Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Acts 21
Paul Continues toward Jerusalem
After tearing ourselves away from them, we set sail and ran a straight course to Cos, the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. We found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, boarded it, and set sail. When Cyprus came into view, we left it on our left, sailed toward Syria, and landed at Tyre, where the ship was unloading its cargo. We found the disciples there and stayed seven days. Through the Spirit they kept telling Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. When our time there was over, we left and continued our journey. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us outside the city. We knelt on the beach and prayed. After saying goodbye to one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned home. We completed the voyage from Tyre and arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them one day. The next day we left and came to Caesarea. We entered the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven, and stayed with him. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. After we had stayed there several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. He came to us, took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jewish people in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.’” When we heard this, both we and the local believers urged Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. But Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Since he would not be persuaded, we became quiet and said, “Let the Lord’s will be done.”
Paul Meets James and the Elders
After these days we prepared and went up to Jerusalem. Some disciples from Caesarea went with us and brought us to Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple with whom we were to stay. When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters welcomed us gladly. The next day Paul went with us to see James, and all the elders were present. After greeting them, Paul reported in detail everything God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. When they heard it, they glorified God. Then they said to Paul, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jewish believers there are, and they are all zealous for the Law. They have been told about you that you teach all Jewish people living among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or follow the customs. What should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come. Therefore do what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow. Take these men, purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses so they can shave their heads. Then everyone will know there is nothing to the reports they have heard about you and that you yourself live in observance of the Law. As for the Gentiles who have trusted, we sent them our decision that they should keep away from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.” So Paul took the men. The next day he purified himself with them and entered the temple, giving notice of when the days of purification would be completed and the offering presented for each of them.
Paul Is Seized in the Temple
When the seven days were nearly over, some Jewish people from Asia saw Paul in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd, and seized him. They shouted, “People of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against the people, the Law, and this place. And now he has even brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place!” They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with Paul in the city and assumed Paul had brought him into the temple. The whole city was stirred up, and people came running together. They seized Paul, dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. While they were trying to kill him, word reached the commander of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. He immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. When the crowd saw the commander and soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. Then the commander came near, arrested Paul, and ordered him to be bound with two chains. He began asking who Paul was and what he had done. Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another. Since the commander could not learn the truth because of the uproar, he ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. When Paul reached the steps, the soldiers had to carry him because of the crowd’s violence, for the mass of people followed, shouting, “Away with him!”
Paul Requests Permission to Speak
As Paul was about to be taken into the barracks, he asked the commander, “May I say something to you?” The commander replied, “You know Greek? Then you are not the Egyptian who some time ago started a revolt and led four thousand Assassins into the wilderness?” Paul said, “I am a Jewish man from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city. I ask you, allow me to speak to the people.” When the commander gave permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the people with his hand. When there was a deep silence, he addressed them in the Hebrew language.