The Acts of the Apostles

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- Chapter 21 -

And after these things had happened, having reluctantly parted from them, we sailed a direct course, arriving at Cos, and on following the day at Rhodes, and from there to Patara.

And when we had found a ship sailing across to Phoenicia, climbing aboard, we set sail.

Then, after we had caught sight of Cyprus, keeping it to the left, we sailed on to Syria, and we arrived at Tyre. For the ship was going to unload its cargo there.

Then, having found the disciples, we lodged there for seven days. And they were saying to Paul, through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

And when the days were completed, setting out, we went on; and they all accompanied us with their wives and children, until we were outside of the city. And we kneeled down at the shore and prayed.

And when we had said farewell to one another, we climbed aboard the ship. And they returned to their own.

Yet truly, having completed our journey by boat from Tyre, we descended to Ptolemais. And greeting the brothers, we lodged with them for one day.

Paul Visits Philip the Evangelist

Then, after setting out the next day, we arrived at Caesarea. And upon entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him.(a)

(b)

Now this man had four daughters, virgins, who were prophesying.

And while we were delayed for some days, a certain prophet from Judea, named Agabus, arrived.

And he, when he had come to us, took Paul’s belt, and binding his own feet and hands, he said: “Thus says the Holy Spirit: The man whose belt this is, the Jews will bind in this way at Jerusalem. And they will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”

And when we had heard this, both we and those who were from that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.

Then Paul responded by saying: “What do you accomplish by weeping and afflicting my heart? For I am prepared, not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

And since we were not able to persuade him, we quieted, saying: “May the will of the Lord be done.”

Then, after those days, having made preparations, we ascended to Jerusalem.

Now some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing with them a certain Cypriot named Mnason, a very old disciple, whose guests we would be.

Paul’s Arrival at Jerusalem

And when we had arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers received us willingly.

Then, on the following day, Paul entered with us to James. And all the elders were assembled.

And when he had greeted them, he explained each thing that God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry.

And they, upon hearing it, magnified God and said to him: “You understand, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law.

Now they have heard about you, that you are teaching those Jews who are among the Gentiles to withdraw from Moses, telling them that they should not circumcise their sons, nor act according to custom.

What is next? The multitude ought to be convened. For they will hear that you have arrived.

Therefore, do this thing that we ask of you: We have four men, who are under a vow.

Take these and sanctify yourself with them, and require them to shave their heads. And then everyone will know that the things that they have heard about you are false, but that you yourself walk in keeping with the law.(c)

But, about those Gentiles who have believed, we have written a judgment that they should keep themselves from what has been immolated to idols, and from blood, and from what has been suffocated, and from fornication.”

Then Paul, taking the men on the next day, was purified with them, and he entered the temple, announcing the process of the days of purification, until an oblation would be offered on behalf of each one of them.

Paul Seized at the Temple

But when the seven days were reaching completion, those Jews who were from Asia, when they had seen him in the temple, incited all the people, and they laid hands on him, crying out:

“Men of Israel, help! This is the man who is teaching, everyone, everywhere, against the people and the law and this place. Furthermore, he has even brought Gentiles into the temple, and he has violated this holy place.”

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

And the entire city was stirred up. And it happened that the people ran together. And apprehending Paul, they dragged him outside of the temple. And immediately the doors were closed.

Then, as they were seeking to kill him, it was reported to the tribune of the cohort: “All Jerusalem is in confusion.”

And so, immediately taking soldiers and centurions, he rushed down to them. And when they had seen the tribune and the soldiers, they ceased to strike Paul.

Then the tribune, drawing near, apprehended him and ordered that he be bound with two chains. And he was asking who he was and what he had done.

Then they were crying out various things within the crowd. And since he could not understand anything clearly because of the noise, he ordered him to be brought into the fortress.

And when he had arrived at the stairs, it happened that he was carried up by the soldiers, because of the threat of violence from the people.

For the multitude of the people were following and crying out, “Take him away!”

Paul Addresses the Crowd

And as Paul was beginning to be brought into the fortress, he said to the tribune, “Is it permissible for me to say something to you?” And he said, “You know Greek?

So then, are you not that Egyptian who before these days incited a rebellion and led out into the desert four thousand murderous men?”(d)

But Paul said to him: “I am a man, indeed a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of a well-known city. So I petition you, permit me to speak to the people.”

And when he had given him permission, Paul, standing on the stairs, motioned with his hand to the people. And when a great silence occurred, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, saying:

Footnotes

(a)21:8 This Philip was one of the first seven deacons. He was an Evangelist in that he preached the Gospel. He was not one of the four Evangelists who wrote the Gospels.(Conte)

(b)21:8 The evangelist:That is, the preacher of the gospel; the same that before converted the Samaritans, and baptized the eunuch, chap. 8., being one of the first seven deacons.(Challoner)

(c)21:24 Keeping the law:The law, though now no longer obligatory, was for a time observed by the Christian Jews: to bury, as it were, the synagogue with honour.(Challoner)

(d)21:38 It is not so much that the men were each murderers, but more that they were of murderous intention.(Conte)

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.

Having found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.

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.

Having found disciples, we stayed there seven days. These said to Paul through the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

When those days were over, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way until we were out of the city. Kneeling down on the beach, we prayed.

After saying goodbye to each other, we went on board the ship, and they returned home again.

When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers and stayed with them one day.

Paul Visits Philip the Evangelist

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.

Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.

As we stayed there some days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.

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.’”

When we heard these things, both we and the people of that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem.

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.”

When he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The Lord’s will be done.”

After these days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem.

Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we would stay.

Paul’s Arrival at Jerusalem

When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly.

The day following, Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present.

When he had greeted them, he reported one by one the things which God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry.

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.

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.

What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come.

Therefore do what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow.

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.

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.”

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.

Paul Seized at the Temple

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,

crying out, “Men of Israel, 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!”

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

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.

As they were trying to kill him, news came up to the commanding officer of the regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

Immediately he took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. They, when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, stopped beating Paul.

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.

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.

When he came to the stairs, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd;

for the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, “Away with him!”

Paul Addresses the Crowd

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?

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?”

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.”

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,