Acts 21
21
Warnings on the Journey to Jerusalem
1Now it came to pass, that when we had departed from them and set sail, running a straight course we came to Cos, the following day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. 2And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3When we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo. 4And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. #(Acts 20:23; 21:12)They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. 5When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way; and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And #Luke 22:41; Acts 9:40; 20:36we knelt down on the shore and prayed. 6When we had taken our leave of one another, we boarded the ship, and they returned #John 1:11home.
7And when we had finished our voyage from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, greeted the brethren, and stayed with them one day. 8On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to #Acts 8:40; 21:16Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip #Acts 8:5, 26, 40; Eph. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:5the evangelist, #Acts 6:5who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9Now this man had four virgin daughters #Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17who prophesied. 10And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named #Acts 11:28Agabus came down from Judea. 11When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, #Acts 20:23; 21:33; 22:25‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”
12Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, #Acts 20:24, 37“What do you mean by 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.”
14So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, #Matt. 6:10; 26:42; Luke 11:2; 22:42“The will of the Lord be done.”
Paul Urged to Make Peace
15And after those days we packed and went up to Jerusalem. 16Also some of the disciples from Caesarea went with us and brought with them a certain Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to lodge.
17#Acts 15:4And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 18On the following day Paul went in with us to #Acts 15:13; Gal. 1:19; 2:9James, and all the elders were present. 19When he had greeted them, #Acts 15:4, 12; Rom. 15:18, 19he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles #Acts 1:17; 20:24; 1 Tim. 2:7through his ministry. 20And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all #Acts 15:1; 22:3; (Rom. 10:2); Gal. 1:14zealous for the law; 21but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 22What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. 23Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. 24Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may #Num. 6:2, 13, 18; Acts 18:18shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law. 25But concerning the Gentiles who believe, #Acts 15:19, 20, 29we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.”
Arrested in the Temple
26Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, #John 11:55; Acts 21:24; 24:18entered the temple #Num. 6:13; Acts 24:18to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them.
27Now when the seven days were almost ended, #Acts 20:19; 24:18the Jews from Asia, seeing him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and #Acts 26:21laid hands on him, 28crying out, “Men of Israel, help! This is the man #(Matt. 24:15); Acts 6:13; 24:6who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29(For they had previously seen #Acts 20:4Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)
30And #2 Kin. 11:15; Acts 16:19; 26:21all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut. 31Now as they were #2 Cor. 11:23seeking to kill him, news came to the commander of the garrison that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32#Acts 23:27; 24:7He immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down to them. And when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33Then the #Acts 24:7commander came near and took him, and #Acts 20:23; 21:11; Eph. 6:20; 2 Tim. 1:16; 2:9commanded him to be bound with two chains; and he asked who he was and what he had done. 34And some among the multitude cried one thing and some another.
So when he could not ascertain the truth because of the tumult, he commanded him to be taken into the barracks. 35When he reached the stairs, he had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob. 36For the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, #Luke 23:18; John 19:15; Acts 22:22“Away with him!”
Addressing the Jerusalem Mob
37Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?”
He replied, “Can you speak Greek? 38#Acts 5:36Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?”
39But Paul said, #Acts 9:11; 22:3; 2 Cor. 11:22; Phil. 3:4–6“I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people.”
40So when he had given him permission, Paul stood on the stairs and #Acts 12:17motioned with his hand to the people. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the #John 5:2; Acts 22:2Hebrew language, saying,
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Acts 21: NKJV
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.