 Concerning the Gentile believers, we have written and concluded that they observe no such things, except⁺ that they keep themselves from things offered to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication.
26 So Paul took the men and the next day after purifying himself with them he entered the temple to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification until an offering could be offered for everyone of them.
27 When the seven days were almost ended, the Jews from Asia saw Paul in the temple and they stirred up all the people and laid hands on him.
28 They cried out: Men of Israel help us. This is the man who teaches all people everywhere things that are against the people and the law and this place. Furthermore, he also took Greeks into the temple and polluted this holy place.
29 For in the city Trophimus, they had seen an Ephesian with Paul and they assumed⁺ that he had taken the Ephesian into the temple.
30 Therefore all the city was riled⁺ up and the people ran together and took Paul and dragged⁺ him out of the temple and immediately⁺ shut the doors.
31 As the mob was about to kill Paul, a message⁺ came to the chief captain of the company⁺ of soldiers saying that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.
32 So the captain immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. When they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they stopped⁺ beating Paul.
33 Then the chief captain came near and took him and commanded him to be bound with two chains. The captain demanded to know who Paul was and what he had done.
34 Some people in the crowd⁺ cried out one thing and some another. When the captain could not know with certainty what the cause was for the tumult, he commanded that Paul be carried into the castle.
35 When they came to the stairs, Paul was carried⁺ by the soldiers because of the violence of the people.
36 The crowd⁺ followed after them, crying out: Away with him.
37 As Paul was about to be led into the castle, he said to the chief captain: May I speak to you? The captain said: Can you speak Greek?
38 Are you not that Egyptian who before these days made an uproar and led four thousand men who were murderers out into the wilderness?
39 But Paul said: I am a Jew from Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city. I urge you, allow me to speak to the people.
40 When the captain gave Paul permission⁺, he stood on the stairs and signaled⁺ to the people with his hand. When there was silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew tongue.