Acts 21

Arrival in Caesarea Acts 21:7–14

⁷Verse 7. When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers, and stayed with them one day. ⁸Verse 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. ⁹Verse 9. Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. ¹⁰Verse 10. As we stayed there some days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹Verse 11. Coming to us, and taking Paul’s belt, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit: ‘So will the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”

¹²Verse 12. When we heard these things, both we and they of that place begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³Verse 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.” ¹⁴Verse 14. When he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The Lord’s will be done.”

Journey to Jerusalem Acts 21:15–26

¹⁵Verse 15. After these days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁶Verse 16. Some of the disciples from Caesarea also went with us, bringing one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we would stay. ¹⁷Verse 17. When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. ¹⁸Verse 18. The day following, Paul went in with us to James; and all the elders were present. ¹⁹Verse 19. When he had greeted them, he reported one by one the things which God had worked among the Gentiles through his ministry. ²⁰Verse 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.

²¹Verse 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 neither to walk after the customs. ²²Verse 22. What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. ²³Verse 23. Therefore do what we tell you. We have four men who have taken a vow. ²⁴Verse 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.

²⁵Verse 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.” ²⁶Verse 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.

Accusations Against Paul Acts 21:27–30

²⁷Verse 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, ²⁸Verse 28. 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!” ²⁹Verse 29. For they had seen Trophimus, the Ephesian, with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. ³⁰Verse 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.

Paul Arrested Acts 21:31–36

³¹Verse 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. ³²Verse 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. ³³Verse 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. ³⁴Verse 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.

³⁵Verse 35. When he came to the stairs, he was carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the crowd; ³⁶Verse 36. for the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, “Away with him!”

Paul’s Defense Acts 21:37–40

³⁷Verse 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? ³⁸Verse 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?” ³⁹Verse 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.” ⁴⁰Verse 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,